“The two approaches represent differing convictions about Scripture and tradition, and differing understandings of meditation itself. The Protestant practice… esteems the primacy of Scripture, treats meditation as a path for the whole Christian pilgrimage, and far better serves real communion with God.” - Desiring God
“God does not confer His grace upon us because of any good in us—whether past or future good. In fact, the Scripture describes man’s depravity in the most straightforward way when it says: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’ ” - Ligonier
Read Part 3.
As I complete this review one of the things that stands out to me is how much the author leans upon Reformed Confessions and writers from the past. While he does interact with Scripture a lot, one notices that men like Irenaeus, Augustine, Calvin, and a host of Puritans are brought in to direct the arguments. This is not to say these great men shouldn’t be referenced; it is the supporting role these authorities are given that is of note. They often do not merely corroborate an assertion; they reinforce and develop it.
Read Part 2.
As we move on to the “covenant of grace” one thing to look for is how passages explicitly assigned to the covenants one can locate in the Bible are reassigned to support this theological covenant, which can’t be located in the Bible. Perkins, along with CT’s the world over, makes assertions about the “covenant of grace” that the Bible claims are about the New covenant:
The covenant of grace offers Christ as the mediator for sinners…The covenant of grace also promises the Spirit to believers. (189)
A Review of Harrison Perkins, Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction, Bellingham, WA., Lexham, 2024, 520 pages, hardback.
“FV is not primarily concerned with soteriology, much less justification. However, some of their teaching in other areas helps to shape their understanding of justification. Three areas that indirectly relate to their teaching of justification will be considered here” - DBTS Blog
“Critics of Federal Vision…. claim that FV teachers, in arguing for a return to the Reformed tradition, have actually offered a return to Rome…. FV proponents have countered that they have simply been misunderstood and misinterpreted.” - DBTS Blog
“He warns that Christian nationalism …’the unbiblical view that we must preserve white ethnicity to build a Christian nation’ — has taken root in the Reformed wing of the evangelical church.” - RNS
“What caused Van Til to reject classic natural theology? More importantly, was Van Til correct to pit classic natural theology against a supposedly Reformed version of it?” - Credo
