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The Real Francis Turretin on Faith and Reason
The question is not whether reason is the instrument by which or the medium through which we can be drawn to faith. For we acknowledge that reason can be both: the former indeed always and everywhere; the later with regard to presupposed articles. Rather the question is whether it is the first principle from which…
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The Real Francis Turretin on Faith and Reason
He does not therefore mean to take away reason entirely because grace does not destroy, but perfects nature. He only wishes it to serve and be a handmaid to faith and as such to obey, not to govern its mistress; that it may be in subjection and not entirely discarded, that it may be not…
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Belief in God is more than Believing God Exists
These days people often use the phrase “believe in X” to mean, basically, “believe that X is real” or “believe that X exists.” That’s one reason I sometimes find it helpful to use “believe on Jesus Christ,” when explaining the gospel to people, rather than “believe in Jesus Christ”: it is one thing to believe…
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Is Faith a Work? Of course not! But why not?
Roy Ingle (Arminian) says, “no.” And that’s fine. Properly considered, faith is not a work. But what is missing from his explanation is any cogent explanation of why obedient response to the command to “Believe,” that is proclaimed in the Gospel is not properly a work. For example, Ingle does not argue from the fact…
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In Whom Is His Trust?
Today, the Vatican Information Service reports: Benedict XVI today made a pastoral visit to Loreto, Italy, where he entrusted to the Blessed Virgin – venerated in the famous Marian shrine there – two impending ecclesial events: the Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation which is to run from 7 to 28 October, and the Year…
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Turretin on the Faith of Infants (Reasons – Part 1)
XIV. Rationes cur ita statuamus sunt: 1. Quia promissio Foederis non minus ad Infantes, quam ad Adultos pertinet; siquidem Deus pollicetur se fore Deum Abrahami, et seminis ejus, Ge. xvii.7, et, Act. ii. 39, promissio dicitur facta Patribus et Liberis. Ergo et beneficia Foederis, qualia sunt remissio peccatorum, et sanctificatio, ad eos pertinere debent, ex…
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Justification and Faith
There is an important distinction we need to make. A man is saved (justified) by faith in Christ alone for salvation. A man who trusts in his own works will be lost. This is the teaching of the Scriptures, made especially clear in Paul’s epistles. That said, man is justified by faith alone in Christ…
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Knowledge of God by Faith in the Word of God: Fideism or Orthodoxy?
Scripture “Except ye believe ye shall not understand” – Isaiah 7:9 (LXX) “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” – Psalm 14:2 (KJV) “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any…
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The Real Turretin on: The Relation of Faith and Reason
Dan Borvan at Geneva Redux has an interesting quotation (actually two) from Turretin on the relation of Faith and Reason (part 1)(part 2). As Turretin correctly points out that we do not make reason our first principle such that we deny what natural light and reason cannot comprehend, although we do permit reason to serve…
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The Real Turretin on: The Use of Faith in Justification
Richard Smith, at The Spurgeon Blog has provided an interesting post in which he considers what the real Turretin had to say about the use of faith in justification (link). Specifically Turretin provides “proof that the act of believing is not our righteousness.” -TurretinFan To God be the Glory!