Assurance
The first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism was, when it was written, a polemical statement (Carl Trueman), for
At the pastoral heart of the Protestant Reformation lay the doctrine of assurance, the idea that every individual believer could know—indeed, should know—that God was gracious to them. This was critical because, as the Reformers rightly saw, it lay at the heart of the Christian life, a life which was to be marked not by works done in a servile manner in the hope of thereby earning God’s favour, but rather by works done out of gratitude to God for his grace, and in a spirit of confident freedom. Medieval Catholicism was built upon a different strategy, where doubt of God’s individual mercy was a means by which to keep believers on the straight and narrow, so to speak. When the Heidelberg Catechism kicks off with a statement about assurance, it was also kicking Catholicism in the theological shins.
Trueman says assurance is no longer the issue it once was “because the whole notion of assurance, and the lack thereof, has become nonsense for most Christians.” Read the whole piece to see why this is so.
Atonement
Martin Downes reposts a piece on the repugnancy of the atonement to the unregenerate mind (Against Heresies). Not everyone considers Christ dying in our place to be a beautiful thing!
Addressing
Rick Warren’s message at the Desiring God National Conference. (Phil Johnson with Christ Arnzen of Iron Sharpens Iron.)