Blog editor Jake Pratt recently interviewed Jonathan Leeman about his new book Baptist Foundations, co-edited with Mark Dever.
Seven Arguments Against Open Membership: An Excerpt from Bobby Jamieson’s Book Going Public
The following is an excerpt from Going Public: Why Baptism is Required for Church Membership by Bobby Jamieson. In chapter 10 titled “Turning the Tables,” Jamieson discusses seven arguments against open membership. The excerpt below lists all seven and discusses his first objection, namely, “open membership builds on error.”
An Interview with Bobby Jamieson On His New Book Going Public
Blog editor Jake Pratt recently interviewed Bobby Jamieson about his new book Going Public.
JP: Who is Going Public for?
BJ: Pastors and church leaders, first of all, since they most directly influence how their churches approach the ordinances and membership. Also seminarians, Bible college students, and any aspiring pastors or lay leaders. And if there are any Christians who are not in leadership but who have a burning interest in ecclesiology, be my guest!
An Excerpt from Going Public by Bobby Jamieson
The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming volume, Going Public: Why Baptism is Required for Church Membership by Bobby Jamieson. In his Introduction Jamieson discusses the book’s distinctives and the governing thesis for the volume.
A Better Appreciation of Family Ties: An Excerpt from Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age
The following is an excerpt from the recently released volume Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age, edited by Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman. In his concluding chapter, Leeman explains how local churches are both independent and interdependent. [Read more…]
Why Polity: An Excerpt from Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age
The following is an excerpt from the recently released volume, Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age, edited by Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman. In his Introduction Leeman discusses the enduring importance of church polity.
Does God Hate Sinners?
The following is a guest post from Dr. Adam Harwood, Associate Professor of Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Does God hate sinners? Certain biblical texts in the poetic sections contain those statements. Consider, as examples (quotations from the NASB, emphasis in bold is mine): [Read more…]
Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement: An Interview with Andy Naselli
In the video interview below recorded at the 2014 Annual ETS Conference in San Diego, CA, editor Andy Naselli discusses his and Mark Snoeberger’s recently released volume Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement: Three Views:
The Extent of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Correspondence versus Coherence
In the introduction to the new book Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement: Three Views, editor Mark Snoeberger frames the discussion about the extent of the atonement of Jesus Christ. In the excerpt below he discusses the debate between correspondence (exegesis) and coherence (theology).
Why Baptism Is Required for Membership
By Bobby Jamieson
Why must someone be baptized as a believer in order to join a local church? Because church membership is a public affirmation of someone’s public profession of faith in Christ, and Jesus has appointed baptism as the means by which his followers publicly profess their faith in him. A church can’t affirm the profession of someone who hasn’t yet made that profession.
Baptism is how you publicly identify yourself with Jesus and with his people (Acts 2:38–41). It is how you visibly signify that you are united to Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:1–4). It is how you become identified before the church and the world as one who belongs to the Triune God (Matt. 28:19). It is how you publicly embrace Jesus as your Savior and submit to him as Lord (1 Pet. 3:21). [Read more…]
Theologica – Scripture and the Task of Theology, Part 2
The following is adapted by Keith Whitfield from “Theological Method: An Introduction to the Task of Theology,” by Bruce R. Ashford and Keith Whitfield in A Theology for the Church, Revised Edition (B&H Academic, 2014).
In our previous post, we asked the question, What does the Bible have to say about the nature and function of Christian theology, and how should theology be conceived? We asserted three answers to this question, the first being that Scripture anticipates the task of theology, which we discussed in the previous post. [Read more…]
Theologica – Scripture and the Task of Theology, Part 1
The following is adapted by Keith Whitfield from “Theological Method: An Introduction to the Task of Theology,” by Bruce R. Ashford and Keith Whitfield in A Theology for the Church, Revised Edition (B&H Academic, 2014).
What is the task of Christian theology? We claim the task of Christian theology is to reflect on God’s self-revelation for the purpose of equipping the people of God to know and love God and to participate in his mission in the world. [Read more…]
