Puritans

Preaching Effectual Sermons by Andy Hynes

Guest blogger Andy Hynes (@ABHYNES) is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The Puritans understood the power of the sermon. Effectual sermons opened the door to the Father’s work. John Flavel supposed that hearing God’s Word regularly was necessary for Him to draw a man toward Himself. The Father consistently drew the elect to Himself through the Son. General revelation was insufficient to allow this to happen. When Paul wrote Ephesians 4:20-21 Flavel understood, Of necessity of divine teaching, in order to believing, the apostle speaks, in Eph. iv. 20,21. “But ye have not so learned Christ; ‘if …keep reading »

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The Need for Preparatory Conviction by Andy Hynes

Guest blogger Andy Hynes (@ABHYNES) is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Since man was dead in sin, and unable to move in a spiritual way toward God, something must take place. God’s electing work guaranteed the sinner’s redemption, but God never says in His Word how long that process might take. God was not going to magically redeem or convert someone. The process of drawing an individual to the knowledge of his sin and need for grace was a genuine step. There was great need for preparatory acts. Flavel penned, The Spirit knocks by the gracious invitations …keep reading »

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The Idea of Preparation in Puritan Preaching by Andy Hynes

Guest blogger Andy Hynes (@ABHYNES) is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Puritan preaching never took a sharper prominence than during the period of preparation in the life of the sinner. As the Father drew each elect sinner, the Holy Spirit was bringing about His convicting work. Preparation/vocation became a staple in Puritan preaching and was referred to as God’s use of His law to convince sinners of their guilt and helplessness so that by His grace they may come to Christ.[1] Seventeenth Century Puritanism developed a vast discourse of exhorting sinners to respond to God’s grace through …keep reading »

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Covenant of Grace (foedus gratiae) by Andy Hynes

Guest blogger Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. Westminster Confession of Faith, 7.3 Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called The Covenant of Grace: whereby He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. (italics mine).[1] The Covenant of …keep reading »

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Covenant of Works (foedus operum) by Andy Hynes

Guest blogger Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. Westminster Confession of Faith, 7.1, 2 The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him, as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath pleased to express by way of covenant. The first covenant made with man, was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon …keep reading »

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Is There a Salvific Process? (by Andy Hynes)

Guest blogger Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. While studying the English Puritans many interesting ideas pop out. One of the main ideas was their understanding of a salvific process. That process began with three salvific covenants. The first was the Covenant of Redemption or (Pactum Salutis). They ended up giving credence to the doctrine in their Westminster Confession of Faith, 8.1 It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only-begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and men, the Prophet, Priest, and King; …keep reading »