Author: Tony Arsenal

The Problem of Evil: Stoic Resignation vs. the Hope of Glory

We have spent the last few articles rejecting the errors of Stoicism—its impersonal God, its idol of self-sufficiency, and its small goal of tranquility. Now we come to the place where philosophy hits the hardest reality of human existence: Suffering. Every man, if he lives long enough, will walk through the valley of the shadow of… Continue reading The Problem of Evil: Stoic Resignation vs. the Hope of Glory

The Theological Cost of ERAS

In the previous five articles, we have engaged in a forensic examination of the historical claims made by Owen Strachan. We have seen how citations from Augustine, Hodge, Vos, and Berkhof were mishandled, truncated, and stripped of their dogmatic context to support a view they explicitly rejected. But historical revisionism—as egregious as it is—is often… Continue reading The Theological Cost of ERAS

The Instrument of Salvation: On the Nature of Saving Faith (WCF 14.1–14.3)

In the logical chain of salvation, we have seen God call the sinner from death to life (Effectual Calling), declare him righteous in His sight (Justification), adopt him into His family (Adoption), and renew him in holiness (Sanctification). But how do we personally connect to this salvation? What is the hand that receives these gifts? The answer is Faith. However,… Continue reading The Instrument of Salvation: On the Nature of Saving Faith (WCF 14.1–14.3)

“This Is My Sister”: A Test of Faith in a Foreign Land (Gen. 12:10–20)

Loved ones, in our last study, we stood with Abram on the spiritual mountaintop. He had heard the call of God, left his idols in Ur, and built altars in the Promised Land. He was the knight of faith, staking a claim for Yahweh in the midst of the Canaanites. But the Bible is not… Continue reading “This Is My Sister”: A Test of Faith in a Foreign Land (Gen. 12:10–20)

Louis Berkhof and the Silver Bullet

We arrive now at the climax of our historical investigation. Of all the theologians cited by Owen Strachan in his 2021 defense of ERAS—and alluded to in his recent podcast appearance—none has been more directly influential in the American Reformed seminary context than Louis Berkhof. While it is perhaps an exaggeration to call Berkhof the… Continue reading Louis Berkhof and the Silver Bullet

“Go from Your Country”: The Call and the Covenant (Gen. 12:1–9)

Loved ones, we have crossed a massive theological threshold. For eleven chapters, the Bible has painted on a global canvas—creation, flood, nations, and the scattering at Babel. But now, the God of the universe narrows His gaze to a single, childless old man in Haran. Genesis 12 is the beginning of the answer to the… Continue reading “Go from Your Country”: The Call and the Covenant (Gen. 12:1–9)

Made Holy: On the Process of Sanctification (WCF 13.1–13.3)

In the previous chapters, we have witnessed the legal wonder of Justification (where God declares us righteous) and the relational warmth of Adoption (where God makes us sons). But a critical question remains: Does God simply hand us a ticket to heaven and leave us in our filth? Does He change our status without changing… Continue reading Made Holy: On the Process of Sanctification (WCF 13.1–13.3)

Geerhardus Vos and the Covenant of Redemption

Having examined Augustine and Hodge, we turn now to Geerhardus Vos, the father of Reformed Biblical Theology. Vos is a giant of the faith, known for his deep insight into the eschatological structure of Scripture. Owen Strachan appeals to Vos to demonstrate that the Reformed tradition has always held to the Son’s submission. However, Strachan’s… Continue reading Geerhardus Vos and the Covenant of Redemption