Blog Posts on union with christ

John Owen on the Priority of Justification by Underdog Theology on Nov 17, 2011The following by John Owen, in his work entitled The Doctrine of Justification by Faith, has been cited as proof of his holding to the priority of mystical/existential union as over and against the priority of justification: "The foundation of the i...

Westminster Wednesday: Vos on the Priority of Justification in Mystical Union by Underdog Theology on Nov 16, 2011Couldn't be more black and white: "Naturally the problem becomes most accentuated where it touches the center of Paul's teaching. This, we may still insist, is the doctrine of justification. Recent attempts to dislodge it from this position, and to...

Westminster Wednesday: Turretin on the Priority of Justification in Mystical Union by Underdog Theology on Aug 24, 2011Firstly, I must say that I have benefited immensely from the conversations on the doctrine of union with Christ that have ensued over the Net in the course of the past few weeks (which actually has spanned many years already). I am grateful for the...

Westminster Wednesday: More on "Unionism" by Underdog Theology on Aug 17, 2011In this article, Dr. John V. Fesko reviews two books that deal with the doctrine of union with Christ and its relation to John Calvin's theology. He gives approval to J. Todd Billings' Calvin, Participation, and the Gift: The Activity of Believers in...

The Analogy of Poor Street Kids by Underdog Theology on Jul 30, 2011Traversing the hallways and pathways of the metropolis, one cannot help but be confronted with the sad sight of children of various ages, in rags that pass off as clothes, pandering services that range from wiping off otherwise clean windshields of p...

Westminster Wednesday: "Unionism"? by Underdog Theology on Jul 20, 2011There is somewhat of a "debate" within Reformed circles, one that sees the "unionist" up against the "justificationist." While the doctrines of union with Christ and justification are both unequivocally propounded in Scripture and the Reformed confes...

The Sum of Salvation is Christ by Underdog Theology on Jul 7, 2011If the title's proposition is true, then why would there be ringing in the pulpits devoid of the declaration of the person and work of Christ? If the Christian life is held afloat by the gratitude that is formed by the realization in heart and mind o...

"Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry": A Trash Review Trashed by Underdog Theology on Jun 22, 2011There is an imminent possibility that I would be in possession of this book. It is quite unfortunate that a review of the book such as this, which fails on many fronts (exegetical, historical, etc.), exists. It is, however, refreshing that a correc...

The Faith for Good and Bad Works by Underdog Theology on Jun 7, 2011Imagine your best good work for God and your most heinous act. What do the two have in common? Sin. Both are tainted with it, the latter with it more apparent and yet the former undeniably has it crouching underneath, most likely veiled in self-right...

Union Then Faith or Faith Then Union? by Underdog Theology on Apr 2, 2011R. Scott Clark writes, "Historically and confessionally considered, however, the Reformed have taught that this third aspect of union, existential or vital or personal union with Christ is the consequence of faith, which is the consequence of Spirit-...