by Luke Geraty | Sep 1, 2017 | Sacramentalism, Systematic Theology, Theological Studies
If a sacrament is a means of grace, or to improve upon an Augustinian idea, a visible sign of both invisible and visible grace, how might the church be sacramental? This is a question I have long been wrestling with and the suggestion I made in my dissertation was...
by Luke Geraty | Jun 28, 2017 | Baptism, Charismatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Eucharist, Pneumatology, Sacramentalism, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Below is a copy of the paper I presented at the 2017 Society of Vineyard Scholars’ annual gathering (PDF can be found here). I essentially argue that sacramentality is essential for Vineyard theology and praxis, especially the regular celebration of Communion....
by Luke Geraty | Jan 7, 2017 | Ecclesiology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
One of my favorite worship albums is Jeremy Riddle’s “The Now and Not Yet.” This “now and not yet” theology was made somewhat “famous” amongst Evangelicals by the scholarly work of George Eldon Ladd, especially in his The...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 29, 2015 | Church History, Ecclesiology, Epistemology, Philosophy, Systematic Theology, Theological Studies, Theology Proper
Been reading Carl R. Trueman’s The Creedal Imperative. I love Trueman… even when I totally and completely disagree with him (which seems like 50% of the time). He makes so many wonderful points that are historically informed and hilariously obvious,...
by Luke Geraty | Apr 22, 2014 | Biblical Theology, Eschatology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Craig Blaising writes: “The theology of Luke-Acts teaches that when Jesus ascended into heaven, he was enthroned with kingdom authority.64 Paul teaches that Jesus is presently seated at the right hand of God with all things in subjection under his feet (Eph....
by Luke Geraty | Mar 20, 2014 | Homosexuality, Soteriology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
As a pastor, I’ve interacted with numerous people who have struggled with the desire to have a lot of sex with as many people as possible. Generally speaking, this struggle has come from men, but I’m sure there are women who have this desire. At any rate,...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 1, 2014 | Epistemology, Systematic Theology, Theological Studies, Theology Proper
For the past week or so I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve been focused on in 2013 and what I’d like to focus on for 2014. I think there are a lot of people probably in the same boat. We’re assessing our lives and examining what we have...
by Luke Geraty | Aug 13, 2012 | Gospel, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology
Heinrich Bullinger, the 16th century Swiss Reformer, wrote a book with a typically long title: “The grace of God that justifies us for the sake of Christ through faith alone, without good works, while faith meanwhile abounds in good works.” Would you agree...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 23, 2012 | Christology, Gospel, John Calvin, Systematic Theology
Have you ever stopped to think about the privileges that believers in Christ have? Sometimes I think we take what we have for granted, so it’s helpful to have a reminder. Tonight I was reading through John Owen’s Lesser Catechism and found a great answer...
by Luke Geraty | Jun 6, 2012 | Pneumatology, Systematic Theology
Gordon D. Fee writes, “What does the Holy Spirit do? He acts as a divine personal agent in myriad ways. The Spirit searches all things (1 Cor 2:10), knows the mind of God (1 Cor 2:11), teaches the content of the gospel to believers (1 Cor 2:13), dwells among or...
by Luke Geraty | May 13, 2012 | Biblical, Biblical Theology, Reviews, Systematic Theology, Theology
God is Love is subtitled, “A Biblical and Systematic Theology.” Right out the gate I am going to state that I am not sure exactly why the author or publisher provided that subtitle. It actually locked me into expecting something that Bray’s book...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 2, 2012 | Biblical Theology, Eschatology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, The Vineyard Movement
Inaugurated who? Inaugurated eschatology. Eschatology is generally understood as the “study of end times,” but when used with reference to inaugurated eschatology, it refers specifically to the kingdom of God and how it relates to Jesus’ first...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 1, 2012 | Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology
I love how Geerhardus Vos explains the differences between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology. He writes, “In Biblical Theology the principle is one of historical, in Systematic Theology it is one of logical construction. Biblical Theology draws a line of...
by Luke Geraty | Dec 13, 2011 | Christology, Systematic Theology
“With regard to the conception, the Old Roman Creed, of very great antiquity, says He ‘was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.’ The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (AD 325, 381) says He ‘was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became...
by Luke Geraty | Jul 13, 2011 | Biblical Theology, Church History, Gospel, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology
Yesterday my copy of the latest JETS came in the mail and I was pleasantly surprised to find an article by Michael J. Bird – “What is There Between Minneapolis and St. Andrews? A Third Way in the Piper-Wright Debate” (pp. 299-309). It is one of the...
by Luke Geraty | Apr 26, 2011 | Christology, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology
Michael Horton writes, “What a wondrous thing it is that even though Jesus Christ has been exalted to the throne of God, absent from us in the flesh, we may nevertheless only now be united to him in a manner far more intimate than the fellowship enjoyed by the...
by Luke Geraty | Feb 25, 2011 | Gospel, Hermeneutics, Reformed Theology, Scripture, Soteriology, Systematic Theology
If you’ve ever read Romans or James, you’ve encountered the apparent theological “debate” between James and Paul. On the surface, there appears to be a contradiction between these two biblical authors, as seen below: “a person is...
by Luke Geraty | Feb 4, 2011 | Apologetics, Christology, Church History, Systematic Theology
Awhile ago a lot of chatter occurred on the blogosphere due to a sermon that Rob Bell preached and something he wrote in Velvet Elvis. Bell basically suggested that the truthfulness of the Virgin Birth didn’t really affect his faith. In other words, if he found...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 11, 2011 | Gospel, Hermeneutics, Reformed Theology, Soteriology, Systematic Theology
In March of 1993, the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS) included an article by Dr. Thomas Schreiner titled, “Does Romans 9 Teach Individual Election Unto Salvation? Some Exegetical and Theological Reflections.” Several years later (June...
by Luke Geraty | Nov 24, 2010 | Church History, Systematic Theology
Paul Poppe wrote why he likes catechisms. There is much to commend in what he writes. I especially appreciate the four reasons that he lists that favor the use of catechisms in the training of our children. However, though Paul rightly corrects some of the common...
