Twenty Errors of the Federal Vision

Twenty errors that are held by one or more advocates of the Federal Vision are listed in the conclusion of the report of the OPC's Committee to Study the Doctrine of Justification:

1. Pitting Scripture and Confession against each other.
2. Regarding the enterprise of systematic theology as inherently rationalistic.
3. A mono-covenantalism that sees one covenant, originating in the intra-Trinitarian fellowship, into which man is invited, thus flattening the concept of covenant and denying the distinction between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace.
4. Election as primarily corporate and eclipsed by covenant.
5. Seeing covenant as only conditional.
6. A denial of the covenant of works and of the fact that Adam was in a relationship with God that was legal as well as filial.
7. A denial of a covenant of grace distinct from the covenant of works.
8. A denial that the law given in Eden is the same as that more fully published at Mt. Sinai and that it requires perfect obedience.
9. Viewing righteousness as relational, not moral.
10. A failure to make clear the difference between our faith and Christ's.
11. A denial of the imputation of the active obedience of Christ in our justification.
12. Defining justification exclusively as the forgiveness of sins.
13. The reduction of justification to Gentile inclusion.
14. Including works (by use of "faithfulness," "obedience," etc.) in the very definition of faith.
15. Failing to affirm an infallible perseverance and the indefectibility of grace.
16. Teaching baptismal regeneration.
17. Denying the validity of the concept of the invisible church.
18. An overly objectified sacramental efficacy that downplays the need for faith and that tends toward an ex opere operato [automatically effective] view of the sacraments.
19. Teaching paedocommunion.
20. Ecclesiology that eclipses and swallows up soteriology.

(Taken from Understanding the "Federal Vision" by Alan Strange, which contains a short summary of issues covered in the OPC Report on Justification.)

The Nexus of Doctrines

by A. A. Hodge (1823-1886)

The doctrines of the Bible are not isolated, but interlaced; and the view of one doctrine must necessarily affect the view taken of another. A difference on such a fundamental question as the divinity of Christ will produce an entirely different system. This is found so in fact.

Here are triads which, as is natural, have gone together:

----- Christ a man;
----- Human nature not depraved;
----- Salvation merely education.
or
----- Christ a divine person;
----- Human nature depraved;
----- Salvation by the almighty power of God.

You may being your argument from the correlation of doctrine at either end. Beginning with a diagnosis of the nature of the disease, you may infer the kind of treatment and the sort of physician necessary. Or, if you find a certain physician applying a certain remedy, you may infer the nature and gravity of the disease.

(Extract from Princetoniana: Charles and A. A. Hodge with Class and Table Talk of Hodge the Younger [1888].)

Definitions

by A. A. Hodge (1823-1886)

The truth of God is a boundless expanse. Definitions are made for man; not man for definitions. They are like ring-fences out on the prairies. They are useful, and I am fond of them. But they have to be learned and unlearned.

(Extract from Princetoniana: Charles and A. A. Hodge with Class and Table Talk of Hodge the Younger [1888].)

Why Is 'A' a Christian and 'B' Not?

by A. A. Hodge (1823-1886)

Where shall we seek the explanation of the difference between these two hearers of the same Gospel?

The Pelagian answered—'A's purpose was sufficient: he willed it, and he became a Christian.'

The Semi-Pelagian says—'A did his best, and God helped him.'

The Arminian says—'A used the gracious ability, the prevenient grace, given by God to all, while B did not.'

The Lutheran says—'A and B both needed prevenient and co-operating grace. Neither could co-operate, but either might resist. B did resist, while A did not. Hence the difference.'

The Calvinist says—'A was regenerated by the grace of Almighty God.'

(Extract from Princetoniana: Charles and A. A. Hodge with Class and Table Talk of Hodge the Younger [1888].)

Maps of American Religious Adherents

According to greatest percentage for a church body:

(View larger image.)

Red: Baptist
Blue: Roman Catholic
Brown: Mormon
Orange: Lutheran
Green: Methodist

According to percentage of Presbyterians:

(View larger image.)

Want to see more maps? Check out this website which gives a list for various denominations and even a few other religions represented in America.