Reformed Christian Studies

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To Find Our Joy in Christ

By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms: How the Tenth Commandment Teaches Us to Be at Rest Good Morning! We are at the last of the ten words God gave to Israel at Mount Sinai. Out of all the commandments this one is the only one without judicial punishments in the civil law. We’ll talk about why that matters next week. It is unique also in that it primarily asks questions of the heart and soul. To be found in violation of the Tenth is to sin in a way that might show itself in the breaking of other parts of the statutes of our Lord, but in effect is known only to our Creator. It is humbling, and pointed in that way. Because as we consider the blessings of our Savior’s gift and grant of faith they should each point us back to the glory of God and strengthen the hold we have on the gospel love. The question this week’s Q/A seeks to answer is are we thankful for what He has done, and if we are does it show in how we use the new life provided by Christ? At the hear

Anna Reinhart Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation

By Simonetta Carr - Posted at Place for Truth: Most Protestants know the story of Katharina Van Bora, Martin Luther’s wife. Many books and articles have been written about her and her impact on Luther’s life and consequently on the Reformation. Fewer people have heard about Anna Reinhart, wife of Ulrich Zwingli, although her contribution might have been just as great. This is probably due to the scarcity of information about her life. Anna was a widow when she met Zwingli. Her first husband, Hans Meier von Knonau, was a nobleman who could have given Anna a comfortable life. But his family opposed his choice of seventeen-year-old Anna as a bride, due to her lower social status (she was an inn-keeper’s daughter). When the couple married secretly in 1504, Hans’s family disinherited him. For a while, John maintained an important rank in society. In 1511, he was appointed to the Zurich city council, but a shortage of money forced him to join the Swiss army as a mercenary. In 151

C.H. Spurgeon: High Places of Defense

"He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure" — Isaiah 33:16 The man to whom God has given grace to be of blameless life dwells in perfect security. He dwells on high, above the world, out of gunshot of the enemy, and near to heaven. He has high aims and motives, and he finds high comforts and company. He rejoices in the mountains of eternal love, wherein he has his abode. He is defended by munitions of stupendous rock. The firmest things in the universe are the promises and purposes of the unchanging God, and these are the safeguard of the obedient believer. He is provided for by this great promise: "Bread shall be given him." As the enemy cannot climb the fort, nor break down the rampart, so the fortress cannot be captured by siege and famine. The LORD, who rained manna in the wilderness, will keep His people in good store even when they are surrounded by those who would starve th

The End of the Age: The Last Days According to Jesus with R.C. Sproul

Presented by Ligonier Ministries (YouTube) Description: When Jesus spoke about His coming at the end of the age, did He mean at the end of world history? In this message, R.C. Sproul explains that these passages describe not Jesus’ final judgment but something else entirely. Direct Link: The End of the Age: The Last Days According to Jesus with R.C. Sproul - YouTube

Ryle and the Word of God

By Nathan A. Hughes "Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or friend above the Word of God." J. C. RYLE I am sure you have read one of J.C. Ryle’s books. His most well-known title is Holiness or to give its full title Holiness: Its Nature, Hinderances, Difficulties and Roots . Perhaps you have read Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century or his commentary series on the four Gospel, which he called Expository Thoughts . Before I go into the bulk of this article let me give you some background on Ryle. John Charles Ryle was born on 10 May 1816 in Macclesfield, England. He was the eldest son of John Ryle, a private banker, and an influential Member of Parliament for Macclesfield (1833–1837). Ryle was brought up in a middle/upper-class family and his father was financially well off. Ryle was brought up to go to Church on special occasions and in a cultural Christian household, but his family was not serious about religion. From the l

Procedure, Polity, and Defending Sin

By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms: How the Ninth Commandment Teaches Us About Truth-Telling Howdy! Man, out of all the catechism questions we’ve gone through over the past year and a half I am pretty sure not only is this the longest one, but it is the one that highlights every single problem we experience in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The length of today’s essay cannot do the totality of the Q/A justice. Part of me wants to do about twelve posts on each of the clauses contained herein. However, I don’t figure you particularly want that level of minutiae. That all being said I highly recommend slowly reading through each of them and imbibe deeply into your soul the stuff listed. It is convicting, at least it is for me. As we get into the WLC this morning I will try and do justice to the thought of our forefathers in the faith, for it is definitely all-encompassing in regards to what the ninth requires of God’s covenant people. To ignore what i

Reformed Stupidity?

By Wes Bredenhof I saw this question on Reddit recently: Do Reformed preachers not see the stupidity of telling people not to rely on their works while also saying genuine faith produces good works? It just seems like double-speak to avoid being labeled Catholic or Arminian. I reply: this Reformed preacher fails to see the stupidity in this at all. I’ll explain. There is an important distinction being missed here by the questioner. In Reformed theology, we distinguish between the basis of your salvation and the outcome/response to your salvation. Drawing on the Bible, Reformed theology teaches that the basis or ground of our salvation is only in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). His perfect obedience and his perfect sacrifice on the cross constitute my righteousness before God. I can be justified – declared righteous – only because of Christ. Therefore, I rely on him and what he has done, rather than on me and what I have done. Having been saved by God’s free grace in Ch

C.H. Spurgeon: 'Doing What God Can Bless'

'The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto' — Deuteronomy 28:8 If we obey the LORD our God He will bless that which He gives us. Riches are no curse when blessed of the LORD. When men have more than they require for their immediate need and begin to lay up in storehouses, the dry rot of covetousness or the blight of hard-heartedness is apt to follow the accumulation; but with God's blessing it is not so. Prudence arranges the saving, liberality directs the spending, gratitude maintains consecration, and praise sweetens enjoyment. It is a great mercy to have God's blessing in one's iron safe and on one's banking account. What a favor is made ours by the last clause! "The LORD shall bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand unto." We would not put our hand to anything upon which we dare not ask God's blessing, neither would we go about it without prayer and faith. But what a p

This Generation: The Last Days According to Jesus with R.C. Sproul

Presented by Ligonier Ministries (YouTube) Description: Critics have argued that Jesus did not return when He predicted. In this message, R.C. Sproul examines this supposedly unfulfilled prophecy and defends the Bible’s credibility. Direct Link: This Generation: The Last Days According to Jesus with R.C. Sproul - YouTube