Reformed Christian Studies

Galatians 5 (KJV) 5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach ci

By Hannah More - Posted at GraceGems.org: "Sir," said he, "I quarreled with the family and I thought I was at once fit for the army. I did not know the qualifications it required. I had not reckoned on discipline, and hardships, and self-denial. I liked well enough to sing a loyal song, or drink to the king's health, but I find I do not relish working and fighting for him, though I rashly promised even to lay down my life for his service if called upon, when I took the bounty money and the oath of allegiance. In short, sir, I find that I long for the ease and sloth, the merriment and the feasting of my old service; I find I cannot be a soldier, and, to speak truth, I was in the very act of deserting when I was stopped short by the cannon-ball. So that I feel the guilt of desertion, and the misery of having lost my leg into the bargain." William was a lively young servant, who worked and lived in a great, but very irregular family. His place was on the w

Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History : It was on this day, May 25th, in 1823, that Dr. Archibald Alexander wrote to his ailing mother, rejoicing in her recent recovery, yet seeking also to console and comfort her in the last days of her old age. The language of his letter may seem rather formal—we attribute that to the times. That he loved his mother dearly is no less certain. But his counsel here is so apt and useful for all to profit from. Take it to heart! Dr. Alexander to his Mother Princeton, May 25, 1823. My Dear Mother:— “When I last saw you, it was very doubtful whether you would ever rise again from the bed to which you were confined. Indeed, considering your great age, it was not to be expected that you should entirely recover your usual health. I was much gratified to find that in the near prospect of eternity, your faith did not fail, but that you could look death in the face without dismay, and felt willing, if it were the will of God, to depart from this world o

Posted at Place for Truth : Today, the title First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women evokes images of an approaching army of terrifying woman-like creatures. Its author, John Knox, meant something quite different. It was the title of a short treatise on government (regiment = rule) held by women, a concept he found unnatural (monstrous). It was not a controversial idea. At that time, most people believed that government was a male prerogative. The biblical examples of women leaders were seen as an indication of the corruption of times when no man could rise to the task. Most Protestant leaders, however, wouldn’t have expressed their thoughts in such drastic terms. They were concerned about winning rulers – male or female – to their cause, and tempered their words accordingly. But Knox was not a tame man. Read more here.

Source: Reformation Scotland Posted at  Reformation Scotland: Crucifixion is perhaps the most violent, humiliating and painful method of execution ever devised. The very word that we use for acute pain (excruciating) comes from crucifying. Yet we must never forget that the deepest sufferings were infinitely greater than the physical pain. As someone has put it, the soul of His sufferings was the sufferings of His soul. What do we mean by His soul sufferings? Samuel Rutherford puts it succinctly: the Saviour suffered in His soul “God’s wrath, which was a very hell to Christ”. He endured the felt wrath of God instead of the felt blessing that He never before lacked. Merely physical sufferings would not have satisfied divine justice. This is a vital point. David Dickson gives several reasons for it: 1. The curse of the fall (breaking the covenant made with Adam) was death, both of body and soul. The redeemed had to be delivered from the death of both by the Redeemer enduring b

By Brig Jones - Posted at Sermon Audio Scripture Text: 1 John 4:7-12 (KJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Link: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=521171427235

Courtesy of GraceGems.org : ~ ~ ~ ~ When I consider the cross of Christ — how can anything that I do be called sacrifice? ~ ~ ~ ~ Let nothing be said about anyone — unless it passes through these three sieves: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? ~ ~ ~ ~ We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own — yet we settle down in this world, in the most un-stranger-like fashion — exactly as if we were quite at home and meant to stay as long as we could. Apostolic living has certainly died! ~ ~ ~ ~ If a sudden irritation can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word — then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water — however suddenly jolted. ~ ~ ~ ~ We must look upon the world, with all its delights and all its attractions — with suspicion and reserve. We who love our Lord and whose affections are set on Heavenly things — voluntarily and gladly lay aside the things that charm and r

Posted at Reformed Doctrine Daily : Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 48:1-11. “Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are named Israel And who came forth from the loins of Judah, Who swear by the name of the Lord And invoke the God of Israel, But not in truth nor in righteousness. 2 “For they call themselves after the holy city And lean on the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is His name. 3 “I declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. 4 “Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron sinew And your forehead bronze, 5 Therefore I declared them to you long ago, Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, So that you would not say, ‘My idol has done them, And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.’ 6 “You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, Even hidden things which you have not known

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. ~Proverbs 6:16-19 (AKJV)  By Nicholas Davis - Posted at CCC Discover : According to Proverbs 6:16–19 , God hates these six things because they destroy unity and breed discord among people: 1. God hates the arrogant and proud. Herod was struck down dead by God because he let people worship him as a god ( Acts 12:21–23 ). 2. God hates lying. A couple named Ananias and Sapphira were struck down dead by God for lying to the apostles about money ( Acts 5:1–10 ). 3. God hates violence against the innocent. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, God cursed him to be a fugitive ( Gen. 4:8–12 ). Read more here.

Posted at This Day in Presbyterian History : John Newton Waddell was born on April 2, 1812 in Willington, South Carolina to the Rev. Moses Waddell and his wife Eliza Woodson Pleasant Waddell. He received his education at the University of Georgia, attending there from 1826-1829 and graduating with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He taught at an Academy in Willington, SC from 1830-1832 and was principal of a grammar school in Athens, Georgia from 1833-1834. For a time he turned his hand to farming in South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, 1835-1841, before answering a call to the ministry. He was licensed to preach by Mississippi Presbytery on 15 September 1841 and then served as stated supply for the Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church of Smith County, Mississippi in 1842. He was then ordained to the pastorate by Tombeckbee Presbytery on 23 October 1843, initially serving as stated supply for the Montrose and Mt. Moriah churches of Newton County, MS, while also serving as a teacher at

Posted at Monergism.com : Regeneration is the spiritual change wrought in the heart of man by the Holy Spirit in which his/her inherently sinful nature is changed so that he/she can respond to God in Faith, and live in accordance with His Will (Matt. 19:28; John 3:3,5,7; Titus 3:5). It extends to the whole nature of man, altering his governing disposition, illuminating his mind, freeing his will, and renewing his nature. Regeneration, or new birth, is an inner re-creating of fallen human nature by the gracious sovereign action of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8). The Bible conceives salvation as the redemptive renewal of man on the basis of a restored relationship with God in Christ, and presents it as involving "a radical and complete transformation wrought in the soul (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23) by God the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; Eph. 4:24), by virtue of which we become 'new men' (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), no longer conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9), b

By T.M. Moore - Posted at The Fellowship of Ailbe : We need the Spirit to work in our conscience. Referee of the Soul (5) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit… Romans 9.1 The work of the Spirit We have mentioned the Spirit of God in conjunction with the conscience. Let’s elaborate on that a bit more. The Spirit, we said, renews the writing of the works of the Law of God on our heart by teaching and enabling us to obey the commandments of the Lord. What years of neglect and sinful works had obscured, the Spirit, Who comes to us at the moment of salvation, now begins to renew, taking up the work of God again and writing the Law on our souls so that we might live honorably and in love to God and man (Ezek. 36.26, 27). As He sets the Law in its proper place in our heart, as the rule book for loving God and neighbors, He provides the means whereby the conscience can arbitrate between thoughts and feelings. Apparently, if

Posted at The Reformed Reader : The Bible teaches that sinful people cannot earn salvation or contribute to their salvation. Justification and eternal life are free gifts of God received by faith alone in Christ alone (Rom 4:1-8, Gal. 2:15-16, Eph 2:8, etc.). Or as the Heidelberg Catechism says, the good we do can’t make us right or help make us right with God because he demands entire perfection, but “even the very best we do in this life is imperfect and stained with sin” (Q 62). However, doesn’t God promise to reward obedience (Mt. 5:12, 10:41-41, Heb. 11:6, etc.)? Geerhardus Vos explained this well: “That being judged “according to works” also applies to believers is apparent from Matthew 25:34–40; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12. However, this is not to be understood in the sense that works provide the basis for the decision whether one has earned or not earned salvation. Works will come into consideration as a manifestation of genuine saving fait

Posted at Reformation Scotland : The Church is often given scant regard in society at large. Changing values and trends push the church well into the shadows. Statistics like those in the recent Scottish Church Census are not lacking to underline how secularised things have become. It is easy to see the Church as weak when viewed outwardly. Again, however, we must see the Church from Christ’s perspective rather than look through the blurred lens of unbelief. Christ’s true Church in Scotland seemed perhaps even more weak and despised in the times of James Renwick than it does now. Renwick was ordained as a minister in Holland in 1683, before coming back to Scotland to begin preaching. The flocks to which Renwick returned were in his own words, “a poor, wasted, wounded, afflicted, bleeding, misrepresented, and reproached remnant and handful of suffering people”. They had no congregations and no buildings in which to worship. Conventicles or illegal worship services in the field

By C.H. Spurgeon - Posted at Sermon Audio/ Daily Checkbook: "The LORD thy God will turn thy captivity" — Deuteronomy 30:3 God's own people may sell themselves into captivity by sin. A very bitter fruit is this, of an exceeding bitter root. What a bondage it is when the child of God is sold under sin, held in chains by Satan, deprived of his liberty, robbed of his power in prayer and his delight in the LORD! Let us watch that we come not into such bondage; but if this has already happened to us, let us by no means despair. But we cannot be held in slavery forever. The LORD Jesus has paid too high a price for our redemption to leave us in the enemy's hand. The way to freedom is, "Return unto the LORD thy God." Where we first found salvation we shall find it again. At the foot of Christ's cross, confessing sin, we shall find pardon and deliverance. Moreover, the LORD will have us obey His voice according to all that He has commanded us, and we must d

By Pastor Geoff Ingrum - Posted at Sermon Audio: Details: Series: Grace Bible Conference 2017 · 5 of 8 Suffering is interwoven into the fabric of redemption's story. This message demonstrates how the suffering of Christ lays the foundation for our story of suffering and gives us hope. Approx. 55 minutes Link: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=42917228341

 Ballymacashon Congregational Church By Pastor Bob McEvoy - Posted at The Salty Scrivener : Text Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. A Christian will be CONSECRATED! Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. So, since consecration is our proper response to Christ, let’s see what Paul teaches us about it here. The Cost of Consecration. Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. To take up the cross had great weight of meaning to the Jews. It was a final act of degradation, a horrible, painful, emotional experience, and Jesus is telling his disciples that if they are going to follow him they must take up their cross, they must deny themselves, they must have such a depth of commitment that it

To the choirmaster. A Maskil[ a ] of the Sons of Korah. 44 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: 2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; 3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! 5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. 6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. 7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah 9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. 10 You have made us turn back f

By Pastor Shawn Mathis - Posted at Sermon Audio: Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (NKJV) Examine Yourself 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[a] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[b] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[c] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Link: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=430172034568 (Approx. 30 minutes)