Reformed Christian Studies

Posted at Reformation Scotland : We have a certain natural inclination to “some new thing” (Acts 17:21). We live in time and that makes the expectation of change inevitable. New beginnings (such as a new year) can open fresh opportunities for transformation. But it becomes unhealthy when we value things simply because they are new rather than using a more enduring standard. An addiction to novelty creates destructive rootlessness and distraction. It afflicts the world and the Church. Adhering to things simply because they are old rather than because they are true is also lethal, however. How do we develop a healthy approach to new beginnings that doesn’t discard everything in the pursuit of novelty? We need new and old brought together in an enduring way. We need to consider time in the context of eternity. Hugh Binning explains how Christ is the unchanging but also the ever new; how He is eternal but entered time. These thoughts (drawn from 1 John 1:1-2) take us into the mys

(Arthur Pink, " Faith as an Overcomer ") "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4 One of the fruits of the new birth, is a faith which not only enables its possessor to overcome the sensual and sinful customs, and the carnal maxims and policies by which the profane world is regulated--but also the lying delusions and errors by which the professing world is fatally deceived. The only thing which will or can "overcome the world" is a God-given--but self-exercised faith. Faith overcomes the world firstly, by receiving into the heart God's infallible testimony of the world. He declares that "the world" is a corrupt, evanescent, hostile thing, which shall soon be destroyed by Him. His Holy Word teaches that the world is "evil" (Galatians 1:4); that "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and th

Excellent extensive list of Bible reading plans! - ed. From Ligonier Ministries: Many Christians take the beginning of a new year to evaluate their Bible reading habits and then change or begin a Bible reading plan. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of Bible reading plans for you to choose from. Maybe in 2019 you will read more of the Bible each day. Perhaps you’ll slow down your reading and instead spend more time considering what you read. Whatever it is you’re looking for in a reading plan, you should find it below... Review the plans here.

Belgic Confession, Week 26 Article 37: The Last Judgment Finally we believe, according to God’s Word, that when the time appointed by the Lord is come (which is unknown to all creatures) and the number of the elect is complete, our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, bodily and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty, to declare himself the judge of the living and the dead. He will burn this old world, in fire and flame, in order to cleanse it. Then all human creatures will appear in person before the great judge– men, women, and children, who have lived from the beginning until the end of the world. They will be summoned there by the voice of the archangel and by the sound of the divine trumpet. [79] For all those who died before that time will be raised from the earth, their spirits being joined and united with their own bodies in which they lived. And as for those who are still alive, they will not die like the others but will be changed “in the twinkling of

Details: 1) It does matter 2) God decides 3) God is not to be worshipped by images 4) God is not to be worshipped in any way not appointed in His Word 5) Where unauthorised worship leads Link: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=91002132722

Posted at A Puritan's Mind : Is Christmas Scriptural? What do you think? I want to thank the Committee on Christian Education for remaining faithful to the Orthodox Presbyterian tradition of respecting minority views that are firmly rooted in Presbyterian and Reformed history. I therefore gladly avail myself of the privilege to express myself on the subject of Christmas. It is seldom understood today that there was a time when such days as Christmas were generally regarded as lacking any warrant from Scripture. But listen to the careful statement of Idzerd Van Dellen and Martin Monsma in The Church Order Commentary (Zondervan, 1941). Under the heading of “The Original Position of the Reformed Churches regarding Special Days,” they say this on page 273: “During the early days of the Reformation some Reformed localities observed only Sunday. All special days sanctioned and revered by Rome were set aside. Zwingli and Calvin both encouraged the rejection of all ecclesiasti

Details: For those who say that "Jesus is the REASON for the SEASON, you might be appalled by what A.W. has to say here. Take it to heart, brethren... DAL A short statement by Pink on Christmas/Xmas. Why should we celebrate in the Lord's Name that which we were never commanded to observe? Narrated By Duane Linn Link:  https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1225151533240

By Dr. R. Scott Clark - Posted at The Heidelblog : Christmas, the Advent season in the church calendar, is a part of the culture. Christmas advertisements seem almost to run year round now. It is the one time when it almost seems acceptable (again) to be a Christian. Between the commercial and cultural pressure on one side and the religious impulse on the other, the press to observe Christmas or the Advent season of the church calendar is great. Yet, there are good reasons why members, elders, and laity ought to think critically about Christmas, advent, and the church calendar generally. Here are some resources on these issues. Read more here.