On October 31, 2021, we will commemorate the 504th anniversary of the Reformation. What really is the Reformation all about? A good case can be made for asserting that it was primarily about the cardinal doctrine of justification by faith alone. Others would argue that its primary emphasis was on soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) […]
The doctrine of predestination is the teaching that before the creation of the world God decided the everlasting destiny of each individual person that he would make. God’s choice to save certain sinners by grace is called election, and his choice to damn certain sinners as they deserve is reprobation. Predestination is part of God’s […]
In this article, Dr. Joel R Beeke responds to the material presented in an important new book written by lain Murray, Revival and Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism 1750–1858 (Banner of Truth Trust, 1994). Revival and Revivalism is an outstanding, thoroughly researched work by the editorial director of the Banner of Truth […]
The godly farmer who plows his field, sows seed, fertilizes and cultivates, is acutely aware that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent for an assured crop on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, the rain to fall, the sun to shine. But he pursues his task […]
Last month Dr. Beeke treated the Biblical command to “Be holy, for I am holy.” He now addresses the subject of cultivating holiness. THE CULTIVATION OF HOLINESS Concretely, then, what must you cultivate? Three things. 1. Imitation to the character of Jehovah. God says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). The […]
The name of Cornelius Van Til is inseparable from Reformed, presuppositional apologetics. Due to the importance yet complexity of Van Til’s thinking and of the discipline of apologetics in general, I aim to provide in this brief article a few sketchy notes on this Reformed apologist’s background and basic thought, as well as a capsule […]
The cultivation of holiness is demanding. Thomas Watson called it “sweating work.” Happily, God provides us with several motives to holiness in His Word. To encourage us in the pursuit of holiness, we need to keep our eyes focused on the following biblical truths. 1. God has called you to holiness for your good and […]
Last month Dr. Beeke presented encouragements for cultivating holiness. Now he discusses obstacles to the cultivating of holiness. The cultivation of holiness will inevitably meet with numerous obstacles. Much impedes holiness. Five common problems against which we need to be on guard are these: 1. Our attitude to sin and life itself is prone to […]
Keep me from falsehood, let Thy law With me in grace abide; The way of faithfulness I choose, Thy precepts are my guide. I cleave unto Thy truth, O Lord; From shame deliver me; In glad obedience I will live Through strength bestowed by Thee.1 The law of God addresses the world and the life […]
Last month’s article examined the first two uses of the law, the civil and evangelical uses, in the light of Scripture and Reformed thought. In this article an attempt is made to set forth how the third use of the law developed in Reformed theology. A concluding article next month will deal with practical conclusions […]