Since the Reformation, Protestants have looked with concern at the Mariology of the Roman Catholic Church. When a church makes doctrines concerning Mary essential to salvation there should be quizzical looks. And yet, in the rush to deny the Marian dogmas many Protestants can feel an uncomfortable tingle down their spine when they hear "Greetings Mary, God's favored one." Why is that?
Perhaps I can ask the question more practically. Why do people shudder at the sharing—common during Advent—of the depiction of Eve and Mary embraced while Mary's foot crushes a serpent? Or if I can ask even more directly, have Protestant overreacted to Roman doctrine and dismissed the true Biblical witness concerning the Virgin? Unveiled, why is it that some take issue with Mary crushing the head of the serpent?
Read MoreChrist's family was really normal except for all the ways it wasn't. In Luke 1, Elizabeth is filled with the Spirit at the mere sound of Mary's greeting, and the unborn prophet jumped for joy too. What kind of woman is Mary that the sound of her greeting brought such joys?
Read MoreOne is certainly inclined to disagree with the analysis of Calvin. But perhaps it would be wise to acknowledge his warning about those with "an extreme fondness for disputation."
Read MoreIf we are to glory in our weakness, as Paul says, let it be because this is our desire.
Read MoreIn conclusion, the gospels themselves present a uniformed baptism of Jesus and John. There is no articulated distinction between the two.
Read MoreWe are excited to make this available to the Reformed world once again. We look forward to the many insights that can be garnered from the words of the venerable John Calvin.
Read MoreIs it a sin to neglect baptism? To refuse to allow your children to be baptized?
Read MoreFor Calvin, baptism is at least a "promise of salvation" and this is in its application to children.
Read MoreThere is only one baptism, for us and our children. Our approach toward baptized children should be to treat them as what they are according to what God has said of them: Christians.
Read More"Yet woe to those who are silent about you because, though loquacious with verbosity, they have nothing to say.” —St. Augustine, Confessions 1.4
Read MoreFor all the clamor over his name, many continue to only read and apply popular portions of his thought. Hopefully, this catechism can work as a gateway to a renewed emphasis on truly Calvinistic thought.
Read More"Hence we infer that this is a most valuable treasure of the Church, that he has chosen for himself a habitation in it, to dwell in the hearts of believers by his Spirit, and next to preserve among them the doctrine of his gospel." - Calvin
Read MoreJoey Pipa's recent sermon celebrated and challenged a congregation in their new catechism school by preaching on Deuteronomy 6:1-9. This is a great sermon on the duties of covenantal living--enjoy!
Read More"God preserves, continues, and completes this work by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by its exhortations, threats, and promises." - Canons of Dort
Read More"Therefore, though we receive a perfect Christ by faith, yet the measure and degree of enjoying him is imperfect; and we hope still, so long as we are in this world, to enjoy him in a higher degree of perfection than we have done." - Walter Marshall
Read More"The image of God is much too rich for it to be fully realized in a single human being, however richly gifted that human being may be." - Bavinck
Read More"God's predestinating or determining will is an important element in the Reformed system, but it is not an all-encompassing principle." - Willem J. van Asselt
Read More"He does not call us up into heaven, he only proposes things which lie open before our eyes." - John Calvin
Read MoreWe then cannot otherwise derive benefit from baptism, than by having all our thoughts fixed on the death and the resurrection of Christ.
Read More"Fruits distinguish true faith from that faith which is merely historical and temporary" — Zacharias Ursinus
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