Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. (Hosea 4:6,7)
Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 21:15b)
Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:7,8)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7a)
Not my will, but thine be done. (The Lord Jesus Christ), (Luke 22:42b)
Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Justification is the beginning of love. -- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (McNeill/Battles), 3.14.6, p. 773 and context (1 John 4:10,11)
The Christian lives through forgiveness. -- J.I. Packer (1926-2020)
This is the foundation of our religion, the Rock whereon the church is built, the ground of all our hopes of salvation, of life and immortality: all is resolved into this, -- namely, the representation that is made of the nature and will of God in the person and office of Christ. -- John Owen (1616-1683)
The most pressing question on the problem of faith is whether a man as a civilized being can believe in the divinity of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for therein rests the whole of our faith. -- Fyodor Dostoevski (1821-1881), (John 6:28,29; Romans 10:9)
The depravity of man [Jeremiah 17:9,10] is at once the most empirically verifiable reality, but at the same time the most intellectually resisted fact. (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21b; Ecclesiastes 9:3b; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:3-5) -- Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990).
See John Calvin's Commentary on Isaiah, Chapter 33 [Isaiah 33:1-66], and his commentary on the entire book of Jeremiah. [Jeremiah 1:19. . . .]For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:29)
God is indeed absolutely sovereign (Revelation 15:3b,4; Jude 24,25), and man is indeed totally depraved, rebellious, and stubborn. (Genesis 3:3-7; Genesis 6:5,11; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9,10) God is in complete control of our lives, both before and after we come to know Christ. Each of our lives is an intricate tapestry. (Edith Schaeffer, Romans 8:28) Mature Christians can look back upon their lives, both before and after coming to know God, and can see a series of events preparing them for their unique calling. Everything that happens to us has purpose and significance.
Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) He also said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18) In the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7) the only trustworthy source of help is the Lord himself. (Psalm 34:4; Psalm 56:9; Psalm 62:1-12; Psalm 106:10; Romans 8:38,39; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; James 4:7; Hebrews 13:5) We must trust in God and not in men. (Psalm 37:1-4) Indeed, the just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17b)
When we trust exclusively in Christ, commit each day to God, and yield moment-by-moment to the Holy Spirit, then we begin to see how Divine Providence superintends our lives. We begins to see how God weaves relationships and events, both before and after salvation, into His grand design. (Edith Schaeffer, Romans 8:28) We are given a glimpse of how all of life's events are preparation to serve Him. We begin to see that everything that has happened to us has a purpose, even the adversity that is so hard to understand. (Romans 8:28; Bunyan; Sibbes)
I was 34 years of age before I fully trusted in The Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us from the evil of this world. (Isaiah 25:1,4,8,9; 1 Peter 3:18a) I was 34 before I had faith in the atoning death of Christ, His resurrection, adoption into His eternal Kingdom, and eternal life. (Psalm 90:1-17; Psalm 145:1-21) What an inconceivable and undeserved gift! (Jude 24,25)
If we are able to understand that there is something basically wrong with this world (total depravity), (Genesis 3:3-7; Genesis 6:5,11; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9,10), and if, at the same time, we are also able to understand that we are a part of that problem (For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. [Romans 3:23]), then we really have something -- an understanding of our need for salvation (peace with God [Isaiah 27:5] and eternal life [Romans 6:23]) through repentance. Faith in Christ, and his substutionary death on the cross for us, delivers us from the evil (deceit and destruction) of this world. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Acts 16:30,31; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:9,10,13; Luke 18:13; John 3:16,17; Romans 8:38,39; John 10:27-30; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Mark 16:16; John 20:31; Matthew 5:16; Luke 9:24-26)
I am convinced that the Gospel is the only mechanism by which our redemption could have been accomplished. If any reader knows of another way that God, in his perfect holiness, could have redeemed fallen man -- could have reconciled sinful man to a holy God -- other than by sending his Son to do for us that which we could not do for ourselves, then please explain it to me.
Outwardly our family appeared to be a typical young suburban family with two children. However, it was only nominally Christian. After church on Sunday morning it was "back to business as usual."
I had been told that I was "a good little boy." As a youngster I knew no better. I had no awareness of my sinfulness. At the time of my confirmation I remember being puzzled about why Christ had to suffer and to die for me. I was blind to my part in it all (Psalm 106:15), my covetousness, my ignorance of His Word, and the sin that followed as a consequence.
It is said that the best thing that a parent can do for their children is to love their spouse. (1 John 4:6,8-10,16) Our parents were emotionally divorced. Later, away from home, I could see by comparison that my family was dysfunctional. The family atmosphere was unhealthy and abusive in subtile ways (Micah 7:5-7; Acts 3:19). Repentance, forgiveness (Matthew 5:23,24; Matthew 6:14), and reconciliation of relationships (2 Corinthians 5:17-19), were not forthcoming among any of us before I came to know Christ.
Childhood was not "happy." One parent was highly manipulative, controlled us by withholding love,[1] was cold and indifferent, punished us by shaming us, was a "kill joy," poured cold water on our enthusiasm, new friendships often withered, "you should smile more often," and so forth, and so on. Notice the secularist would call this narcissism.
Consequently, I was not well adjusted emotionally. I experienced an inability to concentrate, an inferiority complex, a lack of self-confidence, trouble making friends, could not learn to read, and so forth, and so on.
As a child I longed for the love and acceptance of my parents. Years of overachieving followed, but none of my achievements ever seemed to earn their love and acceptance. Overachieving, two sever illnesses, the first at age 10, and resulting poor health lead to career failure, and then menial work and poverty.
All this was heartbreaking and stressful. Emotional and physical problems arose. Suffered a case of scarlet fever at age ten. I was never the same after that. No longer could sleep on my stomach. Always slept on my back or right side, so that the right shoulder actually curved forward. I suffered from moderately severe depression that started in childhood. Lacked energy. Injured my back in 1964, which prevented me from doing heavy lifting. Suffered another sever illness in 1971 that further disrupted my metabolism. Consequently, I lived most of the prime of my life below the poverty level from 1971-1984, and again from 1991, after moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to the present in retirement. (Job 13:15)
One effect was that I became ungrateful for the sacrifices my parents were making to raise me. When as a teen I rebelled against my parents I also rebelled against their nominal religion. Unwittingly I alienated myself from Christian fellowship, not knowing how important it is. (Matthew 18:20)
I became estranged from my parents after the military. I never married, and never have owned real estate. From about 1965 to 1978, when I came to know Christ, I was very much a lone soul.
All of this had the effect of utterly crushing my ego, and crushing any personal pride and ambitions. (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17; Bunyan; Sibbes) Life was NOT going to be anything like I might have expected (wife, children, career, house in the suburbs, vacations, security, estate, retirement).
Notice that when our parents forsake us, then the Lord will take us up. (Psalm 27:10) His marvelous Sovereign Grace is sufficient. We can live by His Grace, being justified moment-by-moment by the completed atonement and by the person and work of Christ Jesus.
About 1964, while still an unregenerate student, I became convicted that I had made so many bad decisions in life, that I set out to write a novel that would model an ideal family. Then, to my surprise, about 1992, I found THE ELSIE BOOKS and the MILDRED KEITH books, by Martha Finley, classic, didactic, Christian fiction which models an extended Christian family. When I began compiling bibliography, research turned up many books, beyond the Bible itself, written as advice to young men and to young women.
When I left home for school and the military I was swallowed up by secular humanism (Matthew 15:9, Singer), the wrong values, and the wrong world views of my peers. Without realizing what was happening, I lost sight of the absolute truths of the Bible I had learned in the Lutheran church. Truth was crowded from my mind, Truth that could have given meaning to life. Things began to go wrong, and I had no idea why.
Right after out-processing from the military in April 1971 I had another sudden and sever illness (food poisoning), that knocked my metabolism out of balance, and left me with even less energy, and with a constellation of symptoms. I could no longer sleep on my right side, only on my back. God had gotten my attention. My feeling then was that my life was ruined, that I probably would never accomplish anything of significance. But, of course, when we are weak, then He is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9,10)
And he said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. [1]Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may [2]rest upon me.After loosing numerous job opportunities, hope of a career or a family grew dim. Major problems loomed in most areas of my life. But I had hope that there was a Truth that would give meaning and purpose to life. So I committed myself to a search for The Truth. (Book-length presentations of the free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture, Epistemology of theology, Calvinism, The westminster standards, Owen, Bunyan, Packer, Singer, and so forth, and so on.) Perhaps this hope came from memories of Christian fellowship during my churchgoing youth. My earthly dreams were crushed, but I searched for ways of self-improvement, and I wanted to change my life. However, at that point I did not know where to look for help.
Therefore I take [1]pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. -- Paul quoting The Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9,10)
12:9 [1] He concludeth, that he will only see his miseries against the vain brags of the false apostles, and therewith also excuseth himself, for that by their importunity, he was constrained to speak so much of these things as he did: to wit, because that if his Apostleship were subverted his doctrine must needs fall.
12:9 [2] That I might feel the virtue of Christ more and more: For the weaker that our tabernacles are, the more doth Christ's virtue appear in them.
12:10 [1] I do not only take them patiently and with a good heart, but also I take great pleasure in them.-- 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
First I began looking for solutions to my problems. I was looking especially for power for physical healing. But I was following feelings and reasoning only, and it was impossible to tell who was true. I rubbed shoulders with non-Christian and pseudo-Christian movements that promised some power to change my life. I practiced Transcendental Meditation, and then studied the works of Sri Aurobindo for several years.
I was studying the New Testament, non-dualistic eastern religion, and a few pseudo-Christian movements, all at the same time. I became more and more disillusioned. Eastern religion emphasizes experience. In fact, they dethrone God by demanding autonomy for man. These movements believed that they must serve the Lord in their own power and might. (Zechariah 4:6b)
The eastern religions are diametrically opposed to historic, orthodox Christianity. They usurp the power of Christ. Non-dualistic eastern religions and the pseudo-Christian cults are interested in self (pride, power, ambition, self-aggrandizement, arrogance, ego), instead of one another, in spite of what they say. They maintain power and control by withholding love. Consequently, there is an underlying fear in their relationships. Their fellowship is strange, and clearly wrong, compared to the model of historic, orthodox, Christian fellowship.
When reading the Bible in comparison with other scriptures, nothing else rings true. The other movements brought a type of light, but they do not change lives. My personal problems continued, even grew worse. (Matthew 7:13-14)
All the problems we face in life as individuals or in society prove the same thing, they prove the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is indeed all-sufficient. -- Edward Hindson
I was living in my employee cabin at Big Meadows Lodge on the Skyline Drive. Radio reception was excellent at the high altitude, and I picked up a Christian broadcast. The speaker was preaching on the power of sacrificial love, and said "There is no greater power than the transforming power of the New Testament sacrificial love of Christ Jesus that says, Not my will, but thine be done." (Luke 22:42b) This was my conversion verse. I heard it, and things "clicked into place."[2] The Holy Spirit used it to awaken me to the fact that Christ's act of obedient, sacrificial love on the Cross opened the way to salvation to all who believe He is the Son of God (John 6:28,29), to all who believe He rose from the dead -- "is alive indeed" (Revelation 1:18) -- and to all who sincerely repent of their sins. (John 3:16,17; Jude 24,25; Matthew 4:17) Christ's atoning sacrifice, His shed blood, His death on the Cross, paid the price for our sin, bringing us to God, transforming an evil and dying world. (1 Peter 3:18a, John 3:16, John 14:16, John 14:19b, Galatians 2:20)
With that verse, Luke 22:42b, I realized for the first time that the answer is in the person of Jesus Christ, His sacrificial love (Luke 22:42b), His atoning death on the Cross, His resurrection, and His imputed love and righteousness. (Bonar)
I was convinced that Jesus was in fact The Son of God[3] (John 1:14; John 6:28,29; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:8,18; Owen) who arose from the dead (Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8), ascended to heaven, and is now seated on the right hand of God on high, to judge the quick and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1)
All of us sinfully rebel against a perfectly holy God. (Romans 3:23) Death is the penalty for sin. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23; Owen) Death is our enemy, and our most feared punishment. But God sent Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son (John 3:16), to be our Saviour, to be our substitute, to bear the punishment we deserved by dying on the Cross in our stead, dying the death we should have died for our sins, redeeming us forever from the debt and bondage of sin in order to restore us to fellowship with God. (1 Peter 3:18a; 1 John 4:10)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
In 1978, when I came to know Christ, and placed my trust in Him to the exclusion of everything else (Psalm 37:1-4), only then did circumstances of my life begin to change (2 Corinthians 5:17-19), for the better. (Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 54:17; Proverbs 28:13; 3 John 2; Psalm 1:2,3; Jeremiah 4:22) Christ gave me a new beginning. Life became real and truly meaningful.
Immediately the Holy Spirit intervened and compelled me to read the Bible from cover to cover. I pushed aside all other books and began reading the Bible exclusively. What a thrill it was to discover God's wisdom. (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, John 8:12; Proverbs 9:10) The routine became "no Bible, no breakfast." (The mind is keener when the stomach is empty.) To my surprise I discovered verses that I had never seen before (Daniel 12:10), verses that spoke to me in a very personal way. After that, none of the other "isms" rang true when compared to the Bible. It became obvious that departing from the truths of Scripture, and failing to live according to Biblical principles, that alone can give meaning to life, had separated me from God, who alone provides for us, protects us, and heals us.
When I finally "saw the light," I began to enjoy a personal relationship with God through Bible study and prayer. I discovered a personal relationship with God that had never existed in the meditation of eastern religion.
Before, I had been guilty of looking beyond Christ for solutions to personal problems, and was guilty of not trusting exclusively in the Son of God, who "alone can meet any need man faces." I committed myself exclusively to Christ, The Son of God. I confessed to God that I had been guilty of following after false prophets (1 John 1:9), and asked for forgiveness in Jesus name.
All areas of life began improving as I began living more in accord with Biblical principles and precepts which, if obeyed, have a profound effect on our circumstances and on our lives. (Deuteronomy 28:1,2; Deuteronomy 28:1-34; John 14:21,23)
Personal problems gradually began to unravel, Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29; Romans 8:32; Romans 9:16) Parts of my life that had previously been puzzling began to make sense. The tapestry began to unfold. (Romans 8:28; Edith Schaeffer)
Additionally, personal relationships were being restored. Within months I visited my parents, whom I had been estranged from for years.
Fellowship is an important part of Christian life.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:38-40)Knowing Christ and then trusting and obeying Him is the way back to fellowship with God and Man.
Church attendance can be problematic, but it is part of loving our neighbor. John Calvin's case for church attendance is found in INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, (Battle's translation), Book IV, Chapter 1, 1-19, and context. (Hebrews 10:25; Romans 12:4,5) It is one of the best I have read.
About nine months after my conversion InterVarsity at James Madison University sponsored the ten hour film series about Francis Schaeffer's book, HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE? THE RISE AND DECLINE OF WESTERN THOUGHT AND CULTURE. This film series is a presentation of Christian apologetics in the context of world history. It evidences the hand of our sovereign God in all of history, and thoroughly exposing the error of secular humanism.[4] The series caused me to realized I had been unwittingly substituting secular humanism for Christianity.[5]
In 1980 I resolved to put "Jesus first" in all things, and the result was wonderful. (Matthew 6:33,34) My spiritual growth advanced. By the end of the year I was studying Biblical Counseling, which proved to be an unexpected personal blessing, and again advanced my spiritual growth. My sensitivity to sin increased, and I learned how to deal with sin.
Late in 1980 I wrote a letter of repentance (Acts 3:19), (personal testimony), and sent it to several hundred members of my extended family, friends, and coworkers. I took a strong stand for the Gospel, and repented for many of the errors I had been making, such as substituting secular humanism for Christianity and exploring pseudo-Christian movements. The letter was a high point of my early years as a Christian. This testimony is an updating of that first letter, including other personal testimonies since 1980. It has the benefit of additional decades of Bible study and experience.
Repentance, a broken and contrite heart, are essential to salvation, along with faith in the deity of Christ (Romans 10:9), His atoning death (1 Peter 3:18a; John 3:16; John 14:19b; Galatians 2:20; John 14:16; Owen), His resurrection, and His ascension. Only when we sincerely turns away from sinful ways -- thoroughly renounces sin (have a changed life) -- and ask God for forgiveness through the atoning death of Christ on the Cross, only then will He save us, give (impute) to us the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30,31), and make us worthy of His perfectly holy fellowship. (Bonar)
All of life is a School of Christ. Furthermore, everything is interrelated and controlled by Divine Providence. Much more could be written here, but then this personal testimony would turn into an autobiography. (John 21:25)
The work of C. Gregg Singer (1910-1999), the Church Historian, has been a big influences on my thinking. Thanks to his rigorous Christian scholarship my spiritual understanding was broadened.
Other individuals who have influenced my Christian Life are, chronologically, as follows:
Pastor Edward Yost (1923-1988), Holy Trinity Lutheran Church • Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) and the Mother (1878-1973, aka. Mirra [Mira] Alfassa and Mirra Richards) • Billy (1918-2018) and Ruth (1920-2007) Graham, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association • Dr. Donald Ewing (1916-1997) and Trinity Pulpit • Francis (1912-1984) and Edith (1914-2013) Schaeffer • Jerry Fallwell (1933-2007), Old Time Godpel Hour, • Ed Hindson (1948-2002), Old Time Gospel Hour • John Broger (1915-2002), The Biblical Counseling Foundation • Jay Adams (1929-2020), Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation • Bob Schneider, The Biblical Counseling Foundation • John W. Robbins (1949-2008), The Trinity Foundation • David Powlison (1949-2019), Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation • Richard Baxter (1615-1691) • David Steele (1803-1887) • D. James Kennedy (1930-2007), Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church • John Calvin (1509-1564) • C. Gregg Singer (1910-1999), Christian Scholar and Church Historian • Ravi Zacharias (1930-2007), "Let My People Think" • Rick Thomas, "Life Over Coffee."
Indeed, trusting and obeying is the essence of the Christian life.
To obey is greater than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22)Holy scripture, nature, life experiences, and world history had convicted me of the Absolute Sovereignty of God. (Matthew 28:18; Psalm 62:11; Romans 11:36) A principle failure of some local churches is to ignore the Doctrine of the Absolute Sovereignty of God (Romans 11:36), and the Doctrine of the Total Depravity of Man. (Romans 3:10-11, Singer)
As a mature Christian, and finally away from home, I could see a troubling pattern in my youth. The family was only nominally Christian. My heart and my health had been broken within a dysfunctional family.
In 1979 my father died prematurely at age 60, after about ten years of retirement. It seemed that he had just lost the will to continue putting up with things.
Later, looking back, it became clear that my personal adversity and a resulting crushed ego (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17; Bunyan; Sibbes), were necessary preparation for personal ministry, compiling and independently publishing BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL, and preparation for continuing to make additions and alterations, and then publishing the same title, revised, expanded, and free online. (Job 13:15; Romans 8:28; Goertzel)
The attributes of God include truth, absolute and unchanging (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 117:2, Hebrews 6:18), and life eternal. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:12,24-27; Revelation 1:4,8 [Scripture proofs from The Westminster Shorter Catechism]). The second person of The Trinity, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is God Incarnate, and He walked the face of earth to teach us how to live right. (John 6:28,29) We crucified Him, one of the most inscrutable truths. He alone has arisen from the dead. (John 6:47; John 11:25b-26a; John 14:2; 1 John 2:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58) Because He lives, we live also. (John 14:19, Galatians 2:20) Christianity is unique among the religions of the world.[6] No other religious leader arose from the dead. No other religious leader provides a real, incontrovertible solution to the problem of evil.
These attributes of God make Christianity the highest ethical standard known to mankind. (1 Corinthians 2:11,12) Therefore, only Christianity provides a real solution to the problem of evil, and to the problems of everyday life.
Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)These and other Christian distinctives (i.e. political freedom and Laissez-faire capitalism) are unique in world history.
Those who deny the divinity of Christ (John 6:28,29), those who deny that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me (John 14:6), will never be at peace with God. They will never have their hearts healed, and they will never know their eternity is secure in Him.
God never honors unholy alliance (business, political, and social, foreign, and so forth, and so on, Exodus 23:32,33). Only when we trust in God alone will we have the resources of Christ to deal with darkness and evil. Only when we trust in Christ alone will we be able to take our position in Christ. As his adopted children we all have a unique calling and access to the full resources of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:24), including his resurrection power. (Galatians 2:20; John 14:19b)
Both rejecting falsehood and taking a stand for truth are fundamental to our spiritual growth. It seems that only to the extent that a person is willing to reject what he knows to be false, and to love the Truth, only then will God entrust him with more Truth (Proverbs 1:7; Jeremiah 9:23,24; John 4:24; John 8:12; John 8:31,32; John 12:46; John 14:23; John 8:31b,32; John 17:17) -- His wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear. (Isaiah 11:2) Again and again, when I have rejected what I know to be false, even when it would have been politically expedient to remain silent, when He has convinced me that I am committed to Truth, then immediately He has entrusted me with more Truth. (Psalm 57:3; Psalm 111:10; Matthew 25:29; Luke 8:18; John 7:7,8; Hebrews 1:9)
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:29)
We gain knowledge of that which we love. (1 Corinthians 8:1) And my experience has been that we grow fond of that which we become familiar with, whether it be right or wrong. So, when we turn to Truth, then more Truth comes our way.
The most startling example of this happened in the early 80's when I burned all books that I still owned that contained false Gospels, like the works of Sri Aurobindo. A few days after burning these books I purchased my first study Bible -- a great blessing. Everyone is urged to prove this principle in their own lives by soundly rejecting all falsehood, and by burning any books about false religion, pseudo-Christian books, or cultic books that they may still own.
When the Lord delays punishment of the wicked (Psalm 106:15), then the Christian life requires us to exercise faith and sacrificial love, and to patiently endure evil. Non-believers are confused when they see the wicked, with apparent impunity, harming the upright and the innocent. They mention this as a excuse for turning away from Christianity. The reasoning and conclusions of Calvin in his commentary on 2 Thessalonians 1:5 are the most enlightening that I have read on this subject. His comments will bless the soul. Among other points, he mentions that delay of judgment preserves Christ's role as Saviour. (2 Peter 3:9)
Conflicts inevitably occur in the workplace where the Abels and Cains are thrown together. (Genesis 4:1-15; Genesis 4:7) From the beginning of my Christian life, I prayed my way through the workplace. Now I pray my way through retirement. Lesson learned: pray for both oneself and for one another (Psalm 109:4), including one's enemies. I confess that I have often been negligent in praying for the spiritual needs of my enemies. (Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34; Galatians 6:1)
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)When we trust Christ and yield to Him, when He finally convinces us that we are His, then Divine Providence intervenes in unimaginable ways, and unexpected events occur as His Sovereign Grace begins to work. The Christian life is an adventure. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
2. Trusting in Christ is the way back to fellowship with God and Man, and I began to enjoy a personal relationship with God through Bible study and prayer. This personal relationship with God never exists in the pseudo-Christian movements.
I found a home church and centered my life around it, attending regularly. (Ephesians 2:13-22)
Broken relationships began to be reconciled, and new relationships were formed (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). I was reconciled to my parents after years of estrangement. Even relationships with the unregenerate improve as we grow in Christ. (Proverbs 16:7) One of my favorite passages is Ephesians 2:14.
For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. (Ephesians 2:14)
3. Obedience lead to healing. A retired medical doctor at church diagnosed (1982) me with moderately sever depression caused by the two severe illnesses and by emotional depression. Consequently, I suffered from an unbalanced metabolism. He prescribed an antidepressant that kick-started my personal life.
4. I felt called to personal evangelism, sharing the Gospel message of salvation one-on-one. Took the Coral Ridge Evangelism Explosion course and shared my faith with the Evangelism Explosion group visitations, and in the workplace.
Attended my first Billy Graham Crusade in Baltimore with a group from my local church. I had been a friend of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association since before knowing Christ.
I began doing colportage in the Washington area, distributing Gospel tracts and listings of Christian resource door-to-door. I have shared the Gospel in published form on a large scale since 1984.
Sharing the Gospel stimulated my spiritual growth. Often I took vacation three weeks before a Billy Graham Crusade and went door-to-door with Operation Andrew brochures, which contained the Gospel and an invitation to attend the Crusade. Each colportage lifted me to a higher spiritual plateau. (John 14:21)
While sharing the Gospel brings joy, at the same time spiritual warfare becomes real. Massive resistance (Foxe), always looms up when the goal is to share the Gospel. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 16:33) For one example, I totalled my car in a single car accident on the way to church while volunteering for the Greater Washington Billy Graham Crusade in 1986. Afterward I suffered stroke following whiplash. Gratefully, the symptoms largely disappeared in following years. Enduring the extreme resistance in the form of spiritual warfare (principalities and powers), makes one appreciate all the more what Christ has done for us in overcoming the evil of this world. (John 1:29)
A valuable piece of advice given to me early on was to "pick your battles carefully." One strategy of the Adversary is to divert our energies to lesser battles.
5. Barcroft Bible Church was headquarters, at the time, for the The Biblical Counseling Foundation. I took COURSE I: SELF-CONFRONTATION: A MANUAL FOR IN-DEPTH DISCIPLESHIP: BASED ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS AS THE ONLY AUTHORITATIVE RULE OF FAITH AND CONDUCT. (Broger) As a new Christian, with a practical bent, this fundamental course stimulated my spiritual growth. (Romans 15:14; 1 Peter 4:17)
It became more and more evident to me that the Adversary was suppressing and repressing the Word of God on a colossal scale.[7] (Matthew 7:13,14; Singer) I had been terribly deceived for the longest time.
About this time I was lead to believe that Hosea 4:6,7 was my life verse.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. (Hosea 4:6,7)
I felt called to publicize practical theology, that is, the solutions found in the Bible to the problems of everyday life. So, I began doing the literature mailing for The Biblical Counseling Foundation, which was largly the works of Jay Adams and his associates.
6. I began asking for wisdom and guidance in prayer. "What is the very best thing that I might do to serve the Lord?" (Proverbs 1:7; John 8:12) Little did I know what the future would hold. (Isaiah 55:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9)
Others say I have the gift of spiritual discernment. And I also seem to have a knack for finding things. (John 14:26) I began searching in Washington metropolitan area libraries for more comprehensive Gospel tracts, and for book-length presentations of the Gospel. Similar to others who do in-depth research for the first time, I found more resources in the Washington libraries than I had ever imagined were available. I began looking for works on Biblical Counseling and on biblical problem solving. I was surprised by the amount of literature available. (Isaiah 55:1-9)
Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:7,8)7. I Began working as a computer typesetter for a financial printer in 1983. Then I became an electronic publishing system operator in 1986. Did not realize it at the time, but this was preparation for later publishing, and then going online with BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL.
As research progressed, and more annotated bibliography was compiled, I continue to see clearly the extent of the Adversary's deception -- the repression and suppression of Truth. (Hosea 4:6,7) Frequently the most valuable literature is obscured, and is the hardest to find. "Latest is not greatest, and newest is not truest." This motivated me to do even more research. In the meantime I was gaining skills in electronic publishing on the job.
8. In 1986 there was a visitation of the Holy Spirit during a Sunday morning service in a small church I was attending. It was an overpowering experience that is hard to describe in terms that can be understood. It is a fearful experience, as testified to in scripture: Moses on Mount Sinai, Isaiah, Paul on the Damascus road, and so forth, and so on. Wow is me, for I am undone! (Isaiah 6:5). And that glimpse of his holiness powerfully wipes away any doubts a person may have about the truth of historic, orthodox, Christianity. No shadow of doubt remains.
9. Bought an IBM-XT for home use in 1986 when Sears and Roebucks started selling them. Soon began compiling annotated bibliography on the computer with XyWrite a powerful word-processing software. That was the beginning of BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL: AN ANNOTATED TOPICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CONTAINING BIBLICAL COUNSEL FOR PERSONS SEEKING LASTING SOLUTIONS TO LIFE'S PROBLEMS.
Have no doubts that spiritual warfare (principalities and powers) loomed up strong when serious research began, just as they loom up when the Gospel is shared. Researching, compiling, and publishing BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL was extremely difficult (2 Corinthians 11:30 and context), which is not to say that anyone else, doing the same work, would not have experienced the same extreme difficulty. Stories of the details of spiritual warfare over the years would fill a book.
In October of 1993 I independently published the bibliography. Additions and alterations have continued over the years. The free online edition is now about three times the length of the 1993 print edition.[8]
The book did not sell and resulted in bankruptcy in 1997. However, note that the larger, free, online edition now (April 2022) receives several hundred visits (not hits) per day from all around the world. (Proverbs 23:23; Romans 8:28)
For a general explanation of the work involved in publishing the book and website see A Colophon and General Timeline for BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL.
Truth is interrelated -- all truth is significant to all of life. It was in recognition of this fact that universities (from "unity in diversity"), were instituted for higher learning.
Large reference works tend to show more clearly the "forest is greater than the trees" that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." They show more clearly that Christ is the center of all things.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)Consequently, it becomes easier to understand the necessity for unity of believers. (Ephesians 1:10,22-23; John 10:16; John 11:52) "And for real worship to take place there must be unity."Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11b).
10. Notice that, as a result of knowing Christ, and as a result of being obedient to his word, my health improved. (Exodus 15:26; Exodus 23:25) This is the testimony of many Christians. Their health improves when they come to know and to serve Christ. (Romans 8:8-18) Richard Baxter is a notable example. (Baxter/Matthew)
In 2005 I self-diagnosed myself with hypothyroidism. Synthroid (levothyroxin), was prescribed, which I then took in combination with Prozac (fluoxetine), for depression. My health vastly improved. I slept better, smiled more, was more outgoing, and had more energy (Exodus 15:26) -- it was a "new lease on life," similar to when I began a maintenance prescription of Prozac in 1992.
11. In my senior years I am looking forward to "The Big Reunion" (John 14:1-3), when all the Elect will be together again in fellowship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death. (Revelation 21:4a; Revelation 21:1-8; Owen)
To fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:25b-28)
Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee, for Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee. -- Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
Seriously, looking back at the adversity the writer experienced, first in childhood and young adult life -- sicknesses, weaknesses, poverty, poor emotional adjustment, other discouraging problems along the way, and then, as a Christian, the spiritual warfare, and ongoing weaknesses, considering all that, there is no reason to expect that a person with his weaknesses and limitations could have compiled and published the book and the free, expanded, online website edition.
A sense of nothingness without Christ (Luke 15:14; Matthew 5:3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3), and consequently a fuller reliance on the atoning Blood of Christ, typically run in parallel. Even a weak person, if they are submissive and teachable, can be used by the Lord.A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. (John 3:27)
"Right views of God's truth are not an intellectual attainment, but a blessing bestowed on us by God." -- Arthur Pink (1886-1952), He Instructed HimFor it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
But by the grace of God I am what I am. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)"The tide thus turned, his troubles began to ebb as fast as they had flowed, just then when he was praying for his friends . . . . Mercy did not return when he was disputing with his friends, no, not though he had right on his side, but when he was praying for them . . . . When Job completed his repentance by this instance of his forgiving men their trespasses, then God completed his remission by turning his captivity. Note, We are really doing our business when we are praying for our friends, if we pray in a right manner, for in those prayers there is not only faith, but love. Christ has taught us to pray with and for others in teaching us to say, Our Father; and, in seeking mercy for others, we may find mercy ourselves. Our Lord Jesus has his exaltation and dominion there, where he ever lives making intercession." -- Matthew Henry commenting on Job 42:10
Grace and Election are the essence and meaning of history. -- Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history. -- Lord Acton (1834-1902)
I take a walk every day, by faith and meditation, to mount Calvary; there is nothing like it. -- Matthew Henry (1662-1714)I am grateful for the Absolute Sovereignty of God.
I am grateful that the second person of The Trinity, The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is The Lord of all nations, and The Lord of all history.
I am very grateful for The Sovereign Grace of God, both in this life and in the life to come.
I am grateful for the salvation of Christ who, by His shed blood and death on the Cross, made an atonement for my sins and delivered me from bondage in this evil world. (John 1:29; Isaiah 25:1,4,8,9; 1 Peter 3:18a) As we confess our sins, and go to Him for forgiveness in Christ's name, our sin and guilt is cast into the deepest sea. (Micah 7:19) We are justified.
I am grateful for the resurrection of Christ, for eternal life (Psalm 90:1-17; Psalm 145:1-21), for adoption into the Christ's eternal Kingdom, and for sonship. Salvation is indeed "to good to be true." It is unbelievable that Christ seeks and saves the rebellious and undeserving and delivers them from bondage to sin. (Psalm 100:1-5; 1 Peter 1:25; Jude 24,25)
I am grateful for our Protestant Reformation heritage.
I am grateful for the presence of His Holy Spirit among us, both individually and corporately, because the presence of the Holy Spirit among us restrains the evil of this world. (Owen)
I am grateful for the privilege of living in America with its relative liberty and prosperity.
I am grateful for peace with God (Isaiah 27:5; Ephesians 2:14; Graham; Packer), that comes from knowing Christ.
I am grateful for the process of sanctification. (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 17:17; Acts 17:28) We can claim the everlasting righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ to be our own (Bonar), day-by-day and moment-by-moment by imputation.
I am grateful for Christian Scholarship. (Augustine; Calvin; The Westminster Assembly; Baxter; Owen; Sibbes; Henry; Gill; Foxe; Bonar; Singer; Packer, and so forth, and so on)
I am grateful for the fellowship we have in faithful local churches -- for being able to join into the life of the visible church.
I am grateful that Christ, through forgiveness and justification, enables us to have a clear transparent relationships with one another.
I am grateful for parents who were faithful to take me to church regularly when I was a boy. There I experienced a model of Christian fellowship that became ingrained in me. It then served as a benchmark to compare other fellowships later in life.
I am grateful for the ongoing process of growth in Christianity by which we grow in our sensitivity to sin.
I am grateful that love transcends distance and time. (John 17:23; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:10,11; Psalm 136:1; Song of Solomon 8:6; Matthew 28:20; Acts 17:28; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:8-18; Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 2:7-10; Ephesians 2:13; Ephesians 3:18-19; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 5:26-27; Colossians 1:27; Jude 21)
I am grateful for the gift of eternal life and for "The Big Reunion" (John 14:1-3)
And so forth, and so on.
I, the Captain of a Legion of Rome, serving the desert of Libya, have learned and pondered this truth in life, there are two things to be sought, love and power, and nobody has both."He is right, no human being ultimately has both in the absolute sense. But there is one who does, and that is God himself. Absolute power and absolute love coalescing in The Trinity in that Godhead where love, and truth and holiness coexist in their absolute sense. . . ." -- Ravi Zacharias, in an address, Uncovering the new Spirituality (part 2)
[2.] "Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee, for Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee." -- Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
[3.] "We know ourselves because we first know God." -- Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
[4.] "[Pascal] was the first and perhaps is still the most effective voice to be raised in warning of the consequences of the enthronement of the human ego in contradistinction to the Cross, symbolizing the ego's immolation. . . ." -- Malcolm Muggeridge, The End of Christendom
[5.] Saint Augustine's final sentence of THE CITY OF GOD is "All things must be referred to the Glory of God."
When you see that, then you will see the key to the story, and you will see the key to history. . . . The classic exposition of history in terms of Scripture. -- C. Gregg Singer (1910-1999)
"Grace and election are the essence and meaning of history." -- Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), quoted by C. Gregg Singer
Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history. -- Lord Acton (1834-1902)
[6.] The Greatness of Jesus Christ (part 1 of 2), by Ravi Zacharias
"When there are so many options claiming to provide ultimate fulfillment in life, why choose Jesus Christ? Why is He unique? Ravi Zacharias discusses that this week on 'Let My People Think'." -- RZIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYJqVf4H1lU
Zacharias, Ravi, The Uniqueness of Christ in World Religions (part 1 of 2)
"This is a very sensitive presentation of major differences between Islam and Christianity."
The address also applies to a wide array of other issues such as "duality" (the Western position), logic, the law of non-contradiction, "either/or," absolutism verses relativism, etc. -- and "non-duality" (the Eastern position), "both/and," the Hegelian dialectic (the synthesis of opposites into a "higher truth"), situational ethics, values clarification, political compromise, democracy, "have your cake and eat it too," and so forth, and so on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHUOmOpd4U
The Uniqueness of Christ in World Religions (part 2 of 2)
"The reality of human nature is best portrayed in the teaching of Christ."
Christianity alone explains the questions of unity in diversity, the one and the many, The Trinity, and spiritual oneness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYCdlk67lWY
[7.] "Each famous author of antiquity whom I recall places a new offence and another cause of dishonor to the charge of later generations, who, not satisfied with their own disgraceful barrenness, permitted the fruit of other minds and the writings that their ancestors had produced by toil and application, to perish through insufferable neglect. Although they had nothing of their own to hand down to those who were to come after, they robbed posterity of its ancestral heritage." -- Petrarch (1304-1374)
[8.] "Coincidental to meeting its primary objective, BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL gives the reader a broad overview of literature representing historic, orthodox Christianity. Viewed from this unique perspective there is an evident connection between 'absolute truth, life (temporal and eternal), moral behavior (law and order, and justice), freedom (religious, political, economic, and individual (the definition of true religion found in the Westminster Standards and the Covenanted Reformation), social stability (peace, security, prosperity, and happiness), Justifying faith, sanctification, personal spiritual growth, social transformation, education, the arts, scientific discovery, real progress, and the realization of the Kingdom of God upon earth.
'It is hoped that this look at the Christian world and life view, and at the whole rather than the parts (Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984), A CHRISTIAN MANIFESTO), will give the reader new insight into the changes taking place in America today.' -- from the Preface to The Web Edition of Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal
[9.] op. cit. [4.]
*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians how to use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic. Considered to be among the ten greatest books in the English language. Available (less the J.I. Packer's Foreword, but searchable with an OCR-based index), on the Puritan Hard Drive.
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition (including the J.I. Packer Introduction), as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007.
The best digital format of the reprint by George Virtue is included on the Puritan Hard Drive. It has an OCR scan in the background, meaning one can search the entire volume and copy text into another document. It also has a computer generated indexed from the OCR scan which is, of course, in Baxter's vocabulary.
A PDF image scan only of the same edition is available on the Reformation Bookshelf CD #21.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. So it is useful if the reader wants to become acquainted with the book. Text can be searched, but can not be copied into another document. This particular Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix which is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file (without an OCR scan in the background), is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition), feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and pasted from image-based PDF format to OCR (character), format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages), is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God), merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle), and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. (1918-2008)
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674), and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), are less detailed works and are found in THE REFORMED PASTOR: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 4. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
"Ptacek in FAMILY WORSHIP: BIBLICAL BASIS, HISTORICAL REALITY, CURRENT NEED (pp. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous 'nonconformists,' in what is know as the 'great ejection,' in 1662, 'Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. 'Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled 'Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God.
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- Publisher
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 1, A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 1, A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 1, A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
A summary of currently (2012), available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html
Richard Baxter, from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Baxter
Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), and Sylvester Matthew (1636/7-1708), Reliquiae Baxteriana; or, Mr. Richard Baxter's Narrative of the Most Memorable Passages of his Life and Times.
*Bible, The Authorized King James Version of 1611 (Pure Cambridge Edition), digital text.
We recommend use of THE AUTHORIZED KING JAMES VERSION OF 1611 (PURE CAMBRIDGE EDITION), with the 1599 GENEVA BIBLE NOTES. This source of the 1599 GENEVA BIBLE NOTES only includes verses with annotation.
"The PURE CAMBRIDGE EDITION (first published circa 1900), is the product of the process of textual purification that has occurred since 1611 when the AUTHORIZED VERSION was completed, and has been used (often unwittingly), as the received text for many decades. Millions of copies conformed to this edition were issued by Bible and missionary societies in the twentieth century. This text stands in contrast to all other editions (especially newly edited and modernized ones). . . ." -- excerpt from Bible Protector homepage
https://archive.org/details/king-james-bible-pure-cambridge-edition-pdf
[Bible, 1672, King James Bible With the Geneva Bible Notes], King James Bible With the Geneva Bible Notes, 1672.
This is considered to be a superior text to the 1599 GENEVA BIBLE, which is said to be about 80 percent Tyndale translation. A Christian classic. Considered to be among the ten greatest books in the English language. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive and in The Amazing Christian Library. [broken link]
"The best Reformation translation (King James Version), combined with the best Bible notes of the first Reformation, the GENEVA BIBLE notes. [The drawback of the 1672 is that it has never been restored with a modern typeface. -- compiler] A great tool for public, family and private worship and study. Printed from a marvelously clean original copy, surpassing the quality of all other printings (of the GENEVA BIBLE NOTES in particular), we have seen. Contains almost 1000 (8.5 X 11 inch), pages with notes on the complete Bible (Old and New Testaments), making this a veritable library of study and classic Protestant commentary in just one book." -- Publisher
The following title is apparently an alternative edition of the 1672 AKJV with GENEVA NOTES:
James, King of England, Lancelot Andrewes, Theodore de Beze, Franciscus Junius, and John Canne, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testament; Newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall command; With most profitable Annotations [probably the GENEVA NOTES -- compiler] upon all the hard places, and other things of great importance; Which notes have never before been set forth with this new translation; but are now placed in due order with great care and industrie. "Publisher: [Amsterdam]: [Stephen Swart], Printed in the Year MDCLXXII."
*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness, or How Shall man be Just With God? A Christian classic. Considered to be among the ten greatest books in the English language.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God -- justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the 'principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the 'doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God? full view.
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html
*Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#blpoftf
*Books Considered to be Among the ten Greatest in the English Language
http://www.lettermen2.com/tengreat.html
*Broger, John C. (developer/editor, 1915-2002), Self-Confrontation: A Manual for In-depth Discipleship: Based on the Old and New Testaments as the Only Authoritative Rule of Faith and Conduct, Alternate title: COURSE I: THE SELF-CONFRONTATION SYLLABUS FOR BIBLICAL COUNSELING TRAINING, ISBN: 0785282467 9780785282464 and Course I: Self-Confrontation Tapes (10 cassette tapes [audio file]), (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
"Contains 24 weekly lessons intended to move a person through the change process personally as the foundation for working on becoming a counselor (Matthew 7:1-5). Intended for Sunday school and other classes or personal study. The first eight lessons lay the biblical foundation for change. The grace of the God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is spring of all true change, and it prompts a self-confrontation: 'Man's way is oriented to self: to please self, to comfort self, to rely on self, to fulfill self, to forgive self, to exalt self, and to love self. . . . [God's way], emphasizes that you are to live for Him.' The next thirteen lessons treat particular problem areas: selfishness, anger, interpersonal conflict, marriage and family, depression, fear, life-dominating sins. The final three lessons summarize and set the foundation for Course II, Biblical Counseling Training." -- David Powlison (1949-2019)
"Helps Christians solve their personal problems Biblically and equips laymen and women to counsel others Biblically within the church." Particularly valuable for its system of identifying root problems in counseling cases. Some of the material presented is from various writings by Jay E. Adams. The audio cassette tape [audio file], series by John Broger is designed to accompany the course and includes practical examples."
"Contains 24 weekly lessons intended to move a person through the change process personally as the foundation for working on becoming a counselor (Matthew 7:1-5). Intended for Sunday school and other classes or personal study. The first eight lessons lay the biblical foundation for change. The grace of the God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is spring of all true change, and it prompts a self-confrontation: 'Man's way is oriented to self: to please self, to comfort self, to rely on self, to fulfill self, to forgive self, to exalt self, and to love self. . . . [God's way] emphasizes that you are to live for Him'."
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://bcfministries.org
*Bunyan, John (1628-1688), The Pilgrim's Progress, complete and unabridged. A Christian classic. Considered to be among the ten greatest books in the English language. Available (THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN), on the Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21.
Said to be "the greatest book, other than Scripture, which an Englishman has given to mankind." -- GCB
The Banner of Truth Trust publication is recommended. It is facsimile reprinted from the unabridged edition of 1895 published by John C. Nimmo, Ltd. containing the original marginal notes and Scripture references and illustrated with etchings by William Strang.
"Bunyan had better insight into the human heart than modern psychology; namely, because he did not study man apart from his Creator and apart from his deep inward problem." -- Ernest Reisinger (1924-2018)
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.chapellibrary.org/literature/bunyan/
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN is also available at Project Gutenberg.
Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan [audio file]
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=John%5EBunyan
*Calvin, John (1509-1564), The Argument on the Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke (volume 16 of the Baker edition of his commentaries), ISBN: 0801024404. Alternate title: CALVIN ON THE GOSPEL.
http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/calcom31/cache/calcom31.pdf
*Calvin, John (1509-1564), Calvin's Commentaries, 22 volumes. A Christian classic.
THE EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS is Paul's most comprehensive statement of the Gospel.
Romans is also the key to understanding all Scripture. It unites the various themes of the Bible.
"No doubt the Epistle next in importance to that to the Romans is this to the Hebrews." -- the translator of Calvin's Commentary on Hebrews
"I know of no man since the Apostles' days whom I value and honor more than Calvin, and whose judgment in all things, one with another, I more esteem and come nearer to." -- Richard Baxter (1615-1691)
"Of all commentators I believe Calvin to be the most candid. . . . He was no trimmer and pruner of texts. He gave their meaning as far as he knew it." -- C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
"A large volume could not contain all that has been written in praise of Calvin's commentaries, by men of all theological persuasions. Anyone who neglects consulting Calvin is going to be the poorer for their neglect." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. (1918-2008)
It is recommended that CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES be used for daily devotions.
Calvin's Commentaries, complete
From the Calvin Translation Society edition.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/commentaries.i.html
Monergism: Commentaries
From Mongergism.com search "commentaries."
http://www.monergism.com
Calvin's Commentaries at BibleStudyGuide.org
http://www.biblestudyguide.org/comment/calvin/comm_index.htm
*Calvin, John (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes, ISBN: 0664220207 9780664220204. A Christian classic. Considered to be among the ten greatest books in the English language.
"Edited by John McNeill and translated by Ford Lewis Battles, this is the definitive English language edition of one of the monumental works of the Christian church -- Calvin's INSTITUTES.
"Still considered by many to be the finest explanation and defense of the Protestant Reformation available.
"The work is divided into four books: I. The Knowledge of God the Creator, II. The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, III. The Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ, IV. The External Means or Helps by Which God Allures us Into Fellowship With Christ and Keeps us in it. . . . THE INSTITUTES is praised by the secular philosopher, Will Durant, as one of the ten books that shook the world." -- GCB
Calvin spent a lifetime writing and perfecting INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION. His Prefatory Address makes it clear that he intended the work to be a defense of Christianity to the King of France.
Therefore, plainly stated, one of the most influential works ever published in the English language is a defense of Christianity to leaders of State.
Prefatory Address to His Most Christian Majesty, The Most Mighty and Illustrious Monarch, Francis, King of the French, His Sovereign, John Calvin. Available in THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
"Indeed, this consideration makes a true king: to recognize himself a minister of God in governing his kingdom. Now, that king, who in ruling over his realm does not serve God's glory, exercises not kingly rule but brigandage. [Footnote: 'Nec iam regnum ille sed latrocinium exercet.' An echo of Augustine's famous phrase: 'When justice is taken away, what are kingdoms [[regna]] but a vast banditry [[magna latocinia]]?' City of God, IV. iv (MPL [[Migne, J.P., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Latina]], 41. 115; tr. NPNF [[A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series]], II. 66)]. Furthermore, he is deceived who looks for enduring prosperity in his kingdom when it is not ruled by God's scepter, that is, his Holy Word; for the heavenly oracle that proclaims that where prophecy fails the people are scattered [Prov. 29:18 (Proverbs 29:18)], cannot lie." (Battles translation)
"The characteristic of a true sovereign is, to acknowledge that, in the administration of his kingdom, he is a minister of God. He who does not make his reign subservient to the divine glory, acts the part not of a king, but a robber. He, moreover, deceives himself who anticipates long prosperity to any kingdom which is not ruled by the sceptre of God, that is, by his divine word. For the heavenly oracle is infallible which has declared, that where there is no vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18), (Beveridge translation)."
See the entire Prefatory Address, Beveridge translation. Considered to be one of the greatest prefaces ever written.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.ii.viii.html
"The doctrines of covenant liberty were rediscovered in the Reformation. John Calvin went further than anyone else in defining liberty and what Christians need to do to maintain it. Includes bibliographies."
It is recommended that INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION be used for daily devotions and may be used in combination with Ford Lewis Battles and John Walchenbach, AN ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION OF JOHN CALVIN and with CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES.
One Hundred Aphorisms, Containing, Within a Narrow Compass, the Substance and Order of the Four Books of The Institutes of the Christian Religion
http://www.lettermen2.com/pringle.html
Contents and Chapter Sections for Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1559 (McNeill/Battles)
http://www.lettermen2.com/icrcont.html
A Colophon and General Timeline for Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal
http://www.lettermen2.com/colophon.html
*Epistemology of Theology, The Theory of Knowledge
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#epist
*Finley, Martha (1828-1909), Martha Finley Ultimate Collection -- 35+ Novels in one Volume, an e-book, ISBN: 8026867130 9788026867135.
"This carefully crafted e-book: MARTHA FINLEY ULTIMATE COLLECTION -- 35+ NOVELS IN ONE VOLUME (INCLUDING THE COMPLETE ELSIE DINSMORE SERIES and MILDRED KEITH COLLECTION), is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: Elsie Dinsmore Series: Elsie Dinsmore; Elsie's Holidays at Roselands; Elsie's Girlhood; Elsie's Womanhood; Elsie's Motherhood; Elsie's Children; Elsie's Widowhood; Grandmother Elsie; Elsie's New Relations; Elsie at Nantucket; Two Elsies; Elsie's Kith and Kin; Elsie's Friends at Woodburn; Christmas with Grandma Elsie; Elsie and the Raymonds; Elsie Yachting with the Raymonds; Elsie's Vacation; Elsie at Viamede; Elsie at Ion; Elsie at the World's Fair; Elsie's Journey on Inland Waters; Elsie at Home; Elsie on the Hudson; Elsie in the South; Elsie's Young Folks; Elsie's Winter Trip; Elsie and Her Loved Ones; Elsie and Her Namesakes; Mildred Keith Series: Mildred Keith; Mildred at Roselands; Mildred and Elsie; Mildred's Married Life; Mildred at Home; Mildred's Boys and Girls; Mildred's New Daughter; Other Novels: Edith's Sacrifice; Ella Clinton; Signing the Contract and What it Cost; The Thorn in the Nest; and The Tragedy of Wild River Valley.
"Martha Finley (1828-1909), was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well-known being the 28-volume Elsie Dinsmore Series which was published over a span of 38 years." -- Publisher
*Foxe, John (1516-1587), and Thomas Freeman (prefatory material), John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable (unabridged). Alternate title: THE UNABRIDGED ACTS AND MONUMENTS ONLINE or TAMO (HRI Online Publications, Sheffield, 2011). Available from: http://www.johnfoxe.org. Implemented by the Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield, England, and published by HRI Online Publications, Sheffield, 2011, Version 2.0, ISBN: 9780954260864.
"You can browse and compare the unabridged texts of the four editions of this massive work published in John Foxe's lifetime (1563, 1570, 1576, 1583). Each edition changed significantly as Foxe sought to incorporate new material, answer his critics, and adjust its polemical force to the needs of the moment. . . .
"TAMO is both an instrument of scholarship and a tool for anyone who wants to explore this remarkable work, a milestone in the history of the English printed book and a signal achievement of its printer, John Day."
John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, ISBN: 0197262252 9780197262252.
"This CD-ROM combines readable and printable images of 2,200 pages of text and woodcut engravings from the 1583 edition, the last for which Foxe was personally responsible."
Other editions: Acts and Monuments or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1554, 1843-49 edition, 8 volumes. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive.
" 'No book ever inflicted a wound so deep and incurable on the Romish system of superstition and bloody persecution . . . it was placed in . . . all churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, by order of Queen Elizabeth.' (Smith, Select Memoirs, p. 245). Contains much information not found in any of the liberally edited and severely shortened editions of this classic work which are in print today. Covering martyrs from the early church through to Foxe's day, it was one of the most influential books of the sixteenth century! It overflows with faith building testimony of the power of God to overcome the most cruel and barbarous acts of human depravity and demonic cruelty. 6890 pages. A very rare set, now back in print after 150 years!" -- Publisher
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the BOOK OF MARTYRS. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification." -- James Miller Dodds, English Prose
"When one recollects that until the appearance of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS the common people had almost no other reading matter except the BIBLE and FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life; let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nation's life." -- Douglas Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America
"If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeth's reign, a monument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought." -- Henry Morley, English Writers
"John Foxe was a prince among believers. He had his printing press on a cart, and had often to print at night, moving his press before dawn to escape capture and burning at the stake. He never faltered in his purpose to leave a voluminous written witness to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep His saints in love and peace." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. (1918-2008)
Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), John Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online
http://www.tei-c.org/Activities/Projects/jo01.xml
Foxe's Acts and Monuments (the original Foxe's Book of Martyrs): How to Obtain a Facsimile or a Print-on-demand Copy.
*The Free Invitation From the Lord Christ
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#fiftlc
*Gill, John (1697-1771), John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, A Body of Doctrinal Divinity, A Body of Practical Divinity, The Cause of God and Truth, The Prophecies of the Old Testament Literally Fulfilled in Jesus, Sermons and Tracts, 6 volumes, ISBN: 0801037565 9780801037566.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
http://www.biblestudytools.com/Commentaries/GillsExpositionoftheBible/
*Goertzel, Victor, Mildred George Goertzel, Ted George Goertzel, and Ariel Hansen, Cradles of Eminence: Childhoods of More Than Seven Hundred Famous men and Women: The Complete Original Text, ISBN: 0910707561 9780910707565 091070757X 9780910707572 (OCoLC)690828797.
This work shows how God uses adversity in life to draw out the best in individuals. Authors and subjects are, for the most part, secular.
A "newly published, updated, and expanded second edition of Ted Goertzel and Ariel Hanzen's CRADLES OF EMINENCE: CHILDHOODS OF MORE THAN 700 FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN features the childhood biographies of more than 700 outstanding personalities. These sketches of the formative years of distinguished individuals reveal amazing insights into factors that can contribute to greatness, particularly in todays demanding and ever-changing world. Fascinating to read in its own right, and a wealth of anecdotal information about the youthful struggles of truly remarkable people including Alfred Hitchcock, Oprah Winfrey, Helen Keller, The Dalai Lama, Pablo Picasso, and many more." -- Reader's Comment
"This book is a fascinating look at the family patterns of eminent individuals across many generations. I couldn't put it down. If you like biographies, this is the ultimate collection of interesting stories." -- Reader's Comment
"Do eminent adults have common childhood experiences? Did their parents help foster environments that could lead to eminence? Findings from [this book], reveal that eminent adults, in their childhoods, strongly disliked school but had families who valued education; had highly opinionated parents often with a dominating mother; grew up 'feeling different' from others. Readers are challenged to consider what factors will foster eminence in today's world of mass media and technological change." -- Publisher
"Victor Goertzel, a psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, was past president of the National Association for Gifted Children. Mildred George Goertzel directed a school for emotionally disturbed children. Ted George Goertzel is a professor and former chairperson in the sociology department at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. Ariel Hansen is a recent graduate from Haverford College and works in the field of science journalism." -- Publisher
*Graham, Billy (1918-2018), and Ruth Graham (1920-2007), Peace With God, revised and expanded edition, ISBN: 0849914795.
Dr. Graham says this book has helped more people than any other he has written. It is one of the most sought after Christian books abroad. It has been translated into 30 languages, and has sold more copies than any other book he has written. Also available in a large print edition.
Peace With God by Billy Graham
https://archive.org/details/peacewithgo00grah
PeaceWithGod.net
"Approximately 10.5 million people worldwide experienced the Good News of Jesus Christ in 2013 by visiting the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's (BGEA), PeaceWithGod.net website [Jan. 29, 2014]. Of those, more than 2 million indicated making a commitment to Christ after viewing the message."
Peace With God
"During the first seven months of 2021, an average of more than 24,000 people visited our internet evangelism sites each day, and over 4,000 indicated making spiritual decisions for Jesus Christ each day." -- Franklin Graham
"In the past 12 months (October 5, 2021, sites visited in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic, and Korean)
*Henry, Matthew (1662-1714), Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, 6 volumes. A Christian classic. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive.
"Matthew Henry is the most popular commentator in the English language, maybe in any language." -- GCB
This is the commentary used by George Whitefield and read by the founding fathers. The Fleming H. Revell Company facsimile reprint of the 1721 edition is recommended.
See THE QUOTABLE MATTHEW HENRY, "more than 3000 phrases . . . arranged topically and indexed biblically."
Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
http://www.biblestudytools.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (unabridged)
http://www.ccel.org/h/henry/mhc2/MHC00000.HTM
Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Matthew Henry
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhcc.titlepage.html
*How to Become a Christian
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#htbac
*The Inspiration and Infallibility of Scripture (The Doctrine of Revelation, the Doctrine of Plenary Inspiration, the Doctrine of Divine Inspiration, the Doctrine of Verbal Inspiration, Theopneustia, Sufficiency of Scripture)
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#irai
*An Introduction to the Covenanted Reformation
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9chc.html#intrcvtdref
*Other Works on the Gospel, The Means of Grace
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#owotg
*Owen, John (1616-1683), God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him. Alternate title: "GOD'S PRESENCE WITH A PEOPLE, THE SPRING OF THEIR PROSPERITY; WITH THEIR SPECIALL INTEREST IN ABIDING WITH HIM. A SERMON, PREACHED TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, AT WESTMINSTER, OCTOB. 30. 1656. A DAY OF SOLEMN HUMILIATION. BY JOHN OWEN, D.D. A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT, 1656. A Christian classic. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25. Available in various editions of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN. Available in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, VOL. 8, SERMONS TO THE NATION, sermon 11.
John Owen Quotes
http://johnowenquotes.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/johnowenvol-8.pdf
Owen preaches at length, 21 pages, on God's presence with a people, both individually and corporately, in a sermon on the text And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you, (2 Chronicles 15:2), delivered to Parliament October 30, 1656.
"The great concernment of any people or nation is, to know that all their prosperity is from the presence of God amongst them, and to attend to that which will give continuance thereunto. . . .
"There is a presence of God in respect of providential dispensations. . . . -- attended with peculiar love, favor, good-will, special care towards them with whom he is so present. So Abimelech observed that he was with Abraham (Genesis 21:22), God is with thee in all that thou doest -- with thee to guide thee, bless thee, preserve thee, as we shall see afterward. So he promised to be with Joshua, I will be with thee (Joshua 1:5); and so he was with Gideon, The LORD is with thee (Judges 6:12) -- to bless him in his great undertaking; and so with Jeremiah, I am with thee. (Jeremiah 15:20) This is fully expressed, Isaiah 43:1,2, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. And this is the presence of God here intimated, -- his presence with the people as to special providential dispensations, as is manifest from the whole discourse of the prophet; and wherein this consists, shall be afterward at large declared. . . .
"There is an abiding with God in national administrations; -- this is a fruit of the other, in those who are called to them. And that this is principally here intended is evident from that use that Asa made of this information and exhortation of the prophet. He did not only look to his personal walking thereupon, but also immediately set upon the work of ordering the whole affairs of the kingdom so as God might be glorified thereby. How this may be effected, shall at large afterward be declared. What hath already been spoken may suffice for a foundation of that proposition which I shall this day insist upon; and it is this, --
"The presence of God with a people, in special providential dispensations for their good, depends on their obediential presence with him in national administrations to his glory: The Lord is with you, while ye be with him. . . .
"What is the rule and measure of God's continuance with his people in the covenant of grace? Plainly this, -- that he will never forsake them; and, on that account, will take care that they shall never forsake him, but abide with him forever. It is not whilst they do so and so, he will abide with them; and when they cease so to do, he will forsake them, as to his federal and covenant presence; -- there is not such a sandy foundation left us of our abiding with God in Christ. See the tenor of the covenant. (Jeremiah 31:33; 32:38-40) [Jeremiah 32:38-40] The sum is, that God will be with them, and take care that they always abide with him; and therefore hath he provided for all interveniences imaginable, that nothing shall violate this union. God lays his unchangeableness as the foundation of the covenant (Malachi 3:6), and he therein makes us unchangeable -- not absolutely so, for we change every moment; but with respect to the terms and bounds of the covenant, he hath undertaken that we shall never leave him. The law of God's presence in respect of providential dispensations, and all special privileges attending it, is quite of another importance: it is purely conditional, as you may see in my text. The tenor of it is expressed to the height, 1 Samuel 2:30, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Here is no alteration of counsel or purpose in God; but merely an explanation of the rule, law, and tenor of providential dispensations; -- no interpretation of the covenant of grace (Eli held not the priesthood by that covenant); but an explication of the tenor of a privilege given in special providence. (Psalm 89:32,33) Hence is that variety of God's dealings with men mentioned in the Scripture; which yet are always righteous, according to one or other of these rules and laws. . . .
"I suppose I need not go for proof beyond the observation of the constant tenor of God's proceedings with his people of old. When did he not deal thus with them? What instance can be given of transgressing this rule? Is the whole story of the nation of the Jews any thing but the illustration of this proposition? Some ruled well, and sought the Lord; and the Lord was with them, and prospered them in all their ways; -- some fell from him, and walked according to their own imaginations; and the Lord cut them short on that account; -- yea, sometimes the same man, as Solomon, Asa, Uzziah, experienced both these states and conditions. Hath not the state of all nations, since they came into the power of men professing the knowledge of him, been the same? Look on the Roman empire; did it not flourish under the hand of men who ruled with God, and were faithful with the saints? Is not the present distraction of it, under the fury and cruelty of Turk and Pope, the issue of the violence, unrighteousness, idolatry, luxury, and persecution of ill governors? Doth not the demonstration of all God's people in the world -- the consideration whereof, in particular, might be insisted on as the ground and reason of the truth insisted on -- require that it should be thus (Leviticus 26:1), and almost the whole book of Deuteronomy [Deuteronomy 1-34], are sermons on this text; and every verse, almost, in them would afford a new confirmation of the truth in hand. . . .
"The second use of this pillar was, to give them protection and defense in their ways; so Exodus 14:19,20,24. This protected them from the Egyptians; -- and from thence God troubled their enemies out of the pillar; that is, from his especial presence. This use of it is insisted on. (Isaiah 4:5,6) The cloud, that was as smoke by day, and as fire by night, was also a shadow, a place of refuge, and a covert; in one word, a protection or a defense. And this is a second thing which is in God's special presence, -- he will protect or defend them with whom he is so present. He is their dwelling place (Psalm 90:1), then, when in this world they have none; their refuge in the time of trouble: so Isaiah 25:4, 26:1 [Isaiah 26:1], 31:4 [Isaiah 31:4]. Promises and instances to make this good abound; -- they are known to all; the time would fail me to insist upon them. I might go over all the causes, means, and ways of the fears, dangers, ruin of such a people, and show you how a defense is provided against them all. Are their fears from themselves, because of their folly, weakness, and division? or from pretended friends, because of their envy and desertion? or from open enemies, because of their power, cruelty, malice, and revenge? A defense is provided on every account. Heat, rain, tempests, storms, adversity, prosperity, -- all are provided against, where God is present. (Isaiah 32:1,2)
"And if any people in the world have experience of this truth, we have it this day. Had not the Lord been with us, who had not destroyed us? Enemies, friends, abroad, at home, our own follies, -- all, any of them, had done the work, had not the Lord himself been with us. . . .
"That we may abide with God, this is indispensably required, -- that we may have peace with him in Jesus Christ. If we are never with him, we cannot abide with him; no man can abide where he never come. The acceptance of our persons lies at the bottom of the acceptance of our duties. As the special presence of God with any, is in and by Christ, and no otherwise, so is our abiding with God in and through him. God with us is the name of Christ: our being with God is in him who is our peace. Two cannot walk together, unless they be agreed. (Amos 3:3)
"Now, because this is not to be expected from all the individuals of a nation, yet this thing is to be endeavored, -- that the rulers of it be such as have this interest. I do not divest of a share in government, those who have no share in Christ, if lawfully called thereunto; but I say, when God gives governors whom he intends to make a blessing unto a people, they shall be such as are blessed of him in Christ. And if ever the government of this nation, in this present constitution, -- suppose it the most exactly framed and balanced, in the several parts of it, for the furtherance of public good, -- be devolved into the hands of men not interested in God by Christ, though the constitution may be absolutely good, yet the government will not be blessed, and the nation will be ruined; for God and his glory will depart. (Micah 5:5,6) It is Christ that is our peace, even in outward troubles. . . .
"This, then, I say, is pre-required, as a qualification of any person to the performance of this duty of abiding with God. It is the psalmist's advice. (Psalm 2:11,12) Let this principle be always owned amongst you; by it honor Christ in the world. Give him the pre-eminence; it is the Father's will he should have it in all things. Expect not the presence of God, but upon this account. Bear testimony herein against the world of profane men, who despise these things. Seeing, then, it cannot be expected to have this qualification diffused universally, as yet, through the body of the people, let the rulers take care that they be not the cause of God's departure from us. . . ." -- John Owen
*Owen, John (1616-1683), Volume 1: The Glory of Christ, ISBN: 0851511236, 9780851511238. The Glory of Christ, ISBN: 0851516610 9780851516615. A Christian classic. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive.
"In THE GLORY OF CHRIST . . . we have the great Puritan pastor and theologian, John Owen, at his richest and most mature. Here he writes about Jesus Christ, the heart of the Gospel, with biblical insight and understanding that is at times almost overwhelming for a contemporary reader.
"These chapters were written during the final period of Owen's life, and began simply in his personal meditation and study, before being shared with others in public ministry. Deep love for, and fervent devotion to Christ, is evident on every page. Owen had already seen the glory of Christ from afar and pondered long on its significance. Here he speaks from his proximity to eternity, and teaches us how to see Christ more clearly and to serve him more faithfully.
"The publishers are convinced that THE GLORY OF CHRIST is a spiritual treasure-cave to which many readers will return again and again throughout the whole of their lives. Its sole purpose is to renew and deepen devotion to Jesus Christ." -- Publisher
Volume 1 contains THE LIFE OF OWEN, THE PERSON OF CHRIST, GLORY OF CHRIST, and two short catechisms.
*Owen, John (1616-1683), Volume 10: The Death of Christ. Alternate title: THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST. A Christian classic. Found in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, Volume 10. Available on the Puritan Hard Drive.
"Greatest Biblical apologetic on the specific and limited nature of the atoning work of Christ in print. Contains discussions on Arminianism, The death of death in the death of Christ, Divine justice, and also discusses, in detail, many views of the atonement that certain men and groups held (and still hold)." -- Publisher
"THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST is a polemical work, designed to show, among other things, that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. . . . Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance. Some may find the very sound of Owen's thesis so shocking that they will refuse to read his book at all. . . . But . . . there are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen's treatise is now offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing evangelical Christendom today -- the recovery of the Gospel.
"It is safe to say that no comparable exposition of the work of redemption as planned and executed by the Triune Jehovah has ever been done since Owen published his in 1684. None has been needed.
"Owen's interpretation of the texts . . . is sure; his power of theological construction is superb; nothing that needs discussing is omitted, and . . . no arguments for or against his position have been used since his day which he has not himself noted and dealt with. . . . Owen's work is a constructive, broad-based biblical analysis of the heart of the gospel, and must be taken seriously as such. . . Nobody has a right to dismiss the doctrine of the limitedness . . . of the atonement as a monstrosity of Calvinistic logic until he has refuted Owen's proof that it is part of the uniform biblical presentation of redemption, clearly taught in plain text after plain text. And nobody has done that yet." -- J.I. Packer, from the Introduction
"Packer's well balanced definition of Calvinism in the introduction to that volume [John Owen's THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST], is by far the best we have seen in 42 years of intensive reading." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. (1918-2008)
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ: Being a Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation That is in the Blood of Christ; Wherein the whole controversy about universal redemption is fully discussed: In four parts (1792)
http://archive.org/details/deathofdeathinde00owen
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, including J.I. Packer's Introduction by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ: Redemption and Reconciliation That is in the Blood of Christ (Limited Atonement), 1 of 33, [audio file]
An audio file reading by Still Waters Revival Books from THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN. Currently (October 2018), there are 77 readings of John Owen by SWRB and Reformed Baptist of Holland (Michigan), (Thomas Sullivan), at SermonAudio.com available for listening online, downloading as MP3 files, [audio file], and listening on iPhone, mobile phones, and MPE players.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=47081639571
*Packer, J.I. (1926-2020), Knowing God, 20th anniversary edition, ISBN: 083081650X 9780830816507. A Christian classic.
"A classic work by one of the foremost theologians of our day. Offsets erroneous ideas about God. A group study guide is also available.
"A bestselling book. Contains material useful in counseling."
*Pink, Arthur W. (1886-1952), The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross, ISBN: 1857920597 9781857920598.
"Interprets these sayings most lucidly and faithfully . . ." -- William J. Grier
"An inspiring study of Christ's words from the Cross. The word of forgiveness -- Father, forgive them. The word of salvation -- Today thou shalt be with Me in paradise. The word of affection -- Behold thy mother. The word of anguish -- My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? The word of suffering -- I thirst. The word of victory -- It is finished. The word of contentment -- Into Thy hands I commit my spirit."
https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/ssot/seven-sayings-of-the-saviour-the-pinkarthurw
*Pink, Arthur W. (1886-1952), The Sovereignty of God, ISBN: 0801068649 9780801068645. A Christian classic. Available (the original, unrevised, unabridged text), on the Puritan Hard Drive.
Be sure to read the original, unrevised, unabridged edition, not the Banner of Truth edition (see the Marc Carpenter article below).
"Present-day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God's omnipotence, God's sufficiency, God's sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that God still reigns." -- Arthur W. Pink
"This is the best contemporary book explaining the foundations of Calvinism and God's sovereignty (as revealed in Scripture). It is like a key that, by God's grace, opens the door of understanding to some of the most blessed truths in Scripture. From the myriad of testimonies that we have heard concerning how God has used this book, we think that we can safely say that this is also the best book to pass on to those that you want to introduce to Calvinism." -- Publisher
The Banner of Truth edition removed three chapters, "The Sovereignty of God and Reprobation," "God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility," and "Difficulties and Objections." It also removes four appendices that "deal with the false distinction between decretive and permissive will, the foreordaining of the Fall, and treatments of John 3:16 and 1 John 2:2 to show that there is not a universal love or propitiation. . . ."
The Sovereignty of God, by A.W. Pink
The complete text available in either Word (.doc) format, or Rich Text Format (.rtf)
http://w3.goodnews.net/~maxward/sov.html
The Banner of Truth versus Calvinism, Marc D. Carpenter, an article.
http://www.trinityfoundation.org/PDF/147a-TheBannerTruthvsCalvinism.pdf
The Treasury of David, Psalm 136, C.H. Spurgeon
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 136:1)
http://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps136.php
*Schaeffer, Edith (1914-2013), The Tapestry: The Life and Times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer, ISBN: 0849902843 9780849902840.
"This is the best, most honest biography I have ever read. It's long, due to the fact that Edith admits herself to disliking leaving out the small interesting details that make life what it is. I didn't mind. As I read this book, I felt that I had met a friend and mentor and real human being. I want to be like her, to have half her faith, intelligence, tenacity, and love. Maybe someday." -- Reader's Comment
*Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), and Nye, Philip (1596-1672), Christs Exaltation Purchast by Humiliation. Wherein you may see Mercy and Misery Meete Together. Very vsefull I. For instructing the ignorant. II. For comforting the weake. III. For confirming the strong. By R. Sibbs D.D. and preacher of Grayes-Inne, London. Published by T.G. and P.N., 1639, Available (THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES), on the Puritan Hard Drive.
"Three sermons on Romans XIV, 9 [Romans 14:9]."
*Singer, C. Gregg (1910-1999), From Rationalism to Irrationality: The Decline of the Western Mind From the Renaissance to the Present, ISBN: 0875524281 9780875524283 and a reprint of the P&R Publishing edition of 1979 (Wipf and Stock, 2006), 479 pp.
"Now, frankly students, this course is presented from obviously the Reformed Theology. I hold unabashedly, unashamedly to the whole of Reformed Theology as we find it specifically in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
"At the same time I hold to a position in regard to Apologetics generally known as Presuppositionalism, and particularly that view held by Cornelius Van Til.
"This book is an attempt to enlarge and to broaden the scope of Van Til's own Apologetical system, and also his Epistemology. By that I mean, and I worked this book with him, so anything that I say is not to be construed as a criticism of Cornelius Van Til. I might add he wrote me a letter. He is delighted with this book. But what I did was to take his principles, both of Apologetics and of Epistemology, and apply them to all realms of modern thought.
"Dr. Van Til, for good and sufficient reason, sought to limit to the main stream of what we might call pure Philosophy, that is from Saint Thomas, well even before them, back to the Greeks, but particularly in the more modern period, from Saint Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham (Occam), down through Descartes, the Rationalists, the Empiricists, down to Kant and Hegel, and of course Modern Philosophy and Modern Theology. Very seldom has he gone into what we might call the arena of Political Philosophy, or the arena of Social Thought, or the arena of Psychology and Psychiatry, the realm of Educational Philosophy, and into Art, Music, and so on, to the Fine Arts.
"This book is an attempt to apply his system, and show what happens when the Western mind has forsaken his principles, or the principles which he has espoused, and turned into its own way. And thus the book called FROM RATIONALISM TO IRRATIONALITY. The thesis being that the Rationalism inherent in Saint Thomas and the post-Thomists, and more particularly, and more openly, in the Philosophy of the Renaissance, and Descartes, and Spinosa, and Leibniz has, as its gained momentum in the modern world, brought Western Culture to its knees. We are living, as I would think, in the death throws of the Western Cultures, the Western Civilization." -- Dr. C. Gregg Singer, in the introductory address to his course in Apologetics soon after FROM RATIONALISM TO IRRATIONALITY came off the press in 1979
Apologetics: #01: Classical and Medieval Thought #1 [audio file]
Dr. C. Gregg Singer, Apologetics, 56 min.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=2250511453
"Locke endeavored to set forth a political philosophy which would anchor his democratic political thought on what he felt were the firm foundations of his empiricism. However, his insistence that nature has bestowed upon mankind certain basic and inalienable rights was an assumption quite contrary to his empiricism. His denial of conscience as an innate possession or quality makes it impossible for men to know that they possess the rights of life, liberty, and property. The very concept of a human right is moral in nature and has its basis of authority in the human conscience. It is thus impossible for men to know through the senses that they have these cherished human rights. Granted that it was far from Locke's intention to undermine or destroy the traditional English concept of personal rights, his empiricism removed from his political thought the necessary foundations on which a government could be built for the protection of these rights. His empiricism supported neither the idea that men have such rights nor that they are inalienable. (p. 61)
"Underlying the secular and naturalistic assumptions of the thought of the Enlightenment was a related and equally serious problem. In their political and economic thought the leaders of this era were passionately devoted to the pursuit of freedom, and yet they seemed to be completely unaware of this incompatibility between their quest for freedom on the one hand and their reliance upon natural law on the other. How can an impersonal and deterministic concept of law produce and sustain a meaningful concept of freedom? Blindly convinced that there was no problem involved in the contradiction, the leaders of the Enlightenment pushed boldly ahead in the quest for political and economic liberty. However, their failure to recognize the issues involved in this quest led not only to the disaster of the French Revolution but to the growth of the totalitarian political and economic philosophies which first appeared in Hegel and Marx during the nineteenth century and reached their culmination in the totalitarianism of the twentieth century." (p. 73) -- quoted at the blog, Imago Veritatis: Post-modern Reformed Paleo-orthodoxy
Singer used this as textbook for his course in Apologetics. Epistemology is a recurring theme throughout the textbook and the course. The series of 24 addresses on Apologetics is available free online. See: "Apologetics" under:
Works of C. Gregg Singer
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr3ch.html#cgsinger
*The Westminster Assembly, The Shorter Catechism With Scripture Proofs
Arguably the greatest tract ever created, all factors considered.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_frames.html
The Shorter Catechism
Free downloadable PDF file.
http://www.greenvillepresbyterian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/shorter-catechism.pdf
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project
"Click on any of the individual questions below to get the answer and Biblical references, as well as links to works by John Flavel, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, James Fisher, and John Whitecross, and others."
http://www.shortercatechism.com/
*The Westminster Assembly, The Westminster Confession of Faith (completed by the Assembly in 1646, approved by Parliament in 1647), The Westminster Standards and Related Works, The Westminster Assembly.
*What is the Gospel?
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#whtgspl
Zacharias, Ravi, A Deliverer is Born (part 1)
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
"The breaking of the ego is the first thing that God wants to do in you life and mine." -- Ravi Zacharias
Contents: Politicians | Indoctrination of Christians | Military anti-Christian indoctrination | The Witch is called philosophy | The fall of big Christians in the 70's | and so forth, and so on
https://www.rzim.org/listen/let-my-people-think/a-deliverer-is-born-part-1
Steven C. Kettler
2260 Bullpen Drive, #302
Rockingham, VA 22801-8844
email: skcorrespond@gmail.com
Web Layout - Lettermen Associates
Revised -- June 14, 2023, [Lettermen Associates]