Reflections on the Ministry of Francis Schaeffer (Reynolds)

Over the years, I've read and appreciated Francis Schaeffer's books, including How Should We Then Live, The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, He Is Here and He Is Not Silent, and Whatever Happened to the Human Race? In fact, I've cited those books with appreciation on this blog (e.g. here, here, and here …

Have I Done Enough For God? (Luther)

Near the end of one of his greatest works, The Bondage of The Will, Martin Luther explained his position on "free will" in personal terms. I highlighted this in my copy way back in September 2001. I still think it's a wonderful passage and I hope you enjoy it as well: For my own part, …

Sin, the Fall, and God’s Will (Bavinck, Aquinas, and Augustine)

When Herman Bavinck wrote about the origin of sin in volume three of his Reformed Dogmatics, he spent several pages discussing the possibility of sin as God's will. This, of course is a huge discussion: how do we reconcile the entrance and reality of sin in this world with God's sovereign will and providence? Bavinck …

A Summary of Sin (Letham)

One helpful aspect of Robert Letham's Systematic Theology is that every chapter starts with a summary of the doctrine he's discussing. For example, I was studying his chapter on "Humanity in Sin" (the doctrine of sin) this morning, and I found his introductory summary to be helpful. Perhaps you will find it helpful as well …

What Does It Profit A Man…? (Calvin)

You've no doubt read these words of Jesus in one of the Gospels: And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (Mark 8:36 NLT) These words are in the context of Jesus' explanation of discipleship - what it means to follow him in self-denial and cross-bearing. So …