Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell Sin is considered unfathomably serious primarily because it is an offense directly against God , not just against humanity or an abstract law. At its core, sin is defined as "lawlessness," which means breaking God's divine law. The sources emphasize that sin is "against Go...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - How We Must Use the Present Life and Its Helps The sources explain that living according to God's will involves a balanced approach to earthly gifts , which are created for our good and delight , not just necessity. This perspective rejects both extreme asceticism that unduly restricts their use and unbridled indulgence that...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Rejoice and Leap for Joy Jesus provides joy in a profound and multifaceted way, both by purchasing it and by actively providing it to believers. He first purchased our joy through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, offering His life for the forgiveness of sins , including our failures to rejoice in Him as we ought. This act establishes a so...

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Another Great and Very Distinguishing Difference between Gracious Affections and Others Is, That Gracious Affections, the Higher They Are Raised, the More Is a Spiritual Appetite and Longing of Soul after Spiritual Attainments Increased. On the Contrary, False Affections Rest Satisfied in Themselves True saints are marked by an ever-increas...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength God's nature is fundamentally revealed in two key ways: most comprehensively through Jesus Christ Himself, and also through His attributes and actions as described in the Scriptures. Jesus is presented as the ultimate and full revelation of God . He came into the world specifically to...

Deep Dive into Faith and Regeneration by Charles Spurgeon Love's true source is God , specifically originating from the divine act of regeneration , where an individual is "born of God." This spiritual birth is the wellspring from which genuine love flows, binding believers together as part of God's family and motivating love for others. The definitive proof of this regeneration...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me "Following Jesus" is a timeless and universal command that extends far beyond physically walking with Him during His earthly ministry. After His ascension, it requires a profound commitment and spiritual and practical alignment with His enduring mission. Essentially, it means joining Jesus in what He...

Deep Dive into A Suitable Watchword (Psalm 12:1) by Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon's sermon, "A Suitable Watchword," delivered and published on June 18, 1908, centers on the profound yet simple prayer "Help, LORD" from Psalm 12:1. This two-word plea is presented as a model for effective prayer, emphasizing its brevity and accessibility , making it suitable for con...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Abide in Me "Abiding in Me" is a foundational command from Jesus, signifying a continual, lifelong, and vital connection with Him , rather than a singular past decision. The term "abide" means to stay, continue, or dwell in Jesus, requiring an ongoing engagement of our minds and hearts every day . A past spiritual experien...

Deep Dive into זַלְעָפָה The Hebrew term "זַלְעָפָה" is a multifaceted word primarily conveying intense heat and consuming forces , manifesting as various forms of suffering. It appears in several biblical books, including Psalms and Lamentations, and also in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Sirach. One of its core literal meanings refers to a scorching, burning, or violent wind . In Psalm 11:6,...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Listen to Me Listening to Jesus's words is fundamentally important because they are not merely human utterances but the very words of God , carrying unparalleled authority and power. His teaching was so stunning and unique that even officers sent to arrest him were captivated and unable to carry out their mission, stating, "No one ev...

Deep Dive into The Epistle to the Galatians by F. F. Bruce - Galatians 6 Gentleness is a cornerstone of how members of the faith community interact, particularly in times of spiritual vulnerability. It is a core characteristic for those identified as "spiritual," meaning individuals whose lives are guided by the Spirit of Christ. Gentleness is primarily demonstrated through the restorati...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Me John Piper's "Love Me" explains that love for Jesus is a profound, commanded emotion , not just an act of will or outward deeds. He argues against the idea that feelings cannot be commanded, pointing out that Jesus explicitly commands emotions such as rejoicing, fearing, and forgiving from the heart. This demonstrates th...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - The Extent of the Atonement The resolution of atonement theories centers on two main questions: "For whom did Christ die?" and "For what did Christ atone?" Regarding the extent of Christ's death, two primary views contend. Particular Atonement , often embraced by Calvinists, argues that Christ died exclusively for t...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Believe in Me Humanity finds itself in a desperate situation because all people are under the wrath of God . This wrath is a just response to humanity's sin , defined as attitudes and behaviors that belittle God's worth and treat Him as insignificant. All individuals are guilty of this, doing it daily, which leads to condemnation and...

Deep Dive into God as El Olam The New Testament (NT) profoundly receives and intensifies the theme of God's eternality , demonstrating both continuity with the Old Testament and a climactic Christological focus. While not using the specific Hebrew term "El Olam," the NT employs equivalent concepts and phrases to convey God's timelessness, integrating this understanding into a rob...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Come to Me The command "Come to Me" from Jesus is a profound and central invitation to humanity, revealing the core of His mission and His relationship with people. Its fundamental nature is an urgent call to those who are spiritually burdened, heavy laden, hungry, and thirsty , offering a radical transformation rather than a new se...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - Meditation on the Future Life God demonstrates His fatherly care for believers through a comprehensive guidance system that utilizes both the blessings and the trials of this life to draw them closer to Himself and prepare them for eternal glory. He first reveals His fatherhood through "lesser proofs" in the present, wh...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Repent Repentance produces several significant and transformative outcomes. At its core, it brings about a radical inward change within an individual, profoundly reorienting their relationship toward both God and humanity. This transformation is not mere sorrow for sin or a superficial adjustment of behavior, but a deep change of the mind’s p...

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Another Thing wherein Those Affections That Are Truly Gracious and Holy, Differ from Those That Are False, Is Beautiful Symmetry and Proportion True gracious affections are characterized by a beautiful symmetry and proportion , reflecting the universality of sanctification and the whole image of Christ in believers. This means all virtues a...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - You Must Be Born Again Jesus explicitly commands that "You must be born again" for anyone to "see the kingdom of God" and "enter the kingdom of God." This foundational command was given to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and expert in Jewish Scriptures, who was confused by the idea of a second birth, interpreting it physic...

Deep Dive into All of Grace: An Earnest Word for Those Who Are, by Grace, Seeking Salvation by Charles Spurgeon - Close The author's foremost desire is the spiritual salvation and eternal well-being of every reader . He fervently urges them to accept Jesus Christ and receive salvation by grace , leading them to heaven and preventing eternal damnation. He expresses deep sorrow if his efforts to...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Introduction John Piper’s book, All That Jesus Commanded , aims for God-glorifying obedience to Jesus , directly fulfilling His final commission to "make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." The book emphasizes that true obedience means not just knowing commands but actively living...

Deep Dive into The Bible Tried and Proved (Psalm 12:6) by Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon's sermon "The Bible Tried and Proved" centers on the profound nature of "the words of the Lord," asserting their absolute purity , preciousness , and permanence . He likens them to silver refined seven times, free from any evil, error, or failure. This unblemished quality stem...

Deep Dive into The Church and Missions by Mark Dever The sources outline a comprehensive approach to advancing God's mission, fundamentally rooted in the local church as God's evangelism plan . The primary goal of missionary endeavors is to establish sound, healthy, reproducing churches that will endure until Christ returns, moving beyond simply "making disciples" to planting per...