Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into Letter to a New Convert by Jonathan Edwards In his 1741 letter, Jonathan Edwards provides practical spiritual guidance to a young new convert, emphasizing that the pursuit of faith requires continuous effort and deep humility. He advises the recipient to maintain the same intense earnestness and vigilance in their spiritual practices as they did before their conversion, noting that...

Deep Dive into The Moody Handbook of Theology, Revised and Expanded by Paul Enns - Pneumatology: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit The provided text outlines the biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit, or Pneumatology, emphasizing His distinct personality and full deity. The Holy Spirit is a genuine person possessing intellect, emotion, and will. His personality is further confirmed by His actions, such a...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 97 Charles Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm 97 outlines it as a prophetic vision of the Holy Spirit's power to conquer systems of error and cast down idol gods. The psalm is divided into four sections: the Lord's coming, its effect on the earth, its influence on the heathen and believers, and a concluding exhortation to hol...

Deep Dive into The Unquenchable Light: Confronting the Secular Conscience with the Eternal Realities of the Gospel Evangelizing individuals who deny heaven and hell requires addressing the deep-seated worldviews and moral conditions behind their skepticism. Modern unbelief often stems from philosophical naturalism, moral relativism, emotional trauma, or a rebellious desire to avoid accountability...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Embracing Theologically Sound Music in a Theologically Unsound World The mission field requires vigilant discernment regarding the theological faithfulness of worship music, as unbiblical music can act as harmful friendly fire within the church. Scripture must serve as the authoritative and...

Deep Dive into ὀργή The Greek term ὀργή originally denoted a natural human temperament or disposition, but it gradually evolved to primarily mean anger, wrath, or indignation, often with a specific focus on retribution. In classical antiquity, Greek philosophers viewed human ὀργή as an irrational passion that should be suppressed by reason, while the wrath of the gods was understood as a restorati...

Deep Dive into Not as the World Gives: Christ’s Bequest of Peace (John 14:27) In John 14:27, Jesus Christ bequeaths a profound, covenantal peace to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. This peace is not a mere psychological calm or a temporary emotional numbness, but rather an objective, blood-bought reality. Christ secures this peace through His substitutionary atonement, enduring divine...

Deep Dive into The Sovereign Feast: Christ’s Compassionate Provision for a Starving World (Matthew 15:32-39) The narratives analyzing Matthew 15:32-39 present the feeding of the four thousand as a profound demonstration of Christ’s identity and human spiritual bankruptcy. The desolate wilderness setting, where the hungry crowd has lingered for three days, serves as a theological mirror reflecting...

Deep Dive into Dim Eyes, Clear Promise: Revelation vs. Preference (Genesis 27:1–4) Genesis 27:1-4 presents a critical collision between God's sovereign revelation and human preference. The passage opens with the aging patriarch Isaac, whose failing eyesight serves as a powerful metaphor for his profound spiritual dimness. Despite God's prior prophetic oracle explicitly declaring that the o...

Deep Dive into The Character of Paul an Example to Christians (Philippians 3:17) by Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon based on Philippians 3:17, argues that Christians are divinely obligated to imitate the Apostle Paul. While Jesus Christ is the ultimate and perfect model for humanity, Paul provides a uniquely relatable pattern because, unlike Christ, he was a fallen creature who ha...

Deep Dive into On Free-Will, the Nature and Power thereof by John Owen In his critique of the Arminian doctrine of free will, John Owen characterizes their exalted view of human volition as an idol that was historically dismantled during the Reformation but recently resurrected by innovators. While acknowledging that humans possess a natural liberty free from outward compulsion and inward necessit...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 96 Psalm 96 is a grand missionary hymn designed to celebrate the future conversion of all nations to Jehovah during gospel times. The psalmist invites the entire earth to sing a new song, signifying a departure from the gloomy, cruel rites of idolatry into an era of joyful, pure, and heavenly worship. This universal chorus will ultim...

Deep Dive into From Invitation to Resurrection: The Doctrine of Irresistible Grace The doctrine of irresistible grace, often termed effectual calling, asserts that salvation is entirely a sovereign, monergistic work of the Holy Spirit. According to Reformed theology, this doctrine is necessary because fallen humanity is spiritually dead, hostile to God, and entirely unable to choose Christ autonom...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Foundation Blocks for Faithful Pastoral Training The successful training of indigenous church leaders requires establishing formal pastoral training centers built upon core biblical values and strategic foundation blocks. These centers must uphold the supreme authority of Scripture, priorit...

Deep Dive into Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volumes 1–3 - Psalm 8 Matthew Poole's commentary on Psalm 8 explores David's celebration of God's majesty, providence, and profound love for mankind. While the psalm contemplates humanity in general, Poole emphasizes that its principal subject is Jesus Christ and the great work of redemption. The psalm begins by praising God&...

Deep Dive into פֶּ֫לֶג The Hebrew term peleg primarily functions as a masculine noun referring to an artificial water channel, canal, ditch, river, or stream. Etymologically, the root is connected to several ancient Near Eastern languages, including Akkadian, Ugaritic, Ethiopic, and Arabic, carrying the foundational concepts of dividing a landscape, flowing, or bubbling up. In biblical literature,...

Deep Dive into “Such Were Some of You”: Kingdom Warning and Gospel Transformation (1 Corinthians 6:9–11) The apostle Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 serves as a severe warning against self-deception and worldliness within the church. Paul clearly declares that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, exposing the reality that unrepentant rebellion leads to final eschatological e...

Deep Dive into Mercy That Makes Worshipers: Kingdom Restoration and Doxology (Matthew 15:29–31) Matthew 15:29-31 portrays Jesus Christ as the authoritative Messianic King who effortlessly heals the profound brokenness of humanity, a merciful act that ultimately culminates in doxology. The narrative begins with Jesus ascending a mountain near the Sea of Galilee and taking a seated posture. This sea...

Deep Dive into The Well of Peace and the Root of Bitterness: Covenantal Fidelity and Profane Rebellion (Genesis 26:26–35) Genesis 26:26–35 presents a striking theological contrast between the public vindication of God's servant and the internal corruption of his household. The narrative first details a profound diplomatic reversal where Abimelech, the Philistine king who previously exiled Isaa...

Deep Dive into The Wisdom of God, Displayed in the Way of Salvation (Ephesians 3:10) by Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards argues that the wisdom of God revealed in the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ profoundly surpasses the wisdom of angels. This divine wisdom is manifold and is primarily made known to the principalities and powers of heaven through the church and the work of redemption...

Deep Dive into Romans by Robert H. Mounce - Romans 1 Robert H. Mounce’s commentary on Romans 1 explores the opening of the Apostle Paul’s letter, which establishes the foundation of the gospel and the universal need for salvation. Paul introduces himself as a servant and called apostle, set apart to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is both human through David's lineage and divine, auth...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 95 Psalm 95, frequently attributed to David, is aptly described by Charles Spurgeon as the Psalm of the Provocation. The text is divided into two main sections: an invitation to worship the Lord and a solemn warning against the perils of unbelief. The psalm begins by urging believers to sing with a joyful noise and come before God&#3...

Deep Dive into Torah Laws: Covenant Commandments and Their Living Practice in Judaism Both perspectives acknowledge that the Torah laws are divine covenantal instructions given to Israel after their redemption from Egypt, demonstrating that grace and deliverance precede moral obligations. From a Reformed Christian viewpoint, the Torah acts as a divine mirror that exposes human depravity and the in...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Drafting the Distinctives of a Philosophy of Global Theological Education Theological education is an essential component of the local church, fulfilling the Great Commission's mandate to make disciples and teach them to observe all that Christ commanded. Because the church serves as th...

Deep Dive into Boxed-In Power: Ukraine’s Wartime Governance and the Democratic Survival of Emergency Rule Ukraine's use of martial law during the ongoing war presents a profound test of governance, analyzed through both democratic and theological frameworks. From a democratic perspective, the survival of Ukraine's political system depends on confining emergency powers within strict limits...