Reformed Thinking

The Church's mission is the outward pulse of the life she already possesses in union with her risen Head. It flows directly from God's own being and work, signifying that the Church exists for God, from God, and toward God. At its core, the Church's chief end is doxological: to glorify and enjoy Him now and forever. This doxology is never passive; instead, it "erupts in a holy restlessness to see the glory of the L...

William Tyndale dedicated his life to one singular purpose: to make the word of God accessible to the English people in their own language. He famously declared he would make it possible for even a plow boy to know more of the scriptures than learned clerics. His ultimate goal was that his countrymen might encounter the Living God in his living written word and find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Tyndale's work unfolde...

Paradox and irony are fundamental to Christian identity and experience, profoundly shaping lives and expressions of faith. Irony is the incongruity between expectation and reality. This inherent nature stems from Christians being simultaneously fallen and redeemed, a state of being "saved, and . . . not yet saved." This leads to biblical paradoxes: adopted yet waiting for adoption, pure yet needing to become unleavened, h...

The concept of "missio Dei," or the mission of God, has become a significant problem in contemporary missions because its interpretation has strayed from its historical and biblical roots, primarily by separating it from the specific missions of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Historically, missio Dei referred to the Father sending the Son to redeem humanity, and the Father and Son sending the Holy Spirit to apply that redemp...

The Governmental Theory of atonement, primarily developed by Hugo Grotius, a lawyer by training, posits a unique understanding of how God deals with sin. This theory views God as a holy and righteous ruler who has established moral laws. Sin is understood as a serious violation of these laws, inherently deserving punishment.

However, God's dominant attribute of love allows Him to forgive sin. The central challenge addressed by t...

William Tyndale, educated at Oxford and later Cambridge, stands as arguably the single greatest translator of the Bible into the English language. His life was consumed by one fervent passion: to make the scriptures accessible to ordinary English-speaking people, including "the boy that driveth the plow," in their own language. He commenced his translation of the English New Testament in 1524. By 1526, approximately 6,000...

The name El Shaddai profoundly embodies God's power and provision through its multifaceted meaning and consistent biblical usage. Lexically, "Shaddai" is often linked to "overpower" (signifying almighty power) and "breast" (denoting all-nourishing sufficiency), reflecting interpretations like "God Almighty" and "All-sufficient God". Reformed theology embraces this "thick&qu...

Costi Hinn's central message addresses "Why spread God's glory among the nations?" He states that the primary motivation is the glory of God, which radically transformed his own life. He recounts his past immersion in the prosperity gospel, where he viewed God as a "magic genie" for personal gain, a period he now identifies as being "not saved" and on "the road to hell." His current c...

The foundational principle of Christian life is the profound understanding that believers are not their own masters, but belong wholly to God. This means their entire being—thoughts, speech, meditations, and actions—must be consecrated and dedicated solely to His glory. Their own reason and will are to be surrendered, and they must depart from themselves, allowing God's wisdom and will to rule all their actions. This transforma...

Missionaries emphasize unreached language groups for three primary reasons, all deeply rooted in their understanding of the Bible and the mission of Christ.

Firstly, they believe Jesus explicitly commands His followers to gather those who belong to Him from every language group. The "Great Commission" in Matthew 28 and Luke 24 calls for making disciples of "all nations" (Greek: panta ta ethne), which is interpret...

True Christians are profoundly characterized by a "lamblike, dovelike spirit and temper of Jesus Christ," which is considered the "true, and distinguishing disposition" of their hearts. This spirit is not merely one virtue but the "most excellent and essential thing in Christianity," without which other religious expressions are considered "nothing."

This gentle and benevolent spirit manifests...

Apostles, in the foundational sense of the early church, no longer exist today. These were the original twelve (plus Paul), uniquely sent by the resurrected Christ with supra-ecclesiastical authority and divine revelation to lay the church's foundation. However, "apostles" do exist today in a different, ongoing sense: as "apostles of the churches," which is the biblical definition of a missionary. These are ...

Blamelessness in Christ is a state of being confirmed and preserved by God's grace to stand without fatal charge in the Day of Judgment. It is a profound security and holiness that Paul confidently expected for all saints. This blamelessness is a desired confirmation, which means God strengthens and establishes individuals who are already "right" in their righteous path, unlike being confirmed in sin or ungodliness.

Th...

A Christian's belief in eternal life fundamentally transforms their worldly decisions, shifting their focus from the temporary present to the enduring "world to come." This eternal perspective is cultivated through three key views:

A right view of God is paramount. Deeply knowing God, through meditating on His Word, provides greater confidence in one's identity, more courage knowing He controls all, and a willingne...

Psalm 12 begins with David's desperate cry, "HELP, LORD," reflecting his profound need for divine intervention during Saul's oppressive government and persecution of him and other good men. David was destitute of human comfort, lamenting that "the godly man ceaseth" and "the faithful fail," signifying a widespread loss of mercy, humanity, and common honesty. The Psalm was composed as a plea for...

The central motivation for participating in the Great Commission stems from a profound and compelling love for Christ, which, in turn, fuels obedience to His commands.

The most fundamental reason is that "Christ's love to me compels my love to him and so I want to obey him and do what he has commanded." This obedience is not forced but arises from a transformed heart. Through the new covenant in Christ, believers recei...

The Hebrew term רָשָׁע (rāšāʿ) refers to a wicked person, evildoer, or someone who is guilty. It is fundamentally understood in direct opposition to צַדִּיק (ṣaddiq), meaning righteous or just, highlighting a core biblical dichotomy between individuals and their moral standing.

In a legal or forensic context, "רָשָׁע" denotes someone "guilty of an individual crime" or "in the wrong," implying liability ...

A conscience is an individual's internal awareness or sense of what they believe is right or wrong, functioning as a guide, monitor, witness, or judge. It is highly unique to each person, shaped by influences such as family dynamics, culture, personal background, consequences from past decisions, and one's interpretation of the Bible.

A weak conscience specifically refers to a conscience that is misfiring or not properly ali...

The Epistle to the Philippians conveys a powerful and enduring message that true biblical joy is a settled conviction independent of external circumstances. This divine joy contrasts sharply with fleeting happiness, which relies on favorable situations. Biblical joy stems from the conviction that God sovereignly controls life's events for believers' good and His glory, and it is something God commands believers to embrace. ...