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Chapter 2.What It Is to Know God.—Tendency of This Knowledge. Sections. The knowledge of God the Creator defined. The substance of this knowledge, and the use to be made of it. Further illustration of the use, together with a necessary reproof of vain curiosity, and refutation of the Epicureans. The character of God as it appears to the pious mind, contrasted with the absurd views of the Epicureans. Religion defined. 1. By the knowledge of God, I understand that by which we not only conceive that there is some God, but also apprehend what it is for our interest, and...

It’s the five-hundredth birthday of John Calvin (1509-1564). There will be a great lot of conferences. Bob Godfrey, Mike Horton, Hywel Jones, I and a cast of thousands are speaking at the Calvin500 Conference in Geneva in July, 09. Herman Selderhuis from the Theological University at Appeldoorn (The Netherlands) just notified us that there is another worthy Calvin conference in the Netherlands in late October and early November of this year. Here’s the info: On October 30th - November 1st, 2008, as a ´kick-off´ for the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth in 2009, the Institute for Reformation Research at the...

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while...

Rodney BeasonI am a convert to the Catholic Faith from Calvinism. I loved Calvinism and owned a library full of Calvin, Luther, Warfield, Hodge, Murray, Owen, Machen, etc. as well as helped plant a local Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I knew Reformation Theology and how much hatred it generates for the Catholic Church. As a Calvinist, I could boast with the best of them. I even persecuted the Catholic Church and went after every one of them I found, beating them back with Scripture, upon Scripture, upon quotes of Luther, Calvin, etc. I found great pleasure in debating Catholics. My...

What one individual would you identify as the virtual founder of America? Would it be George Washington? Thomas Jefferson? Thomas Paine? Benjamin Franklin? I believe that the man history clearly gives this designation to is a humble reformer from Geneva, Switzerland, who died in 1564. His name is John Calvin. The great American historian, George Bancroft, who was far from a Calvinist, calls John Calvin “the father of America.” According to Bancroft, “He who will not honor the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows but little of the origin of American liberty.” If we are to get back...

worldwide birthday party is being planned to celebrate the life and legacy of John Calvin, one of the founding fathers of the Protestant Reformation. "Protestant theology and Western democracy owe a debt of gratitude to John Calvin," says Peter Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary outside Philadelphia and one of the driving forces behind Calvin 500, a celebration that culminates on July 10, 2009, five centuries after Calvin's birth. "Calvin is maligned or, worse, sometimes forgotten today. But along with his brother in the faith, Martin Luther, Calvin did much for the revival of biblical Christianity," declares Lillback. Calvin was...

Calvin Borel's run for the Triple Crown with Street Sense was derailed at the Preakness Stakes, but the Catahoula native will forever be a Kentucky Derby winner. The newspapers and sports announcers refer to him by name, Calvin Borel. The jockeys call him Bo-Rail, for his preference of riding the rail when he races horses. But his family has a hard time calling him anything but what they've called him all of his life, Boo-Boo.

First Sermon on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ John Calvin Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup...

Wednesday morning: the chapel is filled to the brim with students who seem more or less happy to be there. They could be sipping Nutty Irishmen and chatting with friends in the Fish House, but instead they’ve come to worship God through song and prayer. This many people have deliberately chosen to spend their mid-morning break at chapel. This is the first thing that surprises Melissa, a sophomore transfer student from Taylor University, an evangelical college in Indiana. She figures that to get this kind of voluntary attendance, the 20-minute service must be packed with vibrant praise and worship songs,...

The Calvin and Hobbes snowmen comics were often my favorite, it’s nice to see people attempt to implement them in real life.Hanging:Holding His Own Head:Car Accident:Sharks:Burial:Bowling:

Total Depravity of Man Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistable Grace Perseverence of the Saints This is an open thread to discuss the calvinistic concept of Unconditional Election.

Total Depravity of Man Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistable Grace Perseverence of the Saints This is an open thread to discuss the calvinistic concept of Total Depravity of Man.

The sixteenth century was a period of tumultuous change in Western Europe. The need for some kind of moral and intellectual shake–up within the church had been obvious for some time. Many religious and political writers of the fifteenth century had been aware of the weaknesses of the medieval church and the society in which it was embedded. However, there are good reasons for thinking that few were really prepared for the radical events of the sixteenth century, which are generally referred to collectively as "the Reformation." The Reformation remains of central importance for Christian theology and the life...

A Letter to The Learning Channel To Whom It May Concern, I write today to offer your television network the rights to what I am convinced will soon be the most popular reality show on television. Reality television has offered the discerning viewer much entertainment and so many opportunities to learn. We have learned how to dress, how to cook, how to build motorcycles and hotrods and even how to build beautiful rooms using plywood, staple guns and glue guns. We've seen what it takes to make it as an executive for the world's leading corporations. We've seen the inner-workings...

Picture the following scenario. Crowds of Americans rioting in the streets. Two opposing groups shout loudly, vying to have their messages heard and heeded. The groups meet. Confrontation ensues. Fistfights break out. Church windows are smashed. What are these rioters fighting about? Christmas. One group favors celebrating Christmas, the other opposes all Christmas observances. This isn’t an imaginary event, it is history. It happened in Boston on Christmas day in 1706. In America's increasing love-affair with Christmas (both the Christian and commercial versions), we have forgotten that there was a time when much of European and American Christianity thought that...

Martin Luther, Founder of the Reform, Speaks on Mary In his sermon of August 15, 1522, the last time Martin Luther preached on the Feast of the Assumption, he stated: There can be no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we do not know. And since the Holy Spirit has told us nothing about it, we can make of it no article of faith . . . It is enough to know that she lives in Christ. The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart. (Sermon, September 1, 1522)....

*Geisler:* Right! There's a big difference between the two systems. The answer to the question of truth is of eternal importance. If there's a substantial difference between the two systems -- and if your eternal soul depends on a correct choice of one system or the other -- then it behooves everyone to examine seriously all the evidence and make a truly informed decision. We can't just say, "Well, I believe it, I was taught it, I was reared that way." The question is, _Which one is true?_ If Islam is true, Christianity is false. If Christianity is true, Islam...

VI. THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION (Arminius) With regard to the certainty [or assurance] of salvation, my opinion is, that it is possible for him who believes in Jesus Christ to be certain and persuaded, and, if his heart condemn him not, he is now in reality assured, that he is a son of God, and stands in the grace of Jesus Christ. Such a certainty is wrought in the mind, as well by the action of the Holy Spirit inwardly actuating the believer and by the fruits of faith, as from his own conscience, and the testimony of God's Spirit...