Book of the Week
Posted: May 10, 2008 Filed under: Book of the Week Leave a comment
Go over and see the deal at Reformation Heritage Books this month, Francis Turretin- Institutes of Elenctic, in 3 Volumes. For only $70.00!!! This set is retailed at $125.00, and RHB sells it for $80.00, but for only the month of May, they are willing to drop 10 more bucks off of this great set of systematics.
This is Francis Turretin’s magnum opus, a massive work of Reformed scholasticism. Written originally in Latin with sentences frequently lasting nearly a half a page, Turretin’s Institutes are at once familiar, profound, erudite, thorough and precise, detailed, comprehensive, historically significant, and truly Reformed, etc. Turretin organized his Institutes into 20 topics (loci) that range from “Prolegomena” (that is, very necessary introductory considerations) to “The Last Things.” Each topic (locus) is organized by specific questions. The work is Elenctic (polemic or argumentitive), for a large chunk of this work is written against the Roman Catholics, Arminians, Socinians, Anabaptists, Molinists and others. Translated by George Musgrave Giger Edited by James T. Dennison Jr. Order here.
Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption
Posted: May 7, 2008 Filed under: Adoption, Joel Beeke, Puritans, Reformation Heritage Books Leave a comment
About the Author: JoeL R. Beeke is pastor of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a prolific author.
Endorsements: Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption
“Dr. Beeke is well-known for his landmark work setting the record straight on the Puritan doctrine of assurance. Now he comes to our aid again with a superb treatment of the Puritans on adoption. I welcome his expert entry into this important field, and commend his keen insights and careful analysis to all who are interested in knowing ‘what the Puritans really said’ about adoption.” —Ligon Duncan
“In this short but spiritually substantive book, Dr. Beeke—a wise and careful ‘pastor theologian’ in the best sense of both words—introduces us to the Puritans’ comforting and transforming work on spiritual adoption. More than just historically informative, this volume should be warmly welcomed by all Christians who want to learn more about this crucial aspect of our identity as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ.”
—Justin Taylor
Pre-Order: @ Reformation Heritage Books
Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption
Posted: May 6, 2008 Filed under: Adoption, Joel Beeke, Puritans, Reformation Heritage Books Leave a comment
There is a new book being published by Reformation Heritage Books coming out June 3rd. Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption, by Dr. Joel R. Beeke will survey the beauty that lied in the Puritans firm foundation of the Spiritual Adoption. Below is some of the information that is on the book. Later this week will come more information about the book, samples from the book, and what you can expect to read in Heirs with Christ.
Description: The Puritans have gotten bad press for their supposed lack of teaching on the doctrine of spiritual adoption. In Heirs with Christ, Joel R. Beeke dispels this caricature and shows that the Puritan era did more to advance the idea that every true Christian is God’s adopted child than any other age of church history. This little book lets the Puritans speak for themselves, showing how they recognized adoption’s far-reaching, transforming power and comfort for the children of God.
Sunday’s with Spurgeon
Posted: May 4, 2008 Filed under: Sundays with Spurgeon Leave a commentAll of Grace: To You
HE WHO SPOKE and wrote this message will be greatly disappointed if it does not lead many to the Lord Jesus. It is sent forth in childlike dependence upon the power of God the Holy Ghost, to use it in the conversion of millions, if so He pleases. No doubt many poor men and women will take up this little volume, and the Lord will visit them with grace. To answer this end, the very plainest language has been chosen, and many homely expressions have been used. But if those of wealth and rank should glance at this book, the Holy Ghost can impress them also; since that which can be understood by the unlettered is none the less attractive to the instructed. Oh that some might read it who will become great winners of souls!
Who knows how many will find their way to peace by what they read here? A more important question to you, dear reader, is this—Will you be one of them?
A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time after that a great art-critic had found much fault with its design. “But,” said he, “do many thirsty persons drink at it?” Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled and said, that he was little troubled by the critic’s observation, only he hoped that on some sultry summer’s day the critic himself might fill the cup, and be refreshed, and praise the name of the Lord.
Here is my fountain, and here is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of the water of life. I only care for this. I had rather bless the soul of the poorest crossing-sweeper, or rag-gatherer, than please a prince of the blood, and fail to convert him to God.
Reader, do you mean business in reading these pages? If so, we are agreed at the outset; but nothing short of your finding Christ and Heaven is the business aimed at here. Oh that we may seek this together! I do so by dedicating this little book with prayer. Will not you join me by looking up to God, and asking Him to bless you while you read? Providence has put these pages in your way, you have a little spare time in which to read them, and you feel willing to give your attention to them. These are good signs. Who knows but the set time of blessing is come for you? At any rate, “The Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. “
Book(s) of the Week
Posted: May 2, 2008 Filed under: Book of the Week Leave a comment
This weeks, book(s) of the week are Herman Bavnick’s, Reformed Dogmatics. Get all four volumes for the best price on the Internet!! Retailing at $180.00, you can order these from Reformation Heritage Books at only $100.00, click here. The Dutch Reformed Translation Society is proud to offer in English for the very first time all four volumes of Herman Bavinck’s complete Reformed Dogmatics. This masterwork will appeal not only to scholars, students, pastors, and laity interested in Reformed theology but also to research and theological libraries.
The Beauty of Adoption: Part Seven
Posted: May 2, 2008 Filed under: Adoption, The Beauty of Adoption Leave a comment
Instructional Point Four- The Joy of the Theology of Adoption– Lastly, the fact that we are adopted heirs to God, with Christ, through the crying of the Spirit, should stir up a joy that fills our heart at all times ,until we are glorified with Him, which will then be ultimate joy forever.
A. Illustration- what does the Bible give us?
The end of verse 17 says, “that we may also be gloried with him.” This truth of adoption should compel the adopted believer to find their happiness in the truth of Christ that awaits us in eternity. The fact that the beginning of the verse says, “Children… heirs of God” should as well lead us to a desire to enjoy this adoption. The happiness of a believer being adopted should make the adopted see that they, the church, are the church of the first-born. For there is no merit, nothing that the adopted ever have to do, but stand in Christ, holding the Spirit that cries for them? This is amazing. This is what should allow the adopted to continue on in obedience to the laws of Christ, to serve him fully and to his best ability because adoption like this, is no other, and cannot be found anywhere else.
B. Application- what does this mean?
This enjoyment of adoption means that the believer as heirs of God may enjoy Him for what he did, Christ dying, what he allows, the Spirit crying, and what he does in allowing us to be a part of his family. This happiness lies in that simple truth of adoption but moreover, the one who you are adopted to. Those that are a part of the family should be content with something that more than three quarters of this world may never find in life or know about in life. Think about this. Often times people in today’s world look for their place to fit into, or something that gives makes them feel well liked. It is often that today people try to fit themselves into a society of people or a family of close-nit individuals that they never belong to, so that they feel liked, or loved. However, this leads to only a temporary fulfillment of one’s soul.
C. Interaction- What would that look like?
In order for the believer to enjoy the family of God to its highest, the adopted individual doesn’t look for other societies, or other means of finding enjoyment besides that of which they were called into. The need for placement in today’s culture seems to be a must. But must I remind the believers that there is no greater place to be than being adopted in this family. For the culture in which we live today tries to find their spirituality from somewhere else than in the family of God. How much more enjoyment should this give the believer that he has his spirituality and all his needs meet in this family, God’s family. St. Augustine saw this best in his life when he was adopted by God. Augustine, having everything he ever wanted, said this after being adopted into the family of God: “Thou hast formed us for thyself. That is our true place. And our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” Augustine makes it clear that all of mankind seeks for this adoption, this partaking in the family of God, and will never in life find enjoyment and rest until they find that which Christ has paved for his elect, which the Spirit can cry for, and which God allows mankind to become heirs of his, for there is nothing sweeter. There is nothing more in life to enjoy than this family. It is the highest blessing of the gospel that you, a sinner slave of Satan, can now partake in the greatest truth, which is to forever be a part of God’s family.
Gospel-Centered Musings 
