Sermons and Biblical Studies

PSALM 108 For great is Your love, higher than the heavens (Ps. 108:4 niv). Returning to our study of the Psalms, we find that Calvin did not write a commentary on Psalm 108 because it is composed of portions from Psalms 57 and 60. We will then focus on verse 4, “For great is Your … Continue reading “THE LOVE OF GOD”

ROMANS 10 How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom. 10:14). From the Reformation through the colonization of America, Calvinism dominated the Protestant movement. Belief in justification by faith alone and God’s electing love permeated the preaching and evangelism of the early … Continue reading “ELECTION AND EVANGELISM”

ROMANS 8:18–30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29a). The vast majority of evangelicals today reject the Reformed view of predestination adapting instead a position of prescience or foreknowledge. This Arminian view of God’s electing foreknowledge contends that God looks ahead into time, sees … Continue reading “THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD”

EPHESIANS 2 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) … (Eph. 2:4–5). Foundational to the understanding of election is a correct view of man. We learned … Continue reading “MAN’S RADICAL FALLENNESS”

ROMANS 8:1–17 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Rom. 8:7). One of the primary objections often raised against the doctrine of divine election is that it violates man’s free will. To answer this we must look at man’s ability … Continue reading “FREEDOM OF THE WILL”

ROMANS 9 So then it is not of him who wills, not of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy (Rom. 9:16). Throughout church history the debate concerning predestination raged among three views: Pelagianism, semi-Pelagianism, and Augustinianism. Pelagianism maintains that God’s grace assists fallen man in redemption but is not necessary to attain … Continue reading “BY GRACE, NOT MAN’S WILL”

PSALM 107 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (Ps. 107:1). Psalm 107 teaches us how to respond to God’s goodness by providing portraits of God’s blessed providence and love in delivering His people from distress. First, the writer describes those who wander the earth, unsure of … Continue reading “THE LORD IS GOOD”

PSALM 106 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations (Ps. 106:30–31). When John Calvin read Psalm 106:30–31, he was compelled to defend the Reformation doctrine of justification only through faith in Christ. His careful response we quote at length: “How … Continue reading “ACCOUNTED RIGHTEOUS”

PSALM 105 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! (Ps. 105:1). The writer of Psalm 105 wanted to remind Israel of the many promises God had given. He wanted the people to remember God’s covenant with Abraham, and the benefit of that promise extending to … Continue reading “ENDURING PROMISES”

PSALM 104 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works (Ps. 104:31 niv). Calvin makes two points concerning Psalm 104 that are of particular relevance today: (1) “He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved” (v. 5 niv), and (2) “He makes … wine … Continue reading “GOD’S BOUNTIES”