This post is written to you — the person who grew up in a Dutch Reformed church, who knows the catechism, who has sat under serious preaching, who understands something of sin and misery, and who is, perhaps for the first time or perhaps for the hundredth time, genuinely longing to come to Christ. And yet somehow you cannot. Or more precisely: you have been taught, in ways subtle and not so...
“Am I truly saved?” If you’ve wrestled with that question, you’re not alone. Many Christians struggle with assurance, wondering if their faith is real or if they’ve somehow missed the mark. Some days you feel close to God. Other days you wonder if you’re fooling yourself. The good news is that our Reformed confessions address this struggle directly—not with...
Does Scripture really support calling all people to come to Christ? Some argue that preaching the gospel broadly contradicts divine sovereignty and election. Let the Bible answer this question. The passages below demonstrate that from Genesis to Revelation, God Himself calls all people everywhere to repent and believe. These aren’t isolated proof texts—they represent Scripture’s...
A Fire That Consumes or Illumines? A Conversation with a Modern-Day Mystic Recently, I had a conversation that left me burdened, engaged, curious and prayerful. It wasn’t with an atheist or someone disinterested in spiritual things. It was with a man deeply convinced that he was walking in divine truth, fire in his chest, and mystery in his language. And the debate was unlike anything I...
This can be a very pressing question that weighs on the hearts of those who have been introduced to the Reformed doctrines of grace, often known as Calvinism or “TULIP”. The reality of divine election (that God has chosen some unto salvation before the foundation of the world) can make us anxious. “Am I one of the elect? How can I know for certain?” The Answer Is Simpler...
I write this post not merely as a theological observer, but as someone who lived through the very errors I now aim to expose. For several years, I sat under a form of hyper-Calvinistic experiential preaching that, while well-intentioned, ultimately confused my soul and, I believe, hindered many from entering the Kingdom. It emphasized delay over decision, feeling over faith, and introspection...
For many years I believed the doctrines of grace and revered the authority of Scripture, and never understood the gospel. Even when I started to understand the Gospel, I still hadn’t come to Christ. Not with saving faith. I was stuck. Waiting for a deeper conviction of sin. Waiting to feel worthy of coming. Afraid of presumption. Afraid of being a false convert. Afraid of coming the wrong way...
Author Attribution: Wilhelmus à Brakel, The Christian’s Reasonable Service The Exceeding Wickedness of not Believing in Christ Sixthly, if you do not come and believe in Christ, you commit the most abominable of all sins, with the exception of the sin against the Holy Ghost and the express act of blasphemy towards God, for the following reasons: 1. You deem the true God to be a liar. “He...
by Peter Jeffery “I know I am a sinner and on several occasions I have asked God to forgive me and asked Jesus to be my saviour, but nothing happened.” Such an experience is not uncommon Such an experience is not uncommon, particularly among youngsters who have grown up in a Christian family. It causes bewilderment and frustration, and this is understandable. Sinners are told to confess their sin...
Many people wrestle with what it really means to be converted. Some say conversion is just a decision one makes, while others suggest that one must wait and hope God chooses them. And if you’ve grown up hearing about deep emotional experiences being part of conversion, you might wonder, “Have I really been converted? Did I do it right?” This is a common struggle, and it’s...