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...
Can I Really Be Sure? What the Belgic Confession Teaches About Assurance
“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...
Universal Gospel Appeals are Everywhere in Scripture
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...
When Reformed Experiential Preaching Goes Bad
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...
Dordt as you never knew it – Andrew Fuller
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...
Understanding Biblical Conversion: A Balanced Approach
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...
Tim Conway – When Calvinism Goes Bad
Tim Conway preached a series of messages in 2014, powerfully articulating a biblical and confessionally Reformed presentation of evangelical, Christ-exalting Calvinism in opposition to soul-destroying hyper-Calvinism. Click through to the “I’ll Be Honest” website to access all the transcripts. Pastor Tim Conway is a prominent preacher known for his fervent expository teaching...