A past moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Marg Carpenter, who spent most of her life promoting mission, said this: “I’ll say it one more time: the church is alive and well in the world. I’m tired of hearing anything else. I love mission, I love the church, I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I love you Presbyterians, well most of you." … Read more
Author: Richard Topping
The Spirit Unites Us To Christ: The Christian Life
It is the work of the Spirit to create faith. Faith is confidence and trust that the benefits of Christ are mine, that what happened back on the cross and at the empty tomb achieved salvation and that it applies to me here and now. The Holy Spirit is the means by which this salvation reaches even us. … Read More
Review: Julie Canlis, Calvin’s Ladder
The burden of this superb piece of theological work is to demonstrate the centrality of the descent and ascent of Jesus Christ to Calvin's understanding of salvation as human participation in the life of God. … Read More
A Spirited Life: Calvin on the Holy Spirit (Part 2)
Although Calvin takes sin and the fall very seriously, he sees the Spirit at work in the whole of creation. For Calvin, the fundamental human problem is that we ascribe praise incorrectly and we accept praise incorrectly. Because of idolatry and ingratitude, we no longer know God. … Read More
A Spirited Life: Calvin on the Holy Spirit (Part 1)
The author suggests three possible reasons why the Reformed tradition — one that takes its cue and has its roots in the theological work of John Calvin — has not always drawn unto itself Calvin's doctrine of the Holy Spirit. … Read More