Discussing the authority of Holy Scripture in the modern world, Berkouwer writes, “The confession of the authority of the Word of God can never be isolated from the saving content of the Word of God” (Modern Uncertainty and Christian Faith, p. 14, emphasis mine).In confessing that the Bible is the Word of God, the believer …
Continue reading Berkouwer on the authority of Holy Scripture
1:1-54Sometimes, Lord, we read, in your Word, things that make us wonder, "What's this all about?" What are You saying to us in the parts of the Bible that don't jump out at us? We ask, "Do we really need to read a long list of names?" You say to us, "All of these people …
Come with me to Scotland! Sir Alexander Gray (born 1882) describes Scotland as a land of rugged Highlands and wide-open spaces - “Here in the Uplands The soil is ungrateful; The fields, red with sorrel, Are stony and bare. A few trees, wind-twisted - Or are they but bushes? - Stand stubbornly guarding A home …
Berkouwer emphasizes the present activity of the Spirit in pointing men to Christ through the words of the Bible - "Scripture is the Word of God because the Holy Spirit witnesses in it of Christ” (Holy Scripture, p. 162, emphasis mine); “the purpose of the God-breathed Scripture is … to witness of the salvation of …
John 1:1-34We thank You, Lord, for Your Son, Jesus – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). What a wonderful thing this is – it’s the great exchange: Jesus has taken our sin, and we receive His salvation.John 1:35-2:25Help us, Lord, to look beyond what we are right …
Romans 1:1-32“I am not ashamed of the Gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith” (Romans 1:16). Lord, we thank You for Your Gospel. It is Good News. It comes to us with power. It brings to us salvation. Help us to believe Your Gospel, to release its …
1 Peter 1:1-25What kind of people are we to be? You’re calling us to be holy. You’re calling us to be loving. It’s not holiness without love. It’s not love without holiness. It’s holiness. It’s love. This, Lord, is the life You’re calling us to live. Help us to walk with You in holiness and …
Ephesians 1:1-2:10 Lord, You call us to live a holy life. We cannot do this in our own strength. True holiness does not come from ourselves. It comes from You. It comes from Your love. Your love reaches us. Your love changes us. Your love is stronger than our sin. May Your love inspire us …
2 Peter 1:1-2:10aWe thank You, Lord, for Your “very great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). You’re leading us on, with Yourself, to “a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). The pathway to heavenly and eternal glory will not be easy – but we’re not …
2 Timothy 1:1-2:7Lord, we’re not to keep Your Word to ourselves. You’ve given us the “Gospel.” Help us to share it with “faithful” people who will “pass it on to others” (2 Timothy 1:11,13 & 2:2).2 Timothy 2:8-3:9Help us, Lord, to “remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Timothy 2:8). Jesus is the living …
Numbers 31:25-32:42; Luke 8:40-9:9; Psalm 40:1 In Moses’ time, the people of God were to “arm themselves before the Lord for battle” (Numbers 32:20). In Jesus’ time, His disciples were given “power and authority to drive out all demons …” (Luke 9:1). In every generation, the Lord’s people are to sing “a new song … …
Hebrews 1:1-2:9We thank You, Lord, for Your Son, Jesus Christ. He is our Lord. He came from heaven, where He is worshipped by angels (Hebrews 1:6). He is our Saviour. He came to earth where “He suffered death, so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Help us, …
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By asking us to consider the question, “How convincing is Barth’s rejection of universalism?”, Berkouwer is really calling in question Barth’s understanding of election. He is really asking, “Does Scripture teach this idea of universal election?”—–Colin Brown has also been forthright on this point. He suggests that Barth’s reservation with regard to universalism should have …
Continue reading Karl Barth and Universalism: Comments from Berkouwer, Brown, Bromiley and Bloesch
2 Kings 1:1-2:13Lord, there is always something more to be done for You. Help us never to say, “I’ll leave it to someone else” or “I’ll leave it until tomorrow.” The things that are left to someone else or left until tomorrow often end up becoming the things that never get done. Help us, Lord, …
The more I thought of my own work on Berkouwer, the more I came to feel that the key Biblical text is Ephesians 2:8 - "By grace you have been saved through faith". The emphasis is on the absolute necessity of both grace and faith. It is not 'by grace you have been saved without …
Continue reading Berkouwer’s theology of the relationship between grace and faith
DANIEL 1:1-2:16 ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself’ (Daniel 1:8). We thank You, Lord, that Daniel was devoted to You. It was not easy to live as Your faithful servant. His dedication to You was put to the test – ‘Test your servants’ (Daniel 1:12). Our faith is put to the test. We ‘suffer many …
God’s Word For Every Day
1 John 1:1-2:17We thank You, Lord, that Your Son, “Jesus Christ” died “for our sins” (1 John 2:1-2). This is Good News. It’s great news! It’s the best news we could ever hear – and it comes from You. What love You have for us. Help us not to keep this love to ourselves. Help …
Mark 1- 3 With the command, ‘Follow Me’, there is the promise, ‘I will make you fishers of men’ (1:17). Jesus prayed (1:35). Jesus was mighty before men. The power of God was flowing freely. Jesus knew where the power comes from - He was humble before God. There is a world of difference between …
Isaiah 1:1-31 We thank You, Lord, that You invite us to “come” to You and receive salvation – “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Along with Your promise, there is also Your warning: “if you refuse and rebel … ” (Isaiah 1:18-20). You call us to believe in …
Often, Lord, we feel so useless. Make us useful – Your faithful and fruitful servants.
Berkouwer emphasizes both objectivity and subjectivity. He does this by emphasizing that faith’s subjective certainty is rooted in the truth of the Gospel. “Faith involves a certain subjectivity, … a subjectivity which has meaning only as it is bound to the gospel.” (Faith and Justification, p. 30). “the church’s … certainty is bound to certain …
Continue reading Our Faith is rooted in the Truth of the Gospel.
Ezekiel 1:1-2:10 ‘The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God… The Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel’(Ezekiel 1:1-2). Lord, You open our eyes to ‘see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4:4). You Lord speak to us. Help us to listen to You: ‘Speak, Lord, for …
Philippians 1:1-2:11Lord, there are times when we feel like we can’t go on, times when we feel like giving up. When we feel like this, speak to us Your Word of encouragement: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).Philippians 2:12-3:11Lord, we have …
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20When we gather together to hear the preaching of Your Word, show us, Lord, that we need more than the “words” of the preacher. Show us that we need “the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Help us, when we hear Your Word, to know that it is more than “the …
Continue reading Praying Through God’s Word: 1 Thessalonians
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Continue reading Rev James Philip’s Daily Bible Reading Notes
Here are some links to excerpts from Berkouwer’s “Studies in Dogmatics. SinFaith and PerseveranceThe Person of ChristThe Work of ChristDivine ElectionFaith and SanctificationFaith and JustificationThe Return of ChristMan: The Image of GodThe Church
The Treasury of David 1599 Geneva Study Bible Matthew Henry Calvin’s Complete CommentariesIVP New TestamentCommentaries Bible Pathway My Utmost for His Highest JohnWesley Bible Gateway CrosswalkBlueLetter Bible Rev James Philip’s Daily Bible Reading Notes “Preaching and Teaching” by James Philip
The book of Nehemiah begins with distressing news - “The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). Nehemiah takes this situation to the Lord in prayer (Nehemiah 1:4-11). With the help of God, the work of rebuilding begins. This work was pleasing to the Lord …
Lamentations Pride and Faith in Berkouwer's Studies in Dogmatics John Hick's Religious World A Biblical Approach to Theodicy The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today Can we give an adequate account of human experience without reference to God? The Place of Theology in the contemporary Church... An Introduction to Theological Anthropology The Holy …
Bible Centre (New Testament) Bible Gateway (Audio) Blue Letter Bible (Commentaries) Crosswire Bible Society IVP New Testament Commentaries John Zizioulas Study Light Third Millenium Ministries
These links will take you to the archives of "Reformed Review." The book reviews are listed alphabetically. "The Reformation Continues" is an article. "The Problem of Polarization is a review of my book. Calvin and Scottish Theology: The Doctrine of Assurance Arminius: A Study in the Dutch Reformation The Restitution of Man and the Case …
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This is the story of what God was doing with His people. He was giving them the land He had promised to them. Joshua was to be the leader of God;s people. Joshua’s strength came from the Lord: “Be strong and courageous! ...The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).The report …
2 Corinthians 1:1-2:11Lord, You “comfort us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). You turn our times of trouble into times of great blessing. When bad things are happening to us, You keep on loving us. You don’t leave us on our own when the going gets tough. You’re with us in the good times …
More about Berkouwer, see The Theology Of G C Berkouwer Berkouwer’s understanding of divine election is best understood in terms of the Dutch Reformation. There, one finds a similar struggle to avoid determinism and thus emphasize the sincerity of the Gospel offer. These motifs are found in the writings of the Dutch Reformer, James Arminius. The …
JOEL 1:1-2:17‘Joel’ means ‘the Lord is God.’ We thank You, Lord, that You are our God. You are ‘gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…’. Teach us to ‘return to You, the Lord our God.’ Help us to ‘return to You with all our heart.’ May we always look to You …
MALACHI1:1-2:17Lord, You look upon us in our sin. What do You see? You see ‘the Wicked Land. You see ‘a people always under the wrath of the Lord’ (Malachi 1:4). You look at what Christ has done for us – ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’; ‘While we were still sinners, Christ …
HOSEA 1:1-3:5 ‘Hosea’ means ‘salvation’. Married to ‘an adulterous wife’, Hosea spoke with great compassion to ‘the land’ which was ‘guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord’ (Hosea 1:2). We thank You, Lord, that Hosea brought Your Word of love to the people: ‘I will show My love to the one I …
ZEPHANIAH1:1-2:7 - ‘The great Day of the Lord is near - near and coming quickly... That Day will be a Day of wrath... I will bring distress upon the people... because they have sinned against the Lord’ (1:14-17). This is God’s Word of warning. He is calling us back to Himself: ‘Seek the Lord - …
In his review of Berkouwer’s book, A Half Century of Theology in Themelios, Vol. 4, No. 1, New Series, September 1978, pp. 40-41, Bruce Demarest describes Berkouwer’s view of faith and reason, Demarest commends him for his careful avoidance of “the polarities of a mindless fideism and a faithless rationalism” (p. 41).
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