Welcome to Reformed, Again! Eric and Elisabeth are two married individuals living in Altoona, PA, born and raised as Lutherans, yet recognizing that the popular definition of “Lutheranism” according to today’s ELCA and true, classic Christianity (that Luther himself would espouse) are not necessarily the same things. It would seem that the once-reformed would need to be reformed, again.
We welcome all readers along for this journey of discourse as we look at classic writings, biblical doctrine, biblical implications, and current topics of importance, all relating to the need of today’s typical protestant churches to return to the reformed distinctives espoused by those such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. In our discussions, we count God’s Word, the Bible, as inerrant and as the only source of true, specific revelation from the Most High, Creator God of the universe.
We hold to the same affirmations and denials made available at the 2006 and 2008 Together for the Gospel conference, held in Louisville, Kentucky. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
Despite denominational differences, the true church of Christ must hold to these things of first importance, and it is amazing to see certain Baptists, Presbyterians, independents, and others who hold to a solid, biblical world view agree on the very important matters of classic Christianity. These are truths which have not changed for 2000 years, which all too many “mainline” protestant churches are giving up on for a merely “social” gospel or for a slick “market-driven” approach to church building.
Similar to Luther, those of us in biblical Truth must stand against the tide of post-modernism, legalism, works-righteous salvation-ism, and other theological and philosophical ills of our current age, to defend “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (ESV, Jude 3). You are invited to read along as we tackle these issues, with a few of our closest friends hopefully contributing their own thoughts as well.
Until more is posted here, please enjoy the blogroll and links available in the column to the right. There is a great wealth of solid biblical teaching online from these trusted sources.
Please check back for more posts as our discussion continues…