Joel R. Beeke - Living for Gods Glory

"It was a joy to read this excellent and useful book. In this volume, Joel Beeke- one of our best ambassadors for warm, winsome, experiential, solid, orthodox, passionate, evangelistic Calvinism-introduces us to a healthy, well-rounded view of the Reformed tradition-Calvinism as it really is. It presents us with the basics of the history of Calvinism and confessionalism, as well as the mainstream Calvinistic teaching on salvation, piety, growth, the church, preaching, evangelism, marriage, family, work, politics, ethics, doxology (the idea of living all of life for God's honor-from which this book gets its title), and more. The total picture presented here will help strengthen in our time confessional, experiential Calvinism-the great, central, Reformed tradition flowing out of the best of British (Puritan and Scottish) and Dutch (Further Reformation) Calvinism."

-J. LIGON DUNCAN III

Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss. President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

"There seems to be a popular misconception afoot that Calvinism is an impressive intellectual structure, but that Reformed people must find resources elsewhere for practical piety. At the heart of Joel Beeke's ministry has been a burden to show the opposite conclusion, and this book has the same goal. Covering many important aspects of Calvinism, its practice as well as its faith, the book is written in a warm, pastoral, and engaging way."

-MICHAEL HORTON

Professor of systematic theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

"Finally-a book about Calvinism that covers the broad scope of the Calvinistic or Reformed movement. Calvinism affects the whole man: his head, his heart, and his hands. It has an intellectual or doctrinal dimension, as well as spiritual and practical dimensions. It influences not just the church but the culture. It is not confined to the Lord's Day, but impacts daily life. Calvinism is not a dead historic phenomenon, but a living view of God, man and Christ, sin and grace, time and eternity, and church and society. I hope this book will contribute to a revival of biblical, God-centered, and practical theology-that is, of Calvinism."

-PIETER ROUWENDAL

Writer and editor Kampen, The Netherlands

"Living for God's Glory is a very helpful and insightful introduction to Reformed Christianity. It demonstrates that Calvinism is not narrowly doctrinal, but broad and profound, speaking to every aspect of Christian life. It will inform and inspire Christians in biblical faithfulness."

-W. ROBERT GODFREY

President, Westminster Seminary California

"Dr. Joel Beeke has once again performed a great service for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This book will profit every class of reader, from the new convert to the most mature believer. Dr. Beeke's style embodies the characteristics of experiential Calvinism on which he writes: every chapter is clear and addressed to the heart. I particularly found the chapter `Applying the Word' to be a needed word for Calvinistic preachers in our day. Buy a copy for yourself and a number to give away."

-JOSEPH A. PIPA JR.

President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Grenville, S.C.

"Living for God's Glory is solid Christian truth in all its fullness, beauty, and strength. To study what is given so pleasantly here in these pages is to take a firm step toward becoming a clear-sighted and well-equipped student of theology. It will satisfy the appetite of believers, young and old. I wish I had had such a book in my hands when I was a young believer starting out on the journey to learn theology."

-MAURICE ROBERTS

Minister, Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) Inverness, Scotland

"This book is rooted in the conviction that Calvinism is a gospel-centered, biblical theology for all of life. Drawing from his wide knowledge of Reformation and Puritan thought, and using his gift for illustrating biblical truth, Joel Beeke shows how God's grace is glorified in the believer's mind and heart, not only in the church, but also in the world."

-PHILIP GRAHAM RYKEN

Senior minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia

JOEL R. BEEKE

WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: SINCLAIR B. FERGUSON JAMES GRIER MICHAEL A. G. HAYKIN NELSON KLOOSTEPMAN RAY LANNING ROBERT OLIVER RAY PENNINGS DEREK W. H. THOMAS

To three faithful, seasoned friends:

Dr. Robert Johnson

Word-centered elder, physician of physicians, tender counselor, assistant editor,

Dr. James Grier

Christ-exalting preacher, seminary mentor, wise counselor, servant leader, and

Rev. Ray Lanning

loyal colleague, walking encyclopedia, exegetical counselor, ruthless proofreader.

CONTENTS

................................. ix

.................................................... xii

PART ONE: CALVINISM IN HISTORY

................................. 3

.................................... 19

PART Two: CALVINISM IN THE MIND

................................ 37

........................................ 48

.................................. 60

............................. 74

..................................... 89

..................... 101

.............................. 115

................... 132

..................... 150

PART THREE: CALVINISM IN THE HEART

................ 163

.............................. 173

......................... 189

.......................... 201

PART FOUR: CALVINISM IN THE CHURCH

................ 223

............. 231

.................................... 255

.................................... 275

.................................... 289

PART FIVE: CALVINISM IN PRACTICE

................... 303

.................................. 317

.................................... 333

.................... 349

................... 361

...................... 374

PART SIX: CALVINISM'S GOAL

.......................... 387

.................................. 397

........................................... 410

ABBREVIATIONS

FOREWORD

ith all of my heart, I believe that the Reformed faith, or "Calvinism," is biblical Christianity-or the closest thing to it in the history of the church. This conviction rises out of thirty-four years of reading the Scriptures and church history.

It is not the conviction I had when I began my pilgrimage as a Christian. From February 1974, when I was converted as a philosophy student at the University of Toronto, through the next seven years, I was deeply involved in the charismatic movement. I was also enamored with the vision of the Christian life expressed by some of the church fathers and John Wesley, their eighteenth-century student. Wesley was definitely not a Calvinist, though at some points in his life, by his own admission, he was within an inch or two of it.