Thread: Greetings! I'm new to the PB

Greetings all!

I'm Carl and I'm the latest member of the PB. I've been walking with the Lord for a little over eight years, but over the past year have been "reforming." I've been pretty much Calvinistic (4-pointer) for most of my Christian life, but within the last 12 months I've:

1. Rejected Dispensational Pre-Millennialism for Reformed Amillennialism
2. Come to accept Covenant Theology over Dispensationalism as the Bible's interpretive grid
3. Finally come to grips with Limited Atonement, so I can safely say I'm a 5-point Calvinist

As still being new to RT, I have much to learn about church history and historical theology (both subjects that interest me a great deal). So I look forward to interacting and learning from you all.

Greetings! Welcome to the PB.

This is a good place to learn reformed theology and grow in grace toward one another.


Based on your profile, you might find helpful this list of reformed materials:

Westminster Standards

That's the PCA blue notebook that has loose leaf pages- Westminster Standards (Confessions, Larger and Shorter Catechism) with Scripture proofs at the bottom of each page plus it has an excellent concise Reformation historical summary.
[often, 2/3 or more of the page is Scripture]

http://www.cepbookstore.com/p-561-co...ound-3-ho.aspx

The Blue notebook binder: (also designed to contain the PCA Book of Church Order, both the Westminster Standards and BCO are the constitution of the PCA):
http://www.cepbookstore.com/p-76-boo...er-binder.aspx


Westminster Standards Study Guide

GI Williamson
http://www.cepbookstore.com/p-284-th...ession-of.aspx


Practical Christian Living:

Joseph Pipa, The Lord’s Day
http://www.bookschristian.com/se/pro...Paperback.html


Eschatology:

Kim Riddlebarger, A Case for Amillennialism

http://www.christianbook.com/Christi...?item_no=64358


Reformed Theology Books

Calvin Know Cummings, Confessing Christ
[short booklet]
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec...Christ_020060_

JI Packer, Concise Theology
http://www.monergismbooks.com/Concis...s-p-16439.html

JI Packer, Knowing God
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec...nm/Knowing_God

RC Sproul, The Holiness of God
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec...God_Paperback_

RC Sproul, What is Reformed Theology?
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec...ing_the_Basics

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion [Abridged softcover edition convenient for reading]

https://store.ligonier.org/product.a...roduct=INS02BP

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion [classic, 2 volume edition for study and reference]

https://store.ligonier.org/product.a...roduct=INS04BH


Covenant Theology

Barrett, Michael Love Divine and Unfailing: The Gospel According to Hosea (The Gospel According to the Old Testament)

http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec...ent_Paperback_

Welcome to the PB!

Scott,

Thanks for the list of references. There was a point when I was seriously considering seminary, and one of the campuses I visited had a neat little spiral bound book with the ecumenical creeds, the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. I bought that and have been reading it each morning.

I've read Kim Riddlebarger's book. It was reading that book that really began to sway me to Reformed Amillennialism. I've also read Cornelis Venema's "Promise of the Future." I have Hoekema's "The Bible and the Future" locked and loaded for future reading as well as Dennis Johnson's commentary on Revelation.

I've also read Packer's "Knowing God" and a bunch of the Sproul books. I'm a huge fan of Sproul (I listen to his daily podcast). I'm also a huge fan of the White Horse Inn. My problem is there are so many books to read, but only so many hours in the day and so many dollars in my wallet.

Welcome to the PB, Carl!

Howdy, Carl!

:welome:

At least with all the free stuff online now, $$$ isn't a real obstacle to valuable content.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome aboard!

Carl, welcome.

Welcome to the board!

Welcome aboard.

Welcome!

Welcome aboard Carl

Hi Carl, we met at Lakeview last Sunday. I'm so glad to see you here. I hope this board is a real Blessing to you.

Welcome to the board!

Happy to have you here.

to the PB

Hi, your Reformation story pretty much matches mine

Hola!

Hi Carl,

Welcome to the Puritan Board! Nice to see another local person on the board! I'm not that far from you, I live in the Gurnee area and attend in OPC nearby. I'm sure you'll enjoy the discussions and fellowship here very much!

Welcome to the "Board!"

Originally Posted by carlgobelman

Scott,

Thanks for the list of references. There was a point when I was seriously considering seminary, and one of the campuses I visited had a neat little spiral bound book with the ecumenical creeds, the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. I bought that and have been reading it each morning.

I've read Kim Riddlebarger's book. It was reading that book that really began to sway me to Reformed Amillennialism. I've also read Cornelis Venema's "Promise of the Future." I have Hoekema's "The Bible and the Future" locked and loaded for future reading as well as Dennis Johnson's commentary on Revelation.

I've also read Packer's "Knowing God" and a bunch of the Sproul books. I'm a huge fan of Sproul (I listen to his daily podcast). I'm also a huge fan of the White Horse Inn. My problem is there are so many books to read, but only so many hours in the day and so many dollars in my wallet.

Great start Carl!

I have found many of these materials good for reference and use them time and time again.

I've read "What is Reformed Theology" by Dr. Sproul several times and made notes and continually go back to it.

One thing that could last a lifetime is the Westminster Standards. The version with the scripture proofs on the same page is a great source of study, even meditation on doctrines of Scripture.

I've also come to understand the Three Forms of Unity is the same theology as the Westminster Standards!

Mr. Riddlebarger's book is tremendously well written and makes a good case for amillennialism but still acknowledges some of its weaknesses. My impression (I'm not at all an eschatology expert) is that there is not a complete view of postmillennialsim in that book. I'm not advocating postmill, only saying to understand that fully and fairly and Scripturally evaluate it, one needs more. He does an outstandingly clear job of presenting amillennialism for what it is- a realized millennium.

Thanks also for your other book references there toward the end.

Welcome to the PB family.

Welcome to the board Carl, glad to have you here.

Welcome!

Originally Posted by Spinningplates2

Hi Carl, we met at Lakeview last Sunday. I'm so glad to see you here. I hope this board is a real Blessing to you.

Hey Alan,

Small world, isn't it?

-----Added 9/4/2009 at 09:53:22 EST-----

Originally Posted by In His Grip

Hi Carl,

Welcome to the Puritan Board! Nice to see another local person on the board! I'm not that far from you, I live in the Gurnee area and attend in OPC nearby. I'm sure you'll enjoy the discussions and fellowship here very much!

Are you referring to that OPC church in Grayslake? Somewhere around Rt. 45 and IL 120? I've never been there, but I found it on the web when I was looking for Reformed churches in my area. Lakeview PC is about 3 minutes from my home; hard to beat that.

-----Added 9/4/2009 at 10:03:53 EST-----

Originally Posted by Scott1

Originally Posted by carlgobelman

Scott,

Thanks for the list of references. There was a point when I was seriously considering seminary, and one of the campuses I visited had a neat little spiral bound book with the ecumenical creeds, the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. I bought that and have been reading it each morning.

I've read Kim Riddlebarger's book. It was reading that book that really began to sway me to Reformed Amillennialism. I've also read Cornelis Venema's "Promise of the Future." I have Hoekema's "The Bible and the Future" locked and loaded for future reading as well as Dennis Johnson's commentary on Revelation.

I've also read Packer's "Knowing God" and a bunch of the Sproul books. I'm a huge fan of Sproul (I listen to his daily podcast). I'm also a huge fan of the White Horse Inn. My problem is there are so many books to read, but only so many hours in the day and so many dollars in my wallet.

Great start Carl!

I have found many of these materials good for reference and use them time and time again.

I've read "What is Reformed Theology" by Dr. Sproul several times and made notes and continually go back to it.

One thing that could last a lifetime is the Westminster Standards. The version with the scripture proofs on the same page is a great source of study, even meditation on doctrines of Scripture.

I've also come to understand the Three Forms of Unity is the same theology as the Westminster Standards!

Mr. Riddlebarger's book is tremendously well written and makes a good case for amillennialism but still acknowledges some of its weaknesses. My impression (I'm not at all an eschatology expert) is that there is not a complete view of postmillennialsim in that book. I'm not advocating postmill, only saying to understand that fully and fairly and Scripturally evaluate it, one needs more. He does an outstandingly clear job of presenting amillennialism for what it is- a realized millennium.

Thanks also for your other book references there toward the end.

In that case, I would highly recommend the book by Venema (Promise of the Future). It is one of the most comprehensive books on eschatology I've read. He goes into great depth over the differing millennial views. He spends a good deal of time on Dispensational Premillennialism if for no other reason as it's the most popular view in American Evangelicalism. He also goes to some lengths in distinguishing Amillennialism from Post-Millennialism. In a lot of ways, they're both similar, but there are some real distinctives.

Welcome Carl!

to the PB

Welcome! you will learn a lot from these awesome people Lord knows I have

Have we not met on Theologica?

Greetings!