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.

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Carl Gobelman
Long Grove Community Church (Evangelical)
Vernon Hills, IL
Blog: http://newcreationperson.wordpress.com

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Greetings! Welcome to the PB.

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James Helbert, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

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_

__________________
Scott
PCA
North Carolina


"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
Hebrews 10:23

Welcome to the PB!

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Andrew Thornquist My Photo Album
Calvinistic Baptist
Ukiah, California
To follow Christ was the best decision God made for me!

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

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!

__________________
Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

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Chris Bryant
Attending Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA), McKinney, TX
Member of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA), Tulsa, OK
M.A.R., WTS/Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, TX (in progress)

Howdy, Carl!

:welome:

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

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Wayne Sparkman, Th.M.
Director, PCA Historical Center, St. Louis, MO
Blogs: The Continuing Story and PCA History Blog

Welcome!

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Megan Meisberger
River Hills Community Church - EFCA (yes... same as charliejunfan)
Janesville, WI

Wife of matt.meisberger

<---- Naming my first son after him. My husband was saved while reading Religious Affections.

Welcome!

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Anna
Wife of Tim/Marrow Man
Louisville, KY
Member of Midlane Park Presbyterian (Associate Reformed Presbyterian)

Welcome aboard!

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

Carl, welcome.

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Bill Brown
Elder
Reformed Baptist
Maryland

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?
Visit my BLOG Theology for the Rest of Us

Welcome to the board!

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soli Deo gloria!
~Nicholas~ Ordained Pastor
Member, Fulton PCA; GPTS Student
Christians are like snow covered dung; it is the purity of the covering which the Father sees. -Luther-
There is nothing more ugly than a Christian orthodoxy without understanding or without compassion.
-Francis Schaeffer-

Welcome aboard.

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Curt Lovelace
Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (CBA)
Acton, Maine
Director, Lifework Forum
Sermons at SermonAudio.com/CBCActon
Blogging at Coffee with Curt

Welcome!

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"I was found by those who did not seek me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me." Romans 10:20b

Angela Asano
Edwardsville, IL
Member, Center Grove Presbyterian Church - PCA

"History never repeats itself, but it rhymes." - Mark Twain

Welcome aboard Carl

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Michael P Doyle
Waukesha WI
Member of http://www.cornerstone-pca.com/
Attending http://www.lampseminary.org/

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Albert, The Republic of the Philippines
Pasig United Covenant Reformed Church (a Reformed church plant)
United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (UCRCP)
Three Forms of Unity and Westminster Confession of Faith

Psalm 27:1a (AV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
“Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.” -

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.

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Alan Hughes
PCA
Lake Zurich, Illinois

If you think I'm a Hyper-Calvinist, God planned that thought before the foundation of the Earth. If you try to tell me that God only planned some things and not all things, then your problem is with God not me.

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Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

Welcome to the board!

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Happy to have you here.

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Sandra, Lady of the Lake
CBA, Acton ME
http://www.viewsfromthedeck.blogspot.com

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

to the PB

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

Hi, your Reformation story pretty much matches mine

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~ Charles Stephen Barribeau ~
Christ Presbyterian Church , OPC (They sing alot of Psalms!)
Original Westminster Standards (I need to study more...)
The Puritans were best! Also... I NEED TO READ MORE!!!
Philipians1:29(KJV) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Janesville, Wisconsin (In the fellowship of Bob Vigneault and Matt+Megan Meisberger)

Hola!

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Ben Castaneda
member of Faith Presbyterian Church (PCA)
San Antonio, TX
MDiv student at WSC
Escondido, CA

"Not all prison bars are made from metal, And not all prisoners walk about in chains." -Lysander from Weatherby, Earl of Gloucester

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!

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Yvonne
Reformed Presbyterian
Currently seeking a Church

"A man's most glorious actions will at last be found to be but glorious sins, if he hath made himself, and not the glory of God, the end of those actions." -T. Brooks

Welcome to the "Board!"

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Seeking Godly Wisdom,

Melissa
Baptist>Seeking Reformed Church Home
Louisville, Ky

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Michael Tremmel
attending Christ Reformed Baptist Church
Hales Corners, WI.

Isaiah 46:5-11

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Ps.16:8 ESV

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Cor.15:10a ESV

Praecepta docent, exempla movent (precepts teach, but examples move)

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Ray Nearhood
Layman
Rockdale Community Church (a Reformed Baptist Fellowship)
Conyers, GA
LBC 1689
Husband of Evelyn , Father of Oren and Elijah
"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." -

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.

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

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

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Bob Vigneault C.O.L, L.E., G.E, Dr.O.P., O.U.T.
The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog)
Deacon/Christ Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI OPC www.christ-opc.org

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Welcome!

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Andrea
Presbyterian, attending Baptist church
Perugia, Italy
Owner: federiformata.it

"Quos et vocavit nos non solum ex Iudæis sed etiam ex gentibus" (Rom. 9.24)

Hey Alan,

Small world, isn't it?

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

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-----

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!

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Michael Turner
Christ Reformed Church | Independent [WCF]
Georgia

to the PB

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Stuart
Elder, Lambeg Baptist, Northern Ireland, UK

In Him the fulness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form and in Him you are complete (Col 2.9-10)

The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God. (RM M'Cheyne)

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

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Joshua
Non-Denominational
Fair Haven, Vermont
Romans 1 = Smack to the face about the human condition!
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. - Romans 7:24-25

Have we not met on Theologica?

Greetings!

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Ivan R. Schoen, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S.
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church (SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL, USA
http://maranatha-sbc.org