The name of Cornelius Van Til is inseparable from Reformed apolo­getics. Due to the importance of his thinking and of apologetics in gen­eral, this articleI aims to provide in this brief article a few notes on his background and basic thought, as well as a sum­mary of apologetics in commemora­tion of the centenary of his birth.

A holy life ought to be one of joy in the Lord, not negative drudg­ery (Neh. 8:10). The idea that holi­ness requires a gloomy disposition is a tragic distortion of Scripture. On the contrary Scripture asserts that those who cultivate holiness experience true joy. Jesus said, "If ye keep my com­mandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you that your joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" On. 15:10-11).

That believers are called to holi­ness is indisputably clear. But the car­dinal question remains: How does the believer cultivate holiness? Here are seven directions to assist us.

The wicked person, David asserts in Psalm 36, escapes reality espe­cially by means of self-flattery. The wicked man gives himself the respect that is due to God. He sees all of life in his own eyes rather than through God's eyes that is, God's Word and will.

It is well-known that Puritans were lovers of the Word of God. They were not content with the bare affirmation of the infallibility, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture. They read, searched, sang, and heard the Word with delight, al­ways seeking for and relishing the applying power of the Holy Spirit accompanying the Word. They re­garded the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture as the library of the Holy Spirit graciously given to them. For the Puritan, Scripture is God speak­ing to us as a father speaks to his children.

Holiness is a noun that relates to the adjective holy and the verb sanc­tify, which means to "make holy.".The Christian life must be like a cultivated garden in order to produce the fruits of holy living unto God. "Theology," William Ames wrote in the opening words of his classic, The Marrow of Theology, "is the doc­trine or teaching of living to God."

The cultivation of holiness will inevitably meet with numerous ob­stacles. Much impedes holiness. This article discusses five common problems against which we need to be on guard.

When the leaders of the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation con­vened the Council of Trent (1545­1563), one of their major purposes was to deal with the doctrine of jus­tification by faith. Their goal was to establish a Roman Catholic consen­sus and to condemn the new Protes­tantism by pronouncing anathemas upon the distinctive teachings of Luther and the early Lutheran confes­sions of faith.

Given the meaning of "by faith" in the original Greek, it is more accurate to speak of faith as an instrument rather than as a condition of justifica­tion and salvation, for a condition generally denotes a meritorious qual­ity for the sake of which a benefit is conferred. We are justified not merely by faith, but by faith in Christ; not because of what faith is, but because of what faith receives.

The concept of receiving Christ by faith, hijacked in our day by Arminianism, needs to be recovered for the Re­formed pulpit. Many sincere Reformed Christians are afraid to speak of "receiv­ing Christ" simply because of the false way modem evangelists describe such reception (i.e. as an act of the suppos­edly "free will" of the sinner to fulfil a condition for salvation). Believing that it somehow seems wrong and "Arminian" to receive Christ, their response to the gospel with liberty is inhibited.

If we base our justification on our faith, our works, or anything else of our own, the very foundations of justification must crumble. Inevitably the agonizing, per­plexing, and hopeless questions of hav­ing "enough" would surface: Is my faith strong enough? Are the fruits of grace in my life fruitful enough? Are my experi­ences deep enough, clear enough, per­sistent enough? Every detected inadequacy in my faith is going to shake the very foundations of my spiritual life. My best believing is always defective. I am always too ungodly even in my faith.

The command to give thanks is all-embracive: "In everything give thanks." "Everything" includes all your blessings and prosperity. The command is simple: End in God who never tires of giving. Even when we are not grateful, He gives and gives, and gives again. However, "everything" includes afflictions, cross-providences, and unsolvable riddles.

Much of what Richard Greenham advocated about the reading of Scripture applies to the hearing of the Word as well. Thomas Watson, one of the most well-known and readable Puritans, offers specific help with regard to hearing the preaching of God's Word.1 As we read this list, we would do well to ask after each item: Am I really hearing the Word of God? Am I a good listener of the pro­claimed gospel?

The cultivation of holiness is de­manding. Thomas Watson called it "sweating work." Happily, God pro­vides believers with several motives to holiness in His Word. To encourage us in the pursuit of holiness, we need to keep our eyes focused on the biblical truths discussed in this article.

It is important to briefly summarize Puritan thought on assur­ance by the 1640s. At least twenty-five members of the assembly had written treatises pertinent to the doc­trines of faith and assurance prior to the assembly's convening.1By the 1640s English Puritan thought, not­withstanding various emphases, was nearly unanimous on several distincti with respect to assurance.

The centrality of saving faith, the need for personal trust in God, the Reformers' questions, and biblical tensions relative to faith and assur­ance — all of this and more guaran­tees that assurance of faith will ever remain a contemporary subject. It is paramount that we ask ourselves: How can I experience ever greater measures of personal assurance of faith?

Modern evangelism finds its roots in the 1820s under the leadership of Charles Finney (1792-1875), often called "father of modern revivalism." Finney invented the so-called "New Measures" for revivalism. These in­cluded both the "protracted meeting" and the "anxious bench." The pro­tracted meeting was an intensive evan­gelistic campaign lasting three or four days in which Finney preached at least twice each day.

In addressing assurance of faith, we must understand in the very first place that its importance is obviously great since it relates intimately to the central­ity of saving faith. The doctrine of sav­ing faith is of central importance to the Christian faith for numerous reasons.

This article gives a short biography of Richard Sibbes' work, which focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. 

As Christian young people, how can you live a godly life, separated from the world? This article draws lessons from the life of Daniel and friends. Based on Daniel 1, the article looks at the trials Daniel faced in standing for godliness, his responses, the work of the Lord, and the lessons these all have for young people. 

How as Christian young people can you live a godly life, separated from the world? This article draws lessons from the life of Daniel and friends. Based on Daniel 1, the article looks at the temptations Daniel resisted and the lessons those temptations and his response to them have for young people.

As Christian young people, how can you live a godly life, separated from the world? This article draws lessons from the life of Daniel and friends. Based on Daniel 1, the article looks at Daniel's conduct, and the lessons it has for young people. 

How can Christians, as citizens, gain victory over Satan? This article shows that as citizens of any nation, Christians can defeating Satan through evangelization and showing Christ’s love to the needy and poor. Read on…

The Second Reformation or Nadere Reformatie has lessons for the church today. What are those? This article draws seven lessons from the Second Reformation.

Self-deception and self-flattery are characteristics for the wicked. From Psalm 36:2 the article discusses various forms of self-flattery and the punishment of self-flattery.

Why is it called the Nadere Reformatie or Second Reformation? Its aim was to work out the Reformation more intimately in personal lives, worship, and society. This article explains the meaning of the name, the difference it had from German Pietism, the essence of this reformation, and the impact it had.

This article removes the misconceptions about holiness, explains the biblical teaching on holiness, points to sanctification as the doctrine flowing from holiness, considers the subject as expressed through church history, and notes the implications for the believer.

Did Christ die for everyone? Arminianism argues that Christ’s atonement is universal, not limited. This article examines the claims of universal redemption and points out that there are eight problems with the claim.

What are the strategies of Satan? This article looks at four strategies of Satan: he entices believers to sin, hinders spiritual disciplines, misrepresents God and his truth, and opposes sanctification. It shows how the believer can withstand them.

What does Satan use to tempt believers? This article defines the strategies, devices, and skills that Satan uses in tempting believers.

This article considers Ephesians 6:17-18 and its presenting of three weapons in the battle against Satan: the sword of the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, and watch with perseverance.

This article shows three ways of fighting Satan: retreat, defence, and offence. The author uses Ephesians 6:14-17 to discuss defence armour for spiritual warfare.

Does Satan have a future? This article shows that Satan will be cast out forever when Christ returns on judgment day.

How is Satan working today? This article looks at the work of Satan today, with a focus on demon possession and exorcism. It also looks at how Satan attacks Christians, and how to withstand him in Christ.

This article is a biography on Richard Greenham. Focus is given to his contribution on how a Christian should read Scripture.

Who is your biggest enemy? This article looks at Satan, particularly his work through church history. It points to how he works through heresy, and highlights false views about him.

Who is your biggest enemy? This article looks at Satan, his origin, fall, and first temptation within the Old Testament.

Who is your biggest enemy? This article looks at Satan, his names, his work through demon-possession, and his fight against the church in the New Testament.

Christians are involved in a holy war. This article shows the nature of spiritual warfare, that it is fierce, spiritual, and necessary.

This article argues that a biblical marriage can be built through accepting the duties God gave to husband and wife. This article explains the duties of husbands and wives in marriage.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances, using different sights. This article explains seven marks that must shape the preacher in his preaching that targets different hearers in the church.

This article presents something of the Puritans' understanding of marriage, particularly its purpose, the procedures for getting married, and the principles of marriage. The author calls Christians today to emulate this model.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances. This article points to six errors that must be avoided in targeting the audience in preaching.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances. What characterizes such preaching that aims at unbelievers and those without hope? This article considers the matter.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of the Word of God at various consciences at different distances. What then characterizes preaching that aims at the open-conscience unbeliever? This article discusses the matter.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances. This article explains preaching that aims at those backsliding and those in bondage of sin.

Preachers are like archers, aiming the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances. With the guidance of 1 John 2:12-14, this article considers three types of believers: the new convert, the young in the faith, and the fathers in the faith. The author notes how preaching can target these different types.

Preachers are like archers, as they aim the arrows of God’s Word at various consciences at different distances. What then characterizes such preaching? It must be applicatory, discriminatory, and not ignoring the pew.

Was the flood global or regional? There are ten biblical arguments that support the fact that the flood was global. This article gives those ten arguments.

The creation of woman as recorded in Genesis 2:18-24 sets the foundation for the relationship of a husband and a wife within marriage.

This article looks at how Christians can benefit from the Puritans. Six benefits from the Puritans are discussed.

This article is a biography on Willem Teellinck, known as the father of the Nadere Reformatie, with attention given to his writing.

Why should we sing psalms? This article looks at various benefits in psalm-singing.

John Calvin is in many ways seen as the father of Reformed evangelism. This article points to his vision for planting churches in France and Brazil, and his sending out of pastors to plant churches. He is thus an encouraging model for Reformed churches to engage in evangelism and church planting.

The Reformation was a movement that had great impact on the church. This article mentions ten effects of the Reformation.

This article argues that the greatest shortcoming of the church today is prayerful praying. The author encourages quality praying.

Do afflictions really work for your good? This article explains that they do: they humble you, promote a hatred of sin, produce godly fruit, draw you closer to God, and more.

In Romans 8:28 we read that all things work together for good. Can divine desertion, spiritual affliction, and sin work together for your spiritual growth? This article explains how divine desertion works for your spiritual welfare.

In Romans 8:28 we read that all things work together for good. Can divine desertion, spiritual affliction, and sin work together for your spiritual growth? This article explains how divine affliction works for your spiritual welfare.

In Romans 8:28 we read that all things work together for good. Can divine desertion, spiritual affliction, and sin work together for your spiritual growth? This article explains how sin works for your spiritual welfare.

Whose responsibility is catechizing? This article explains that the responsibility to catechize lies with parents. It gives biblical grounds to the call to parents to fulfil this task in their parenting.

The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches that the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for saving faith and the Christian life are revealed in the Bible. This article explains the biblical ground for this teaching and the implications it has for the believer and the church.

Why is Christ our perfect intercessor? This article explains that the answer lies in Christ’s active obedience and passive obedience.

What are the challenges facing Reformed evangelicalism? This article discusses a number of challenges to Reformed evangelicalism; that is, it discusses challenges to biblical sufficiency, moral purity, cultural flexibility, doctrinal fidelity, ecclesiastical simplicity, and experiential piety.

This article offers an overview of the life of John Owen, with an introduction to his works.

Assurance of faith is the conviction that one belongs to Christ through faith and will enjoy everlasting salvation. However, assurance of salvation is not something enjoyed by every Christian. This article gives five reasons why this is the case.

Assurance of faith is the conviction that one belongs to Christ through faith and will enjoy everlasting salvation. Therefore, assurance of salvation is essential to every Christian, and this article gives five reasons why.

This article is a biography on Herman Witsius, focusing on his written works, especially his contribution on the economy of the covenants.

Though John Calvin’s conviction was that God uses the church to nurture Christian growth, he did not see this as undermining the need for personal piety. Piety must also be cultivated personally. This article shows how Calvin saw prayer, repentance, self-denial, cross-bearing, meditation on the future life, and obedience as essential for the development of personal piety.

Pastors and elders have to visit the dying. This article shares guidelines on pastoring the dying and the mourning. It explains the need for visitation and how it should be done. The author also discusses how to conduct the funeral and comfort the family after the funeral. Essential to this is the ability of the elders and minister to point to Christ as the true Comforter.

Christian growth or piety is impossible apart from the church. This article offers the thoughts of John Calvin on the matter. Calvin said that God uses the church to nurture Christian piety. He does so specifically through the preaching of the word, the administration of sacraments, and the singing of psalms.

What influence did Herman Bavinck have? This article answers this question by looking at four areas in Christianity where he had an influence.

This article explains the relationship between the doctrines of the perseverance of the saints and assurance of faith.

Who was Herman Bavinck? This article gives a biography of the man.

Worldliness delivers a death blow to the ministry. Ministers must fight against it. This article gives three reasons that should persuade ministers to fight worldliness.

What caused the Reformation? It was born out of protest against abuses in the church. This article names and discusses those abuses, and it shows how the Reformation spread in its Calvinistic and Lutheran forms. Focus here is on the development of Calvinism.

What is a hindrance to shepherding God’s flock? This article points to worldliness among ministers as the cause of damage in their pastoral work. It shows how worldliness works to cause such damage.

To have a positive attitude towards the ministry is important for the proper functioning of the minister. This article shows the benefit of developing such an attitude.

This article gives twelve purposes of prayer meetings and eight ways of implementing prayer meetings.

This article discusses the value and role of prayer meetings through church history during persecutions, suffering, and revivals.

This article gives twelve considerations in dealing with criticism in the ministry.

This article gives biblical grounds for prayer meetings, and the implications for believers.

This article is a biography on John Bunyan and his ministry.

Pride is an enemy to the ministry because it is an attack on God. This article shows the different faces of pride and how a minister can fight pride.

For whom did Christ die? The biblical answer is that the death of Christ atoned for the sins of a definite number of people. This is the doctrine of definite atonement or limited atonement. This truth, however, is not accepted by all. This article tackles the objections against limited atonement.

For whom did Christ die? The biblical answer is that the death of Christ atoned for the sins of a definite number of people. This is the doctrine of definite atonement or limited atonement. This article explains the biblical ground of this teaching.

This article explains the Lord Jesus' high view of the church, from Matthew 16.

Matthew 13 gives us the way of God of bringing his kingdom.

Whom did Jesus Christ die for? To say that the atonement was limited to the elected is not an answer that all accept. This article gives four answers throughout church history on the atonement.

Matthew paints different pictures of Jesus Christ to show he was the promised one. In Matthew 11 Jesus is revealed as the faithful minister. Read how this reveals him as the Saviour.

This article shows how Jesus is portrayed as Saviour, Master, and Lord in Matthew 8.

Matthew 5:33-48 reveals God’s purpose for the believer: it points to the comprehensive holiness we are to show as Christians. This article shows what this looks like in swearing an oath, exacting retribution, and loving our neighbour.

John Calvin understood prayer to be the communion of men with God by which, having entered the heavenly sanctuary, they appeal to him in person concerning his promises, in order to experience that what they believed was not in vain. This article discusses the purposes and method of prayer, rules of prayer, Trinitarian focus of prayer, and perseverance in prayer.

Matthew 4 records the temptation of Jesus and his victory over the devil. This article shows that in his victory Christ fulfilled what Adam failed to do, and in this way he gave us true hope for victory over the devil.

The genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 1 reveals the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his promises. It shows how Jesus joined himself to sinners while being without sin, and how he came to break the cycle of sin.

Is God related to politics? God is not only involved in politics, he transcends government in five ways: he determines the purpose, personnel, policies, and providence of goveernment, and he is displeased by the pride of government.

What characterizes the Christian family? The Puritans saw the family as a place for godliness and its development. This conviction was based on their understanding of the place of children in the family, the exercise of authority, principles of raising children, and the importance of parental involvement.

How should you prepare for the Lord’s Supper? This article point to the necessity of preparing for communion, how self-examination should be carried out, the purpose of communion, and practical ways to prepare yourself.

This article is a biography on John Flavel, with focus given to his preaching ministry.

This article explains the past, present, and future work of Jesus in relation to the church and believer.