Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism

by Joel Beeke

Publisher:

Reformation Trust

, 2008

Overview

The theological system known as Calvinism is often caricatured as harsh, dour, and illogical. But as Dr. Joel R. Beeke argues in this important new book, this image could not be further from the truth. Beeke, a pastor, educator, editor, and prolific author, shows instead that Calvinism is a theology that is firmly rooted in Scripture and works its way out into every area of the believer’s life. He aims to “cover the intellectual and spiritual emphases of Calvinism, the way it influences the church and everyday living, and its ethical and cultural implications.”

In this comprehensive survey of Reformed Christianity, Dr. Beeke and eight fellow contributors offer 28 chapters that trace the history of Calvinism; explore its key doctrinal tenets, such as the so-called five points of Calvinism and the solas of the Protestant Reformation; reveal how Calvinists have sought to live in devotion to God; and survey Calvinism’s influence in the church and in the world at large. In the end, the book asserts that the overriding goal of Calvinism is the glory of God. Saturated with Scripture citations and sprinkled with quotations from wise giants of church history, this book presents Calvinism in a winsome and wondrous fashion.

With the Logos edition, Living for God’s Glory is fully integrated with the other resources in your digital library, including Bibles, maps, dictionaries, and numerous other Bible study tools. All Scripture references are linked directly to the text of your favorite Bible translation, making your Bible study and teaching preparations more effective and rewarding. You can also explore Scripture on a deeper level with powerful search features, Passage Guides, and all the other interactive features in your Logos library. That makes this important book more useful than ever before for pastors, teachers, Bible study leaders, and anyone else desiring to get deeper into the truth of God’s Word.

Key Features

• Foreword by Michael A. G. Haykin
• Exploration of Calvinism’ key doctrinal tenets
• Five points of Calvinism and the solas of the Protestant Reformation
• Discussion questions

Contents

Top Highlights

“To be Reformed is to stress the comprehensive, sovereign, fatherly lordship of God over everything: every area of creation, every creature’s endeavors, and every aspect of the believer’s life. The ruling motif in Calvinism is, ‘In the beginning God …’ (Gen. 1:1).” (Page 41)

“Regrettably, Luther and Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531), the early leader of the Swiss Reformation, parted ways in October 1529 during the infamous Marburg Colloquy, when they could not reach agreement on the nature of Christ’s presence in the Lord’s Supper.¹⁰ From that time on, Protestantism divided into two traditions, Lutheranism and Calvinism—the latter being the Reformed tradition as understood and expressed in the writings of John Calvin and his fellow Reformers.” (Page 6)

“J. I. Packer has said, ‘Puritanism was an evangelical holiness movement seeking to implement its vision of spiritual renewal, national and personal, in the church, the state, and the home; in education, evangelism, and economics; in individual discipleship and devotion, and in pastoral care and competence.’” (Page 8)

“He was intent on bringing every sphere of existence under the lordship of Christ, so that all of life might be lived to the glory of God.” (Page xii)

“As Abraham Kuyper said, there is not one square inch of this universe that does not belong to Jesus Christ.” (Page ix)

Praise for the Print Edition

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

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

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

Product Details

• Title: Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism
• Author: Joel R. Beeke
• Publisher: Reformation Trust
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 414

About Joel Beeke

Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth. He has written, coauthored, or edited over 70 books.