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Also in This Issue: Apply Now • Rts.Edu/Apply Dr FALL 2017 RTS IS NOW IN DALLAS “THE JUST SHALL LIVE Prepare for a lifetime of ministry in a community of truth and grace, close to home. BY FAITH” by Dr. Derek Thomas Also in This Issue: Apply Now • rts.edu/apply Dr. Ligon Duncan on the Relevance of the Reformation Today John Calvin From the Old Testament on Assurance • New Executive Director in Atlanta JACKSON • ORLANDO • CHARLOTTE • ATLANTA • WASHINGTON D.C. • DALLAS • HOUSTON • NEW YORK CITY • MEMPHIS • GLOBAL A MIND FOR TRUTH. A HEART FOR GOD. A LIFE FOR MINISTRY. JACKSON / ORLANDO / CHARLOTTE / ATLANTA / WASHINGTON D.C. / DALLAS / HOUSTON / NEW YORK CITY / MEMPHIS / GLOBAL VISIT US AT RTS.EDU TABLE OF CONTENTS Ministry & Leadership Fall 2017 STAFF Publisher Dr. Ligon Duncan Editor in Chief 4 Brad Tisdale Chancellor’s Message Dr. Ligon Duncan explains why the Protestant Reformation Managing Editor is still relevant 500 years later. Paul Schwarz Art Director 6 Bill Henderson News Photography Director Learn about the new executive director in Atlanta and other MattMcQuade happenings across RTS. Editorial Assistants Catherine Bruce 12 Cheryl McCullouch Calvin on Assurance by Dr. J. Nicholas Reid Who We Are Reformed Theological Seminary exists to 16 serve the church by preparing its leaders “The Just Shall Live by Faith” through a globally accessible program of theological education based on the authority by Dr. Derek Thomas of the inerrant Word of God and committed to the Reformed faith. This program A MIND FOR TRUTH. promotes biblical fidelity, confessional integrity and academic excellence, and seeks 20 to prepare students marked by “A mind for Making His Mark truth. A heart for God. A life for ministry.” Alex Mark has planted a church in his hometown As such, Ministry & Leadership seeks to A HEART FOR GOD. in South Carolina. show how God is working through the ministries of RTS graduates, faculty members and students. Our goal is that readers will 24 become partners with RTS through prayer, Rooted in the Gospel financial giving, educational experience Cameron Cole leads children’s ministry while working on and student referral, as well as providing A LIFE FOR MINISTRY. an RTS Distance M.Div. degree. placement opportunities. 28 Copyright 2017 Researching the Reformation Reformed Theological Seminary. Interview with Dr. Jon Balserak, Reformation expert All rights reserved. For reprint permission, please call 601-923-1643 or email [email protected]. 32 All Scripture references from the English RTS at Work Standard Version except where noted. Read the digital version of the magazine at www.rts.edu/MandL. JACKSON / ORLANDO / CHARLOTTE / ATLANTA / WASHINGTON D.C. / DALLAS / HOUSTON / NEW YORK CITY / MEMPHIS / GLOBAL Reformed Theological Seminary VISIT US AT RTS.EDU Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, New York City, Memphis, Global FOLLOW US 800-543-2703 • [email protected] • www.rts.edu REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY @REFORMTHEOSEM REFORMED SEMINARY ITUNES.RTS.EDU @reformed_Theological_Seminary www.rts.edu 3 CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE by Dr. Ligon Duncan The Reformation Still Matters his year marks the 500th the question of ultimate religious year of the Protestant Refor- authority and the knowledge of mation. On October 31, 1517, God. What is the sole, final authori- Martin Luther nailed to ty for faith and life? The Reformers the Church door in Witten- answered: Scripture. God makes berg, Germany, 95 theses Himself known by His Word. God (theological propositions) brings His church into being by he wanted to debate. That His Word. God reveals Himself, date is usually given as the rules His people, and shows the starting point of what be- way of salvation by His Word. The came the Reformation era Bible — not the church, not the of Western Christendom. Pope, not human reason, not reli- makes religions different is the big In our time there are all gious experience — is the final au- question they are trying to answer sorts of attitudes toward this event. thority for faith and practice in the or the big problem they see in the In the 19th and 20th centuries, Christian life. We need this teach- world. Well, the Reformers taught theological liberals hailed the Ref- ing as much today as 500 years ago. that the big problem in the world is ormation as the coming of an age of us! Our sin is the problem. We have reason, and the throwing off of the met the enemy and he is us. This shackles of superstition that held Even among has massive implications for the back the progress of mankind. rest of Christian theology, and the Today, however, many liber- Reformers understood that. als look at the Reformation with some evangelical Meanwhile, we live in a time lament, viewing it as a force for where there is, simultaneously, a division and intolerance. My, how diminished consciousness of sin things change. But even among Protestant and an increased evidence of it. I some evangelical Protestant Chris- remember a Scottish professor of tians, who are the heirs of the Ref- mine saying, “Today we ask ‘Why ormation, there is ambivalence. Christians, who pain?,’ but in the 16th century they There are various reasons for this: asked ‘Why sin?’” Our modern Some evangelicals tend to suffer outlook is fundamentally man-cen- from historical amnesia, some are the heirs of the tered, as opposed to the God-cen- yearn to move past the past and tered view taught by the Reformers. into a new experience of Christian Of course, the solution to the unity, while others have a pen- Reformation, problem of sin is even more import- chant to view history as irrelevant. ant, and the Reformers answered: So why should we remember the God’s grace! Their answer to the Reformation with thankfulness, there is ambivalence. problem of our sin and our deserv- honoring the heritage we have re- ing of God’s judgment was not ceived from it? Well, in short, be- something they found in us: not our cause the Reformation still matters Stephen Prothero, a famous works, not our righteousness, not — in positive and important ways. scholar of world religion, has ob- our trying to be good, not our best First, the Reformation addressed served that one of the things that intentions and efforts — “nothing 4 Ministry & Leadership @ligonduncan in our hands we bring, simply to us answer it: creation, the Imago here to worship God, both as His His cross we cling.” Our problem is Dei and union with Christ. glad, redeemed people, gathering inside us (our sin), but the solution Contrary to naturalistic evolu- Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day for His is outside us (in Christ’s death and tionary thought, we are not higher praise, and also in every part of ev- resurrection). To paraphrase Jona- animals, but created by the one, eryday life. In short, we were creat- than Edwards, “The only thing we true and living God to be His image ed to glorify God in everything we contribute to our salvation is the in this world. Because all humans do. That means that Christianity sin that made it necessary.” are created by God in His own im- isn’t only important for eternity; This question is important for ev- age, they are image bearers and it’s important for now. The Bible ery age and culture: How can we be must be treated with dignity and speaks to our life Monday to Satur- saved? How can we be right with respect. Furthermore, as believers, day, not just to Sunday. God cares God? The Reformers answered — our fundamental identity is found about our vocations, our love for by God alone, by Christ alone, by in union with Christ. Whatever our neighbor, and our involvement grace alone, through faith alone. our background, culture, ethnicity in society and culture. He cares This is the great issue of justifica- or sex may be, we are fundamen- about it all (and it all belongs to tion, and what the Reformers said tally “in Christ,” and thus one with Him and owes Him tribute). is still desperately relevant to the Him, adopted sons/heirs, brothers In all these areas and more, the church in the world today. and sister to one another, saved for Reformers speak to us faithfully The question of identity has been communion with Him. and helpfully about vitally import- roiling in our culture for over a Along with the question of iden- ant things we need to know, about century, and even in the recent tity (who am I?) is the related ques- which our age is not nearly so wise. debates about gender and sexuali- tion: What am I here to do? What ty, people are searching to answer: is my purpose in life? And the Re- Who am I? And the Reformers be- formers gave a great (and biblical!) queathed a trio of doctrines to help answer to that question: we are Five hundred years after the Protestant Reformation, where do evangelicals stand, and what do we stand for? On Oct. 31, 2017, the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, leading scholars and pastors will celebrate the confessional legacy of the Reformation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary during a three-day conference, “Here We Stand.” Speakers from Southern Seminary, Ligonier Ministries, and Reformed Theological Seminary will explore why the Reformation was necessary, what fueled the movement’s success, and the challenges that remain for evangelicals today. Join us for this historic commemoration on Southern’s beautiful campus, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, as we proclaim and affirm with Luther’s boldness the Reformation truths on which we stand.
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