You devoutly and prudently desire that the effect of the sacraments and what the Lord confers to us through them be explicated more clearly and more fully than many allow. Indeed it was not my fault that these items were not fuller. Let us therefore bear with a sigh that which cannot be corrected.

-- John Calvin, Letter to Martin Bucer re the Consensus Tigurinus

Collect for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost

 O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and forever. Amen.  

What's Wrong with Full Preterism:

Full preterists get much correct about what the New Testament prophecies about judgement on Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But in attempting to squeeze all of biblical prophecy into that event, they err:

1) They collapse all prophecy into one dimension. Yet Scripture is full of multi- layered prophetic texts (Is. 7, Ps. 110, etc.).

2) They claim Jesus' return (in judgement on Jerusalem) was spiritual, yet Acts 1:11 clearly states His return will be physical:

This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

3) They deny a physical resurrection, but Jesus proved the validity of his own resurrection (Lk. 24:43, Jn. 20:27) by physical proofs, and by rasising others like Lazarus.

4) Paul grounds our hope of resurrection in Christ's resurrection (1 Cor. 15). Their reply is that this resurrection is a spiritual one based on vs. 50, but Paul is not arguing our physical bodies disappear but rather that they "put on immortality" (vs. 54).

The efficacy of the sacraments does not depend upon the worthiness of men ... nothing is taken away from the promises of God, or falls to the ground, through the wickedness of men.

-- John Calvin, Commentary on 1 Corinthians [11:27]

The church has always made it her mission to help those in economic need. Historically, it's been the elderly who need her help, and many elderly still do need help.

But that generation grew up at a time of unprecedented economic prosperity, and as we revert to the mean, it's now younger people who are by and large the most needy.

The solution would be conditional, interest-free loans and below- market rentals made by Christians perhaps via the church to younger Christians.

We confess and teach that holy baptism, when given and received according to the Lord’s command, is in the case of adults and of young children truly a baptism of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, whereby those who are baptized have all their sins washed away, are buried into the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, are incorporated into him, and put on him for a new and godly life and the blessed resurrection, and through him become children and heirs of God.

-- John Calvin & Martin Bucer, Brief Summary of Christian Doctrine and Religion Taught at Strasbourg

God is pleased to connect the benefits of redemption with the believing reception of the truth. And he is pleased to connect these same benefits with the believing reception of baptism. That is, as the Spirit works with and by the truth, so he works with and by baptism, in communicating the blessings of the covenant of grace. Therefore, as we are said to be saved by the word, with equal propriety we are said to be saved by baptism...

-- Charles Hodge, Commentary on Ephesians

Those are not to be excluded from baptism, to whom the benefit of the remission of sins, and of regeneration belongs. But this benefit belongs to the infants of the church; for redemption from sin, by the blood of Christ and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult... Those unto whom the things signified belong, unto them the sign also belongs...

-- Zacharias Ursinus, Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism

This one goes out to James White

https://youtu.be/FBJffio8ZeQ?si=khkGDQC_GHW6AWOE

The first sacrament of the Christian church, by which upon the covenanted, having been received into the family of God by the external sprinkling of water in the name of the Trinity, remission of sins and regeneration by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit are bestowed and sealed.

-- Francis Turretin, Institutes 19.11.9

This is a great conversation I'm surprised more people haven't listened to.

https://youtu.be/4u5d5BC1Y7o?si=kVtT0eeRmvBg6hvy

God does not trifle by instituting bare and empty signs; but as by the vocal word he really performs what he promises, so in the sacrament (which is a palpable and visible word) he gives by the thing itself that which the signs represent.

-- Francis Turretin, Institutes 19.1.12

Collect for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage.

~ St. Luther

We maintain that by baptism is sealed to us the remission not only of past and present, but also future sins; still so that penitence (not a sacramental work and what they invent, but that which is commanded in the gospel) and especially saving faith is not excluded, but is coordinated with baptism as a divinely constituted means of our salvation.

-- Francis Turretin, Institutes 19.20.12

I'm a new Christian. Now what? 10 Steps:

1) Get baptized in the Triune Name of God.

2) Join a faithful local church with faithful word, sacrament, and discipline.

3) Read Scripture daily, at least a few verses.

4) Pray daily, at least for a few minutes.

5) Honor and care for your parents.

6) Become truly excellent at your vocation.

7) Marry a faithful Christian man or woman.

8) Have as many children as possible.

9) Baptize your children in the Triune Name.

10) Give your children a Christian education.