Almost a Christian

Almost a Christian
Author: Matthew Mead
Publisher: Puritan Publications
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2019-06-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 162663324X

The title of this work, “Almost a Christian” is drawn from Mead’s main text, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” (Acts 26:28). This statement by Agrippa is the foundation on which the entire treatise revolves. What does it mean to be “almost a Christian?” How far can a man or woman go, how far can a teenager or child go, that they actually fall short of salvation? How far may a man, woman, or child run the race of the Christian, and yet not run as to obtain their end? It is, unfortunately, a sad consequence of so many people throughout history who have entered eternity unaware of their present danger. Mead warns and directs every professing Christian to consider what it means to lay under the scrutiny of a spiritual examination for the good of their souls. The reason? To find out whether that Christian is a true believer, or they have merely deceived themselves being “almost a Christian.” What a terrible place to be to delude one’s self for decades only to find out upon their last breath, at the judgment seat of God, that Christ “never knew them.” Many souls miscarry into eternity on such grounds. Mead has most orderly and precisely laid out a series of biblical propositions and their corollary answers to help the reader discern, and thoroughly examine, their current spiritual state before Jesus Christ. He desires that they be “altogether a Christian,” instead of “almost a Christian.” This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

A Heavenly Directory

A Heavenly Directory
Author: Ryan M. McGraw
Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2014-06-18
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 3647550752

There is a growing body of historical literature on the importance of John Owen. Ryan M. McGraw seeks to reassess Owen's theology in light of the way in which he connected his trinitarian piety to his views of public worship. McGraw argues that Owen ́s teaching on communion with God as triune was the foundation of his views of public worship and that he regarded public worship as the highest expression of communion with the triune God. These themes not only highlight Owen's context as a Reformed orthodox theologian, but the distinctive influence of English Puritanism on his theological emphases. The connection between his practical trinitarianism and public worship runs through the course of his writings and every major area of his theology. These include the nature of theology, the knowledge of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, public worship, spiritual affections, apostasy, covenant theology, ecclesiology, and Christology. This work treats these themes in Owen's thought and shows how they intersect and are intertwined with the Trinity and public worship. In addition, this book provides a detailed exposition of the parts of Reformed worship. While other works have treated the centrality of his trinitarianism in his theology, few have acknowledged the importance of public worship in his thinking. This research concludes that communion with God in public worship was integral to Owen's practical trinitarian theology.