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Imagine growing up in a church where you were taught that if you just have enough faith, God will bless you with health, wealth, and success. You were told that by speaking positive words and believing without doubt, you could claim God’s promises for a better life. It’s easy to see why this message is appealing—who wouldn’t want to believe that God wants to give them everything they desire?

But what happens when life doesn’t go as planned? When sickness comes, when bills pile up, or when the dream job doesn’t materialise? You might start to wonder, “Is it my fault? Do I not have enough faith? Is God angry with me?” These are heavy questions, and they can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and confusion.

The problem with the Prosperity Gospel is that it doesn’t line up with what the Bible actually teaches. The truth is that following Jesus isn’t a guarantee of an easy life. In fact, Jesus warned His followers that they might face hardship for His sake (Luke 9:23). The Bible is full of stories of faithful believers who faced suffering—look at Job, who lost everything but still trusted God (Job 13:15), or Paul, who endured countless hardships yet found contentment in Christ (Phil. 4:11-13). Indeed, this is the experience of many faithful Christians over the last two thousand years.

Faith isn’t about forcing God’s hand to get what we want. It’s about trusting Him, even when things don’t make sense to us. It’s about believing that He is good, even in the midst of suffering. The Bible says that God’s plan for us isn’t just about making us rich or healthy—it’s about transforming us into people who reflect His character, people who can find joy in Him no matter the circumstances (Rom. 8:28-29).

If you’ve been in a church that taught the Prosperity Gospel, and you’re starting to see that it doesn’t match up with Scripture, it’s okay to feel confused or hurt. But know this: God’s love for the believer isn’t based on how much you have or how healthy you are. He loves you because of who He is. And even in tough times, He is with the believer, guiding them toward a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him. That’s the true promise of the gospel—one that’s worth far more than any worldly riches.

Resources:

Video: Justin Peters – Clouds Without Water

Book: 

Health, Wealth, and the (Real) Gospel
Sean Demars and Mike McKinley
Christian Focus, 2022
9781527108028
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Some Christians have been taught that following God’s rules was how to earn His favour and secure their place in heaven. This might be you, and you’ve realised that no matter how hard you’ve worked to live up to these standards, but no matter how much you tried, you’ve always fallen short. Or maybe you’ve come from a background where you were told that because Jesus has saved you, the law no longer matters—you can live however you want. Both of these perspectives can leave you confused and struggling to understand your relationship with God and the role of the law in the Christian life.

Before we came to faith in Christ, the Bible tells us that we were under the judgment of God’s Law. This means that the law, which shows us what God expects, condemned you because of your sin. It was like a mirror, reflecting your inability to meet God’s holy standards and revealing your need for a Savior. But here’s the good news: through faith in Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the law and took its punishment on the cross, you are no longer condemned. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” You are free from the law’s judgment.

However, this doesn’t mean the law has no role in your life now. Instead, it’s important to understand how the law functions for a believer. First, it still acts as a mirror, helping you recognise sin and your ongoing need for Christ. Even though you’re forgiven, you’re not yet perfect, and the law helps you see where you still need God’s grace. Second, the law helps to restrain evil, not just in your life, but in society. It’s like a moral compass, pointing out what is wrong and encouraging people to live rightly, even if they don’t follow Jesus (Rom. 2:14). Lastly, the law is a guide for living a life that pleases God. Now that you’re in Christ, the law isn’t a burden but a helpful tool to show you how to live in a way that reflects God’s character.

It’s also helpful to know that when we talk about the Law, we’re referring mainly to the moral law, which is summarised in the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20:1-17). This moral law is different from the ceremonial and civil laws that were given to ancient Israel. The ceremonial laws, which were about worship and sacrifices, pointed to Jesus and were fulfilled by Him, so they don’t apply to us in the same way. The civil laws that governed Israel as a nation also don’t directly apply today, though they still offer principles for just governance.

The moral law, however, is timeless. It was given by God at creation, even before Israel existed, and it’s still relevant for everyone. It teaches us what’s right in God’s eyes and shows us how to live as His people. While it once condemned you, now, in Christ, it instructs you and helps you grow in your relationship with God, guiding you to live in a way that honours Him.

Resources:

Video: R. C. Sproul – What parts of the law are still relevant today?

Book: 

From the Finger of God: The Biblical and Theological Basis for the Threefold Division of the Law
Philip S. Ross.
Mentor, 2010
9781845506018
Find Book

The Christian life can often feel like a constant battle against sin. Even after coming to faith, you might struggle with the same temptations and failures. This ongoing struggle can lead to frustration, especially when you encounter teachings that promise a level of spiritual perfection that seems unattainable. The idea that you can reach a state of complete, or almost complete, sinlessness in this life is tempting, but it sets an impossible standard that can lead to discouragement, doubt, and despair.

Paul’s words in Romans 7 resonate deeply with anyone who has felt the weight of this struggle. He speaks honestly about his own battles, admitting that even though he wants to do what is right, he often finds himself doing the opposite. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” he cries in Romans 7:24. This is not the cry of a man who has reached perfection but of one who recognises his ongoing need for God’s grace.

Some teachings suggest that it’s possible to achieve a state of sinless perfection, especially in your motives. Others propose that by certain works or spiritual experiences, you can attain a higher spiritual plane, free from sin’s power. But both of these ideas miss the biblical truth that sanctification is a lifelong process. Perfection is not something we achieve on this side of eternity but something we look forward to in the new creation.

In this life, the goal is not perfection but direction. It’s about continually growing in Christlikeness, even though we will stumble and fall along the way. This is why it’s so important to keep your focus on Christ rather than on your own progress or failures. Scottish minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843) once said, “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.” This reminds us that our hope is not in our ability to be perfect but in Jesus, who was perfect for us.

We live in a broken world, and we remain imperfect people, but God’s grace is sufficient. The Christian journey is about moving closer to Jesus every day, trusting that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6). It’s not about trying to earn God’s favour through perfect behaviour, nor is it about reaching some spiritual level where sin no longer affects you. Instead, it’s about walking daily with Christ, relying on His strength, and looking forward to the day when we will be made perfect in the new creation.

The term “Reformed Baptist” can often cause confusion, particularly when distinguishing it from other Baptists or those who merely hold to Calvinism. While Calvinism and Reformed theology share important similarities, they are not identical. Reformed Baptists represent a distinct theological tradition that encompasses much more than the doctrines of grace or the five points of Calvinism, summarised by the acronym TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints). Though foundational, these doctrines are only part of what defines Reformed theology.

Reformed theology covers a broader system of beliefs, including distinctive views on worship, the church, covenant theology, and the Christian life. Reformed Baptists trace their roots to the English Particular Baptists of the early 17th century. While they shared much of Reformed theology with their Presbyterian and Congregationalist counterparts, they diverged on the issue of baptism. Unlike other Reformed traditions that practice infant baptism, Reformed Baptists hold to believer’s baptism, seeing infant baptism as outside the scope of Scripture. Despite this difference, Reformed Baptists strongly identify with the broader Reformed tradition.

At the core of Reformed Baptist theology is covenant theology. Reformed Baptists believe that God relates to humanity through three overarching covenants: the covenant of redemption, the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace. This framework profoundly shapes their understanding of Scripture and salvation history. Like other Reformed traditions, they also adhere to Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), along with the other “solae” of the Protestant Reformation—grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and God’s glory alone.

Another key distinctive is the Regulative Principle of Worship, which asserts that only what is commanded by God in Scripture is permitted in corporate worship. This contrasts with many other Baptist and evangelical traditions, where worship practices are often more flexible and culturally driven. By adhering to this principle, Reformed Baptists aim to centre their worship on God’s explicit instructions in the Bible.

Confessions of faith are another crucial aspect of Reformed Baptist identity. The most widely recognised confession among them is the 1677/1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (LBCF), which mirrors the Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith but includes modifications on baptism and church government. While Reformed Baptists do not treat the LBCF as equal to Scripture, they view it as a faithful summary of biblical teaching and doctrine.

A common question is whether someone can be a Reformed Baptist without holding to the 1689 Confession. The answer is nuanced. While adherence to other historic confessions, such as the 1644/1646 London Baptist Confession, is possible, it is essential that one embraces the broader Reformed theological framework. Merely holding to Calvinism, without covenant theology and other Reformed distinctives, more accurately describes a Calvinistic Baptist, not a Reformed Baptist.

In conclusion, being a Reformed Baptist involves much more than believing in Calvinism. It requires a commitment to the broader Reformed theological framework, including covenant theology, a confessional stance, and a distinctive approach to worship and church government—all rooted in continuity with the historic Reformed tradition.

Key Distinctives of Reformed Baptists

1. Covenant Theology: As mentioned earlier, Reformed Baptists hold to a covenantal framework for understanding the Bible. They believe that God has dealt with humanity through a series of covenants, culminating in the New Covenant established by Christ. While Reformed Presbyterians also hold to covenant theology, they include infants in the covenant community through baptism. Reformed Baptists, however, limit baptism to those who profess faith in Christ.
2. Church Government: Reformed Baptists typically hold to an Elder-led form of church government. This means that while the congregation has a role in decision-making, the spiritual oversight of the church is entrusted to a plurality of elders. This model stands in contrast to either a form of Elder-Rule, whereby the congregation has little role in the overall church, or the more common hyper-congregational polity found in many Baptist churches, where almost all decisions are made through congregational voting, often without a clear distinction between the congregation and church officers.
3. Confessionalism: Reformed Baptists hold to a formal confession of faith, usually the 1689 London Baptist Confession. This confessionalism provides a robust theological structure that guides the church’s teaching, worship, and governance. In contrast, many other Baptist groups usually reject confessions or creeds, preferring a more individualistic or less defined approach to theology.
4. Reformed Tradition: Unlike other Baptist groups that may lean towards dispensationalism or pentecostalism, Reformed Baptists identify with the broader Reformed tradition, which includes a commitment to the five solae, the doctrines of grace, and a high view of God’s sovereignty. This theological heritage places them closer to Presbyterians in many ways than to other Baptists.