(RNS) Dr. Stephen J. Nichols Named the New President of Reformation Bible College and Chief Academic Officer of Ligonier Ministries

ORLANDO, FLA. (March 18, 2014) – Dr. R.C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries, and the Board of Directors of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephen J. Nichols as the second president of Reformation Bible College (RBC) and the chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. Dr. R.C. Sproul, the first president of RBC and soon-to-be chancellor of the institution, expressed his delight on the occasion of this announcement.


“Our long-term plan is to ensure that Reformation Bible College grows under the direction of godly, qualified leadership enables me to maintain effective oversight of all of the outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Adding Dr. Nichols as president of RBC advances our outreach significantly,” Dr. Sproul said. “In Dr. Nichols, God has provided us with a leader whose passion for the great truths of the Christian faith, the wisdom of the Reformed tradition, and love for education will serve the needs of our students and faculty well in the years ahead.”


A longtime friend of Ligonier Ministries and a Ligonier teaching fellow, Dr. Nichols accepts this appointment after seventeen years as a Bible college and seminary professor. He has served most recently as research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa., and has also served as visiting professor at Reformation Bible College and lecturer in church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.


“It is with deep pleasure and gratitude that I join the team at Ligonier in serving this generation and the generation to come in the cause of Christ,” Dr. Nichols said. “By God’s grace, I am committed to keeping RBC and Ligonier faithful to their theological vision and educational mission. A remarkably gifted faculty for RBC has been gathered in central Florida, and I am honored to work with these godly men, as well as with the staff of Ligonier.”


Ligonier Ministries is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nichols as the ministry’s chief academic officer, responsible for working in conjunction with the president of Ligonier to actively promote and safeguard fidelity to the mission, vision, and the theological position and commitment of Dr. R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries.


“Having Dr. Nichols as a full-time member of the Ligonier team is a key step forward, enabling us to accelerate our robust discipleship outreach as we serve the church around the world,” said Chris Larson, president of Ligonier Ministries.


“Dr. Nichols’ theological and personal integrity will serve the church well as we preserve Ligonier’s heritage of sound teaching and expand our mission to proclaim the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible.”


Dr. Nichols will provide leadership and vision for all of the teaching outreaches of Ligonier, working actively with the other Ligonier teaching fellows in developing new projects and contributions for Ligonier’s extensive resource catalog. As chief academic officer, Dr. Nichols will also continue to write, teach, and speak for both Ligonier students and the wider church.


About Ligonier Ministries Ligonier Ministries (www.ligonier.org) is an international Christian education organization established in 1971 to equip Christians to articulate what they believe and why they believe it. The ministry is home to the Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul radio program, broadcast internationally; Tabletalk devotional magazine, read internationally; The Reformation Study Bible with R.C. Sproul as general editor; Reformation Trust Publishing, the publisher of new titles by Dr. Sproul and other contemporary authors and theologians; Reformation Network, 24-hour Internet radio committed to the historic Christian faith; numerous teaching series; national and regional conferences; an extensive catalog with more than 3,500 unique Christian education resources available online at Ligonier.org; and the Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and Reformation Bible College, institutions focused on instilling rigorous biblical knowledge in their students. About Reformation Bible College Reformation Bible College (RBC) is a private coeducational institution of higher learning in Sanford, Fla., that works to train current and future Christian leaders through academically rigorous scriptural study that offers students a deep, meaningful encounter with the Author of history, the Source of truth, and the Sustainer of our faith. RBC is committed to building a community of teaching and learning from which students will emerge to live a life that glorifies God, proclaims His kingdom, and fosters an ongoing reformation in the church, home, and workplace. -


See more at: http://pressreleases.religionnews.com/2014/03/18/dr-stephen-j-nichols-named-new-president-reformation-bible-college-chief-academic-officer-ligonier-ministries/#sthash.qdCXsQfF.dpuf

Image of God: Gen. 1.26-27

Image of God:  Gen. 1.26-28

Desultory notes and musings:

     1.      Gen. 1.26, 27; 5.1; 9.6; 1 Cor. 11.17; James 3.9

2. Retained after fall but twisted and distorted;  in regeneration, in progressive process of restoration, but not fully so until death in the intermediate state for believers;  reunited to  body in the resurrection at the second coming

3.      Qualities at creation: personhood, rational, affectional, volitional, dominionist, morally admirable, and self-conscious of self and communion with God

4.      But, at and after the fall, becomes twisted, distorted and dynamically energized against God in several senses from crude expressions to less crude, but refined redefinitions of God that are, nonetheless, defamatory, disrespectful and irreverent

5.      This remains a very good series for beginners exploring the consequences of the fall and the “image of God.”  http://www.ligonier.org/store/a-shattered-image-cd/

6.      Ligonier’s product description is this:  

When God created the world, He said, “It is very good.” What happened? How did we make a mess of what started out perfect? How did we stray so far from God? How can people do great things yet at the same time be so wicked? 

Dr. Sproul answers those questions and many more in A Shattered Image, a groundbreaking and vital teaching series on the doctrine of man. This series will help you understand yourself and others, and help you look forward with hope to the time when the present paradox will give way to complete righteousness. 

7.      Very appropriate in connection with Morning Prayer from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:  

Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me;

        A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, all kneeling. 

Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Free Lectures: "What is Reformed Theology?" by R.C. Sproul Sr.

What Is Reformed Theology?

A Teaching Series by Dr. R.C. Sproul 
    

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/what_is_reformed_theology/

• You may watch this entire Teaching Series online for free

Playlist:Select a Lecture to Play 1. Introduction 2. Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed 3. Scripture Alone 4. Faith Alone (Part 1) 5. Faith Alone (Part 2) 6. Covenant 7. Total Depravity (Part 1) 8. Total Depravity (Part 2) 9. Unconditional Election 10. Limited Atonement 11. Irresistible Grace 12. Perseverance of the Saints

• Teaching Series Overview
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed
• 3. Scripture Alone
• 4. Faith Alone (Part 1)

What Is Reformed Theology?

There is something healthy about returning to one’s roots. When it comes to evangelical Christianity, its roots are found in the soil of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. Just as the Reformers protested the corrupt teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, so today evangelicalism itself is in need of a modern reformation. In What Is Reformed Theology?, Dr. R.C. Sproul offers a comprehensive introduction to Reformed theology. Simply put, it is the theology of the Protestant Reformers and the heart of historical evangelicalism. As C.H. Spurgeon once said, Reformed theology is nothing other than biblical Christianity.

Dr. R.C. Sproul: "Are We Together?" (ECT, "Evangelicals Catholics Together")

http://www.ligonier.org/store/are-we-together-hardcover/

 

Are We Together?

 

by Dr. R.C. Sproul

 

List Price: $17.00 $13.60

Summary

In recent years, some evangelical Protestant leaders have signed statements pledging themselves to joint social action with Roman Catholics. Others have refused to participate, declaring that, in their view, the statements went too far, touching on the gospel, which remains a point of disagreement between Protestants and Roman Catholics. Many evangelical Christians have found themselves confused by the different directions taken by their leaders.

In Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism, Dr. R.C. Sproul takes his stand for the cardinal doctrines of Protestantism in opposition to the errors of the Roman Catholic Church. Sproul, a passionate defender of the gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, cites the historic statements of the Protestant Reformers and the Roman Catholic authorities, then references modern doctrinal statements to show that the Roman Catholic Church has not altered its official positions. In light of this continuing gap, he writes, efforts by some in the evangelical camp to find common ground with Rome on matters at the heart of the gospel are nothing short of untrue to biblical teaching. In Sproul’s estimation, the Reformation remains relevant.

Are We Together? is a clarion call to evangelicals to stand firm for the gospel, the precious good news of salvation as it is set forth in Scripture alone.

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Why did R.C. Sproul write Are We Together?

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Read a Sample Chapter

 

Un-Presbyterianizing Presbyterians and Un-Reforming the Reformed

This has been a long time in coming, that is, the un-Presbyterianizing of Presbyterians, the un-Reforming of the Reformed, and un-Confessionalizing of Confessional Churchmen and the Baptyerian/Baptacostalist conquest. No surprises, it's the legacy of Ligon Duncan, Rick Phillips, Alliance of (Non) Confessing Evangelicals, Ref21, John Frame, Vern Pothress, Pete Lillback, Westminster-Philadelphia, R.C. Sproul Sr., and—quite principally—Ligonier Ministries.   ACE and Ligonier lost it years ago.

http://theaquilareport.com/what-happened-to-popular-presbyterianism-boice-ferguson-sproul-frame-etc/

What happened to popular Presbyterianism? Boice, Ferguson, Sproul, Frame

Somehow "Reformed" today (2012) is more associated with Baptists (or Baptistic folks)

Written by Anthony Bradley, The Institute | Monday, June 25, 2012

In the 1980s and 1990s when I was first introduced to Reformed theology three names dominated the seen were James Montgomery Boice (Senior Minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia), Sinclair Ferguson who was teaching full-time at the time at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and R.C. Sproul. They are all Presbyterians. In those days “Calvinism”/”Reformed” and Presbyterian were synonyms.

Something happened, however. The Presbyterians lost their voice some would say and I’m not sure how to explain how that happened. Somehow “Reformed” today (2012) is more associated with Baptists (or Baptistic folks) D.A. Carson, John Piper, and Mark Driscoll.

How did this shift happen? How did the Presbyterians lose their popularity in Reformed America? I’d love your thoughts, insights, and perspective on how that happened. I’m not an historian nor am I familiar with all of the movements in all of the circles that now claim to be “Calvinist” so your thoughts are very helpful!

Can you all help me figure this out? How would you explain the shift? All insights welcomed! Thanks in advance!!! (And yes, this is for a project I’m working on)

(Editor’s Note: We have included the responses from Sunday. We encourage our readers to go the source link (at the end of this posting) and continue the discussion on Anthony’s blog)

James Adams

I think there are several reasons. The most obvious is that John Piper was prominent speaker at the Passion events over the past decade, and a number of young evangelicals, particularly Baptists, discovered their theological vision from his influence, in conferences and books. These young evangelicals are now leaders in the church planting movement, prominent young pastors, or seminary professors. Since they are prominent, the evangelical publishers vigorously promote their books and they and their influence continues.

It is interesting that this brand of “Calvinism” is not a unified Calvinistic vision, as in Kuyper, but is centered on soteriology and missions. I don’t know what to make of this but this could be a reason for the popularity of “baptistic calvinists”, due to their heavy emphasis on missions and evangelism.

Scott F. Oaklna

I think it is basically due to Piper et al’s access to baptistic evangelicalism, which has a much larger reach. It’s ironic that, with all of their numbers and heavyweights in their own right, they were unable to keep me baptistic, and as a result, I’ve been Presbyterian for two years now and never looked back.

Joel Hamernick

Prior to the “Gospel Coalition” and “Together for the Gospel” there was a Boice led conference called “The Philadelphia Conference for Reformed Theology” PCRT. (We hosted one of the sites at our church in Chicago). It then led to the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (still hosting this conference).

PCRT did have Baptists, Lutherans and Anglicans, but the primary movers and shakers were Presbyterians. It was not marketed as well, nor attended as well, but was the for-runner. Michael Horton was also an annual part of the conference.

During those years the Dispensationalism-Reformed battles raged. That kept Presbyterians from having too many open Baptist friends and Reformed Baptists hush-hush in large sections of American Evangelicalism. In the same way that Jeb Bush said that Reagan wouldn’t be a welcome part of current Republican circles, Tim Keller and others would not have been a welcome part to MANY in the battle ground years.

GC and TGC have allowed a more vigorous dialogue about the gospel and given a platform for that reformed stance on the gospel to come equally easily from a Baptist or Presbyterian position. (Something virtually impossible in the PCRT format)

Now the Disp-Ref battles are mostly a thing of the past; leaving a comfortable middle ground of discussion. The rise of Crossway books and its ESV with Reformed influences a part of the common dialogue of Evangelicals.

At the end of the day there are simply far more Baptists in the US and many of them have been significantly influenced by Piper, Keller, Stott, Carson and many others in such a way as to move away from strident dispensationalism toward a gospel centered theology.

Take that as a stab in the dark from my vantage point.

Pete Scribner

I’m no historian and may be completely off base, but here’s my guess:

I think you may have a flawed assumption that Presbyterians have lost their popularity to Baptists. My guess is that it’s not a matter of Reformed people becoming Baptists, but of Baptists becoming Reformed (at least in their soteriology). My guess is that Presbyterians like Sproul are actually as (more?) popular as ever in general…they just haven’t had the same level of growth as the YRR Baptists.

Job Dalomba

My perspective is that the SBC the largest denomination in the USA seems to be reflective of the evangelical world. Lifeway Book Store is a SBC run entity. If you review the theological history of the SBC, it’s pretty reflective of evangelicals in general. When the SBC went through its liberal period, much of the prominent preachers in the evangelical world were not reformed. As the Conservative Resurgence happened, the most visible leaders were non reformed evangelicals mainly, Adrian Rogers. As congregants, young pastors and seminary students looked towards the popular writers; they are getting teaching that in many ways was anti reformed. Add to the fact that the Internet hadn’t boomed and the constant sense of evangelistic/missions zeal in evangelical life with a lack of “Calvinistic” pastors who emphasized evangelism and missions and the evangelical culture heads into a non-reformed direction.

Let me wrap it up and say this:
The reformed resurgence has mainly been about soteriology and it seems that the Calvinists have won the day on it in this time in history. Why has it won? Because it answering the evangelistic/mission question that many want: Who saves people? The answer that many have always believed and finally have substance to is God and now they have latched onto reformed soteriology, which best answers the question evangelicals seem to care most about: How does someone go to heaven?

Kenneth Harrell (via Anthony Bradley)

This is From Kenneth Harrell who wrote this on my Facebook Wall: “Anthony, I think that the answer is very simple though so little regarded; while Presbyterians have always been the best scholars among the orthodox Protestants and perhaps always will be, Baptists have always been better preachers.

My point here is that if the average person based their acceptance of Reformed theology on what they heard across the pulpit rather than what they read, the Baptists will always be more popular. I think it is because Baptist preaching is a little more applicable to the actual lives of its adherents. For instance, for all of the robust discussions about the nature of sin and its devastating consequences in Presbyterian circles, these discussions usually end with an acknowledgement of our need for God’s grace and our need to accept and understand the all sufficiency of Christ as a remedy for the sin in our lives.

Baptists take it a step further and come as close to actually naming particular sins as you will get in the Reformed tradition and have an expectation that true believers will actually depart from such iniquity. While church discipline is important for both Baptist and Presbyterian traditions, Baptist preaching sets the parameters for that discipline more explicitly than Presbyterian preaching does. Finally Particular Baptists are more open to the extraordinary work on the Holy Spirit in ways that make Presbyterians uncomfortable.

Generally speaking Reformed Baptists lean towards New Divinity Jonathan Edwards style and against the anti Revivalism of the old school Princeton theology and its legitimate successors. As a result they often see no contradiction in articulating a Calvinistic soteriology while allowing and sometimes encouraging practices in the Revivalistic Evangelical tradition. This is more in line with how American Christians think and feel and resonates with them in a way that Presbyterianism fails to do so.

of us are attracted to the intellectual vitality of the Reformed tradition. Most of us were introduced to it through contact with the Reformed Anglicans such as Ryle, Packer and Stott and by Presbyterianism. Most us soon left them behind once we were introduced to the experimental piety of the Puritans, Edwards and particular Lloyd-Jones. In my case reading the Puritans, Edwards and Lloyd-Jones sent me back to my own tradition which started with John Wesley. I realized after tremendous soul searching that I was not Reformed by conviction but by desire to have an intellectually stimulating faith.

I am now comfortable in my Classical Pentecostal skin. Most of my dear friends, however, have discovered after the same reading that they are indeed Reformed but need an outlet for more emotional worship and an emphasis on historically rooted spiritual disciplines. For them the Reformed Baptists are the best of both worlds, heady and stimulating but also warm in the heart. My point is the popularity of the Baptists should take no one by surprise; Presbyterianism was a worthy schoolmaster pointing the way to the Particular Baptist tradition. Anthony and anyone else, would love to hear your thoughts on my contention.”

Chris Holdridge

Here’s an anecdotal response–you can interpret. When I was at the Desiring God conference of 2006-”The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World,” during Driscoll’s talk he made a comment about having to get rid of all the crazy baby baptizers in his young church before it could grow. I then realized, as a Presbyterian, that things weren’t what I thought they were. Not that I want to hold that remark against Driscoll, but this was one of the largest gatherings of “calvinists” around and that comment just disappeared in the air.

TC

I am an African-American southern Baptist. As a college student in the 90′s, l was looking for a campus ministry that taught the Word of God with depth and didn’t feel like a shallow youth group. For me, RUF was that ministry. I learned about Christ in all of Scripture, allowing your faith to inform every area of your life. That experience completely changed how I view my faith. It had the same effect on many of fellow students.

Chris Holdridge

I would also suggest that perhaps Presbyterian polity and ecclesiology are a little more rigorous and that aspect doesn’t necessarily attract Americans. Even in my PCA church there are folks that complain and yawn when we talk about presbytery, etc.

Tag Tuck

Everybody wants good covenantal theology, but they don’t want to baptize no babies! (So they don’t want to be *too* covenantal.)

Abraham

Fascinating, especially the contribution from Kenneth Harrell. My basic explanation would be that the Baptists won the internet.

Anthony Bradley is an Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics at The King’s College, NYC. This commentary is taken from Bradley’s blog, The Institute and is used with permission of the author. To join the comment stream with your own thoughts, click on The Institute link.

R.C. Sproul, Jr., Speaks Re: Denise Sproul's Transition to Church Triumphant

Justin Taylor brings us this update on the transition from this life to the Church Triumphant by Denise Sproul, wife of R.C. Sproul, Jr.  Here’s R.C. Sproul Jr.’s remarks.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/05/10/the-sermon-he-would-have-preached-at-his-wifes-memorial-service/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29

Justin Taylor|2:33 pm CT

The Sermon He Would Have Preached at His Wife’s Memorial Service

R.C. Sproul Jr.:

Though it was a close call, I elected not to preach at my dear wife’s memorial service. Wasn’t sure I could get through it. But in God’s good grace I was given a second chance, the opportunity to preach to many who knew and loved her. My friends at Boerne Christian Assembly in San Antonio offered me their pulpit one February Lord’s Day, and positively encouraged me to preach on the things I had learned during Denise’s battle, and after her victory. Though it was a close call, I made it through. And in God’s grace that sermon, The Mountain of the Brilliance of Life, was recorded. I have been deeply encouraged by those who have been reading my pieces through various internet outlets about our journey, who have let me know how they have been encouraged. My prayer is that this sermon would encourage still more, that we would all remember that our heavenly Father loves us, and that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us.