Posted by deangonzales on February 23, 2010
The gentleman to the left is Justin Hoke. Justin has been a believer since 1996. He’s attended Sangre De Cristo Seminary, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and he currently holds an Master of Arts (M.A.) in Biblical Exegesis from The North American Reformed Seminary. Now he’s working to complete a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree through Reformed Baptist Seminary. Justin desires, God willing, to serve in the kingdom as a pastor-teacher. He, his wife, Yatang, and their son, Joshua David, currently reside in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys I love studying theology, building websites, rooting for the Oakland Raiders, and, as you can see in the picture, fishing. That’s a big steelhead Justin landed.
But that’s not all Justin landed. Recently, Justin clicked on the Logos Seminary Scholarship link that appears just to the right of this post. He signed up for the $1,000 scholarship and was selected not only to receive the monies applied to his seminary education but also a Logos Bible Software Scholar’s Library. If you’re an RBS student, why don’t you consider applying for the Logos Seminary Scholarship? You’ve got nothing to lose.
Posted by deangonzales on February 22, 2010
Reformed Baptist Seminary will host a summer theological module on Christology or the Doctrine of Christ from Saturday through Friday, August 21-27 at its new facilities at Grace Baptist Church in Taylors, South Carolina. The module will serve to fulfill the lecture requirements for the seminary’s three-credit course ST 701 Christ. The course instructor, Pastor Greg Nichols, is a graduate and former professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, New Jersey. He’s the author of What Does the Bible Say about God? The Biblical Doctrine of God (Truth For Eternity) and “The Emotivity of God,” Reformed Baptist Theological Review 1:2 (July 2004): 95-143. He is currently a pastor of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he and his wife, Ginger, reside. The course covers much more than the person and work of Christ. First, it reaches back into eternity and considers God’s predestined plan for a Redeemer and a people. Second, traces the development of the God’s redemptive promise through the historical covenants of Scripture–covenant theology from a Reformed and Baptist perspective! Third, the course systematically explores the revelation of the Person and Work of Jesus the Messiah. Professor Nichols has provide the following abstract, which summarizes the three major segments of the course material:
Part 1: The Eternal Plan of Salvation: Predestination
Before the creation of the world God resolved how he would embark on the greatest rescue mission conceivable. This plan includes his predestination of the redeemed, “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4), and of the Redeemer, “Christ foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:19). Thus we begin with eternal election and reprobation and the eternal counsel of redemption.
Part 2: The Solemn Promise of Salvation: God’s Covenants
Immediately after the fall God solemnly declared war on Satan. He pledged to send a Redeemer to rescue sinners and crush the devil thoroughly (Gen. 3:15). This pledge to apply and accomplish salvation is his covenant of grace. He fulfills his pledge to apply salvation through his gospel; to accomplish salvation through his covenants. Over some four thousand years of redemptive history he sets up a tapestry of pledges that frame the Person and work of the Redeemer. These are: the two Noahic covenants, the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, and the Messianic and New covenants. Thus, we study the covenant of grace and God’s covenants.
Part 3: The Accomplishment of Salvation: Christ’s Person and Work
In the fullness of time God sent his Son into the world to accomplish salvation from sin. God the Son became flesh and entered the world as Jesus of Nazareth: “you shall call his name Jesus, for he it is that shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Thus, we first study his Person, his deity and humanity. In his work Christ fulfills God’s solemn promises. As the promised Redeemer, Christ crushes Satan by his perfect life and atoning death. As Abraham’s heir, Christ blesses believers from every nation with every spiritual blessing through the gospel. As David’s heir, the theocratic king, Christ rules God’s people, builds his temple, and subdues his enemies. As high priest, in keeping with the Messianic covenant, Christ makes atonement for his people, intercedes for them, and eradicates their sin. As prophet and mediator of the new covenant, Christ reforms God’s people and reveals his Word. This course concludes with the profound impact of Christ’s Person and work: “neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Don’t miss out on this important module! Auditors are also welcome. The module fee is $70 for students and $100 for auditors. The members of Grace Baptist Church will provide lodging for those who register early and meals will be provided. The deadline for registration is August 6. To download the PDF module flier, click on this link: 2010 Summer Module-Christ Flier 1.1 If you tentatively plan to attend, please send an email letting us know so that we can begin to formulate a headcount. You can also contact us if you have more specific questions about the module (email: info@rbseminary.org/phone: 864-322-4633).
Bob Gonzales, Dean
Reformed Baptist Seminary
Posted by deangonzales on February 15, 2010
Born and raised in Scotland, Robert attended the Free Presbyterian Theological Hall in Northern Ireland between the years 1982-1986. Upon graduating he returned to his home church in Glasgow, where for three years he functioned as an Assistant Pastor. His responsibilities included leading the Youth Group, establishing home Bible studies and regularly teaching and preaching on the Lord’s Day. In 1990 he was called to pastor the New Cumnock Evangelical Church, located in a small village around 50 miles south of Glasgow. During that time Robert led the relatively new congregation though a building project which saw the church established in a beautiful facility with a high profile in the community. On the 26th July 1995, Robert responded to the invitation of the newly constituted Reformed Baptist Church of Riverside (CA) to relocate with his wife, three daughters (and dog) in order lead them as they sought to press ahead in their new venture. The church has enjoyed amazing blessings from our God and has grown tremendously over the years. The Reformed Baptist Church of Riverside is committed to the preaching of the Gospel and is very active in supporting missionaries, developing young men for ministry, and reaching out to the community of Riverside with around the building which God has given them. Aspects of outreach include street evangelism, feeding the poor, ministry to the elderly, door visitation and kids club.
Robert is the fifth student to graduate from the Reformed Baptist Seminary divinity program. He completed his M.Div. through RBS in November of 2009.
