Reformed Theologian David J. Engelsma contends for Calvinism against one of the gravest threats to Reformed Christianity since the Synod of Dordt in the early seventeenth century. The threat is the denial not only of justification by faith alone, but also of all the doctrines of grace. Like the Arminians heresy, the contemporary attack on the Reformed faith comes from within. It is found in those Reformed and Presbyterian churches that still claim adherence to the Reformation creeds. Those who launch the attack occupy pulpits and seminary chairs in these reputedly conservative churches.
What makes the attack especially dangerous is that it consists of a development of a doctrine of the covenant that is popular in Reformed and Presbyterian churches. The newest form of the age-old attack on the gospel of salvation by sovereign grace is covenant doctrine. It called itself the federal vision, that is, covenant vision.
The Covenant of God and the Children of Believers defends the Reformed faith against the current attack by exposing the doctrine of the covenant from which the attack arises. This is something that few, if any, of the opponents of the federal visions have done. At the same time, the book sets forth the doctrine of the covenant that safeguards and promotes the gospel of sovereign grace, demonstrating that this covenant doctrine is biblical, confessional, and traditionally Reformed.
Since the controversy centers around the inclusion of the children of believers in the covenant, this book emphasizes the rightful place of children in the covenant of grace and the proper rearing of them. These are truths of the greatest practical importance for godly parents, as also for Reformed churches and Christian schools.
He has been pastor of the Loveland, CO Protestant Reformed Church for 11 years, from 1963 to 1974. Pastor of the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church for 14 years, from 1974 to 1988. He was appointed to the Protestant Reformed Seminary in Grandville, MI in 1988 as professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament studies, which position he holds at present. He is editor since 1988 of the semi-monthly Reformed magazine, the "Standard Bearer." He has authored several books.
In addition to frequent lecture and preaching tours in North America, Prof. Engelsma has lectured and preached throughout the British Isles on behalf of the British Reformed Fellowship, which is devoted to the spread and defense of the Reformed faith in the United Kingdom. He lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife and is the father of 9 children.
He was made emeritus professor at the Synod of 2008. He continues to teach catechism classes and lecture. He is also working on additional books on doctrine.
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