Pastor John,
I’m curious of the context your father was preaching when he said today’s Pearl? The word “reformed” caught my attention. I’m used to seeing “reformed” in a religious context attached to certain protestant theologies. I can’t imagine your father was referring to one of those. In the sense he was speaking, is reformed to be under conviction? The same feelings of conviction that lead us to repent and receive the Holy Ghost? But as I write this, I’m noticing that the word “form” within the word. Was your father simply saying to be is reformed just a “form” of godliness by the self will of man?
Not to get to deep here, as I said, just curious as to the context and the use of the word reformed.
Michael
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In that sermon from 35 years ago, or so, my father was referring to individuals “working on their problems” or “making New Year resolution”, changing old habits, or such as that. None of that can make a person clean in God’s sight. But even if we were to think of it as one of the “Reformed” churches, as you mentioned, it would apply. No Christian church has ever been of God; men devised them all. So, what eternal good is there in changing any of them and calling it a “Reformed Church”? That is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
God calls no one to reform but to repent. Then, He does the cleansing.
Pastor John