Confessing Christ

by Calvin Knox Cummings

2010 GREAT COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS stapled-wraps SOFTCOVER

Genres: Theology, Christian

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Knowlton Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It must have been a lawless and chaotic time when this book cover was approved by absolutely mad publishers. Notwithstanding, I read this for my Orthodox Presbyterian Church's new members class, and it's a great/short intro to confessional reformed doctrine.

[Vianny D'Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went through this book as a part of my new membership class at a church that I've started attending. It's a pretty short book with just 5-6 topics and 3-4 sub topics within them. But don't get fooled by the ugly cover or small size, the book is power packed with solid introduction to the reformed faith. Learned many things and was freshly reminded of the many things that I had learned already.

[Vanessa Rivero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more about what it means and looks like to confess Christ, as a Reformed Christian, from this little book, than I have in the last 9 years since discovering Reformed theology and even attending a Reformed church for 6 years. Not all Reformed churches disciple and edify their members unfortunately. But thankful the Lord has lead my family and I to a church that is serious about discipling by using this book for membership. For being such a short book it is filled with solid instruction! I will come back to this book often to remind myself of gospel truths, my responsibility as a disciple of Christ and for edification. It's especially helpful to read The Westminster Confession of Faith alongside it for a richer understanding of biblical instruction and gospel truths.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very basic but solid introduction to Christian doctrine. Disclaimer: I didn't actually read the last few chapters, but was present in a group when they were discussed.

[Elijah Dierx · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, yet effective way in sharing standard teachings and beliefs within the OPC.
While it is not required reading, I read the book in preparation join an OPC church and found it rather beneficial.
While there are certainly portions that feel a bit anti-high church/anti-high sacraments, I can understand their reasoning, even though I disagree with them.

[Michael Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, absolutely the worst cover.

[retroGRAD3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Also, the book that will be read on the way to membership within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

[Megan Meisberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good summary of Reformed Christian belief and practice. I especially appreciated the sections on baptism and the Lord's Supper.

[Nick Patchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We went through this book for our church membership class. It provided a simple intro to Reformed doctrine.

[Brian Hirvela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good basic systematic theology that touches on the Christian life and practice.

[Christopher Goins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were to empty my mind of everything that I know about Jesus and fill it with the contents of this book, then you would have added more than what was originally there in the first place -- or you would have at least restored a good portion back, along with some new ingredients.

It is always good to have a teacher that will isolate certain passages that you probably read a hundred times before but they didn't stand out the way the teacher made it stand out. Calvin Knox Cummings is that teacher.

Specifically, he taught me some things I didn't know about Presbyterianism, Calvinism, Church History, and Church Doctrine, all of which he grounds heavily in scripture. He quotes scripture too many times to count -- and that is a good thing.

For example, I never knew where to start when it came to answers on the doctrine of infant baptism. I always questioned the soundness of it. After all, it's not like babies have a choice in the matter, right? Well, it turns out that scripturally that sort of rationalistic reasoning can be dismissed. The answer was very logical -- irrefutable even. Infant baptism is pretty much equal to circumcision in terms of it's covenantal nature. And here's the thing, the New Testament says that much: "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:11,12). That scripture had never been pointed out to me that way before. But I could have simply not been looking.

Little nuggets of genius here and there make it worth the read for the person who is not new to the faith. But because of this book's broad range it makes it absolutely essential for someone who is. Personally, I found myself continually edified.

At the end of each chapter, the author poses a set of review questions and then usually another set (or two) of more challenging questions. The answers to the latter questions aren't always in the preceding or subsequent chapters. The reader is truly required to think and do good lay theology. As I answered those and the review quetsions, I found they were helpful in retaining the information.

If your church is using this book for study, like mine is, then you know you are in the right place.

[Gavin Breeden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just co-taught through this book in the communicants' class at my church. It's a primer to the Christian faith from a Reformed/Presbyterian/Westminster Standards perspective. Very helpful. Easy to read. Concise, yet thorough.

[Caitlin Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good overview of reformed theology. Seth and I read this as part of our membership class for Covenant OPC.