by Allen S. Nelson IV
Most of us are familiar with Mordecai’s question to Esther in Esther 4:14 – “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
It seems to me that Mordecai had a healthier understanding of God’s providential care for His people than many do in our day. The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 says, “God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means…” (Chapter 5, Paragraph 3).
Esther was a means for God to preserve His people. She had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And God’s providential working in her life was more than just about her, but a way for Him to be glorified in protecting His people.
Providence Today
God still provides for His Church today through His providential care. He is working all things out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). There is an eternal and holy love that Christ has for the Church. Christ came to take on human flesh and lay down His life for His Church, and to present Her holy and without blemish.
How great a work Christ has already done for His Church!
And the Church can be sure then that Christ will always provide for Her, protect Her, and always have Her best interests at heart. In times of earthly prosperity or in times of disaster or persecution, King Jesus has an infinite love for His Church and is coordinating all events for His people’s good and His own eternal glory.
Providence and GBTS
And this brings us closer to the point of today’s post. We believe at GBTS that we have been instituted as a seminary for such a time as this.
We do not mean to seem presumptuous as though we are to be considered another Esther! Similar to Esther, though, our story at GBTS is not one of ambition, but divine opportunity. And so, our confidence in God’s providence causes us to believe that whether in great ways or small, the Lord has given us the opportunity to glorify God and do good for His church. We are grateful to be one tiny part in God’s great overarching plan to provide for, protect, and equip His church.
Serious Times, Serious Training
At GBTS we provide serious training, for serious students, with a serious calling. We believe strongly in the local church. And we know that even in the midst of uncertain times, it is the local church that God is using to extend the glory of His name to every corner of the globe.
Thus, we are grateful to be here for such a time as this. And whether in times of persecution or prosperity we are confident that best way to equip pastors is to be serious about sound doctrine. So, it is our purpose, as long as providence smiles upon us, to train the next generations of pastors, church planters, and missionaries, through doctrinal education and pastoral experience within the context of the local church.
Launching Grace Abounding
And now for the main point of today’s post. In addition to in-class training that has already been taking place the last few years, it will be our additional endeavor to provide weekly written content through the new blog initiative of GBTS known as Grace Abounding.
Throughout church history, seminaries (and its previous forms) and doctrinal/theological writing have functioned as two sides of the same coin. Producing doctrinal resources with an ecclesiological aim is our goal with Grace Abounding.
The name Grace Abounding is derived from John Bunyan’s spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. Bunyan was a gifted Reformed Baptist pastor and his works from the 17th century continue to benefit Christians today. We thought it fitting since we are Grace Bible Theological Seminary, and since we are Reformed Baptists, to use Bunyan’s title for this initiative.
Another objective we have with this blog is to keep the larger reformed community abreast of all that his happening with GBTS here in central Arkansas. Thus, this will be a place for news, articles, and resources to keep you up to date with the seminary and to be a resource to churches everywhere. We covet your prayers at such a time as this and would love to let you know more about what the Lord is doing here (contact us).
Bible Giveaway Info.
To celebrate the launching of Grace Abounding we are giving away a copy of the ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible! The contest will run through Thursday, April 16, 2020. Sing up here.
Allen S. Nelson IV is an M.Div student at GBTS and Pastor of Perryville Second Baptist Church in Perryville, AR. He and his wife Stephanie have been married since 2006 and have 5 children. He is the author of From Death to Life: How Salvation Works and Before the Throne: Reflections on God’s Holiness. Besides curating Grace Abounding he also writes regularly at ThingsAbove.Us. You can follow him on twitter: @cuatronelson.
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