Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) succeeded Abraham Kuyper as professor of systematic theology at the Free University in Amsterdam in 1902. John Bolt (PhD, University of St. Michael's College) is professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The late John Vriend translated many classic theological works.

• Editor's IntroductionPart I:The Spirit Gives New Life to Believers1. Calling and RegenerationThe Call of GodEternal CallUniversal Proclamation of the GospelThe Particular Call of GraceRebirth in Other ReligionsRegeneration: Scriptural TeachingThe Doctrine of Regeneration in Church HistoryModern Reinterpretations of RegenerationRegeneration: Various ViewsThe Nature and Extent of RegenerationRegeneration: An Attempt at DefinitionImmediate and IrresistibleThe Remonstrant ObjectionBecoming Spiritual PersonsRe-formation, Not Re-creation2. Faith and ConversionThe Knowledge of FaithFaith as a Universal Created CapacityFaith Knowledge in ScriptureRome and the Reformation on FaithFaith and Regeneration: Which Is Prior?Faith as Knowledge and TrustFaith and Renewal of the Will (Conversion)RepentanceConversion of Believers?The Reformation Understanding: Mortification and VivificationVarieties of ConversionFleeing Sin and Loving GodConfession of SinPenance and Punishment3. JustificationForgiveness Is Not NaturalForgiveness in ScriptureThe Problem of NomismThe Reformation Renewal: Extrinsic, Forensic JustificationFaith and JustificationObjective and Subjective; Active and PassiveJustification Is Forensic, Not EthicalFaith Is Necessary but No GroundObjections to ImputationJustification in Time or Eternity?Active and Passive JustificationThe Elements of Justification4. Sanctification and PerseveranceHoliness as Gift and RewardRigorism and a Double MoralityJustification and Its DiscontentsSanctification Is Also in ChristPassive and Active SanctificationGood WorksThe Perfectionist HeresyPerseverance of the SaintsPart II:The Spirit Creates New Community5. The Church's Spiritual EssenceThe Jewish Roots of the Christian ChurchThe Church Is OneThe Church Is CatholicThe Institutional, Teaching ChurchThe Church as "Communion of Saints"The Reformed Doctrine of the ChurchReformation TangentsThe Church as the "People of God"Church DistinctivesThe Marks of the ChurchObjections to Reformed MarksThe Real Church in HistoryThe Attributes of the Church6. The Church's Spiritual GovernmentThe Church as Organism and InstitutionChurch Government in ScriptureThe Apostolic Office: PeterAfter the Apostles: Elders, Bishops, DeaconsFrom Presbyterian to EpiscopalFrom Episcopal to PapalThe Debate about Petrine PrimacyThe Reformation Rejection of HierarchyPost-Reformation DevelopmentsChrist Is King of the ChurchChurch Office as ServiceOrdinationHow Many Offices?7. The Church's Spiritual PowerReligious and Civil Power in IsraelNew Ecclesial PowerThe Development of Episcopal PowerDegeneration of Papal Power: InfallibilityPower Restored to Word and SacramentChurch Power and Political PowerConfusion of PowersSpiritual Teaching PowerSpiritual Ruling Power; DisciplineThe Power of MercyChurch AssembliesThe Church's Unique Spiritual Power8. The Spirit's Means of Grace: ProclamationBeyond Mysticism and SacramentalismOrdinary and Extraordinary: Avoiding One-SidednessThe Word as Law, Gospel, and PowerMaintaining the Unity of the Covenant of GraceThe Spirit, the Word, and Power9. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The SacramentsDefining the SacramentsSacramental DoctrineSigns and SealsThe "Matter" of SacramentsObjectivity of the SacramentsHow Many Sacraments?10. The Spirit's Means of Grace: BaptismThe Broader Religious Context of BaptismWater Baptism and Spirit Baptism"In the Name of Jesus"The Rite of BaptismThe Reformation and BaptismThe Manner of BaptismThe Benefits of BaptismInfant BaptismThe Validity of Infant BaptismThe Administration of Baptism11. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The Lord's SupperA Shared Sacrificial MealInstituted by Christ?The Lord's Supper in Church HistoryThe Reformation DebatesThe Lord's Supper as MealTable or Altar?Memorial or Sign of Union with Christ?Transubstantiation: The MassThe Reformed Doctrine of the Lord's SupperFor Believers OnlyPart III: The Spirit Makes All Things NewA. The Intermediate State12. The Question of Immortality PhilosophyHistory and ReasonThe Old TestamentIntertestamental JudaismThe New Testament13. After Death, Then What?The Move toward PurgatoryReformation and DeformationThe Need for Scriptural ReserveSoul Sleep?Intermediate Corporeality?Contact with the Living?14. Between Death and ResurrectionA Second Opportunity?Purification?The End of Our PilgrimageIntercession for the Dead?Communion with the Church TriumphantB. The Return of Christ15. Visions of the EndA Religious Perspective on the EndThe Uniqueness of Old Testament EschatologyThe Rise of ChiliasmA Scriptural Reply to Chiliasm16. Israel, the Millennium, and Christ's ReturnDifficult Passages on Israel and the Church"All Israel" in Romans 11An Interim Millennial Age?John's ApocalypseThe Millennium in Revelation 20The Return of ChristThe Timing of Christ's ReturnThe Manner of Christ's ReturnC. The Consummation17. The Day of the LordThe Resurrection of the BodyThe JudgmentThe Place of PunishmentAlternatives to Eternal PunishmentThe Answer of Scripture18. The Renewal of CreationThe Transformation of CreationThe Blessings of the RedeemedThe Wideness of God's MercyService in the Eternal SabbathBibliographyIndexes

Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) succeeded Abraham Kuyper as professor of systematic theology at the Free University in Amsterdam in 1902. John Bolt (PhD, University of St. Michael's College) is professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The late John Vriend translated many classic theological works.

• Editor's IntroductionPart I:The Spirit Gives New Life to Believers1. Calling and RegenerationThe Call of GodEternal CallUniversal Proclamation of the GospelThe Particular Call of GraceRebirth in Other ReligionsRegeneration: Scriptural TeachingThe Doctrine of Regeneration in Church HistoryModern Reinterpretations of RegenerationRegeneration: Various ViewsThe Nature and Extent of RegenerationRegeneration: An Attempt at DefinitionImmediate and IrresistibleThe Remonstrant ObjectionBecoming Spiritual PersonsRe-formation, Not Re-creation2. Faith and ConversionThe Knowledge of FaithFaith as a Universal Created CapacityFaith Knowledge in ScriptureRome and the Reformation on FaithFaith and Regeneration: Which Is Prior?Faith as Knowledge and TrustFaith and Renewal of the Will (Conversion)RepentanceConversion of Believers?The Reformation Understanding: Mortification and VivificationVarieties of ConversionFleeing Sin and Loving GodConfession of SinPenance and Punishment3. JustificationForgiveness Is Not NaturalForgiveness in ScriptureThe Problem of NomismThe Reformation Renewal: Extrinsic, Forensic JustificationFaith and JustificationObjective and Subjective; Active and PassiveJustification Is Forensic, Not EthicalFaith Is Necessary but No GroundObjections to ImputationJustification in Time or Eternity?Active and Passive JustificationThe Elements of Justification4. Sanctification and PerseveranceHoliness as Gift and RewardRigorism and a Double MoralityJustification and Its DiscontentsSanctification Is Also in ChristPassive and Active SanctificationGood WorksThe Perfectionist HeresyPerseverance of the SaintsPart II:The Spirit Creates New Community5. The Church's Spiritual EssenceThe Jewish Roots of the Christian ChurchThe Church Is OneThe Church Is CatholicThe Institutional, Teaching ChurchThe Church as "Communion of Saints"The Reformed Doctrine of the ChurchReformation TangentsThe Church as the "People of God"Church DistinctivesThe Marks of the ChurchObjections to Reformed MarksThe Real Church in HistoryThe Attributes of the Church6. The Church's Spiritual GovernmentThe Church as Organism and InstitutionChurch Government in ScriptureThe Apostolic Office: PeterAfter the Apostles: Elders, Bishops, DeaconsFrom Presbyterian to EpiscopalFrom Episcopal to PapalThe Debate about Petrine PrimacyThe Reformation Rejection of HierarchyPost-Reformation DevelopmentsChrist Is King of the ChurchChurch Office as ServiceOrdinationHow Many Offices?7. The Church's Spiritual PowerReligious and Civil Power in IsraelNew Ecclesial PowerThe Development of Episcopal PowerDegeneration of Papal Power: InfallibilityPower Restored to Word and SacramentChurch Power and Political PowerConfusion of PowersSpiritual Teaching PowerSpiritual Ruling Power; DisciplineThe Power of MercyChurch AssembliesThe Church's Unique Spiritual Power8. The Spirit's Means of Grace: ProclamationBeyond Mysticism and SacramentalismOrdinary and Extraordinary: Avoiding One-SidednessThe Word as Law, Gospel, and PowerMaintaining the Unity of the Covenant of GraceThe Spirit, the Word, and Power9. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The SacramentsDefining the SacramentsSacramental DoctrineSigns and SealsThe "Matter" of SacramentsObjectivity of the SacramentsHow Many Sacraments?10. The Spirit's Means of Grace: BaptismThe Broader Religious Context of BaptismWater Baptism and Spirit Baptism"In the Name of Jesus"The Rite of BaptismThe Reformation and BaptismThe Manner of BaptismThe Benefits of BaptismInfant BaptismThe Validity of Infant BaptismThe Administration of Baptism11. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The Lord's SupperA Shared Sacrificial MealInstituted by Christ?The Lord's Supper in Church HistoryThe Reformation DebatesThe Lord's Supper as MealTable or Altar?Memorial or Sign of Union with Christ?Transubstantiation: The MassThe Reformed Doctrine of the Lord's SupperFor Believers OnlyPart III: The Spirit Makes All Things NewA. The Intermediate State12. The Question of Immortality PhilosophyHistory and ReasonThe Old TestamentIntertestamental JudaismThe New Testament13. After Death, Then What?The Move toward PurgatoryReformation and DeformationThe Need for Scriptural ReserveSoul Sleep?Intermediate Corporeality?Contact with the Living?14. Between Death and ResurrectionA Second Opportunity?Purification?The End of Our PilgrimageIntercession for the Dead?Communion with the Church TriumphantB. The Return of Christ15. Visions of the EndA Religious Perspective on the EndThe Uniqueness of Old Testament EschatologyThe Rise of ChiliasmA Scriptural Reply to Chiliasm16. Israel, the Millennium, and Christ's ReturnDifficult Passages on Israel and the Church"All Israel" in Romans 11An Interim Millennial Age?John's ApocalypseThe Millennium in Revelation 20The Return of ChristThe Timing of Christ's ReturnThe Manner of Christ's ReturnC. The Consummation17. The Day of the LordThe Resurrection of the BodyThe JudgmentThe Place of PunishmentAlternatives to Eternal PunishmentThe Answer of Scripture18. The Renewal of CreationThe Transformation of CreationThe Blessings of the RedeemedThe Wideness of God's MercyService in the Eternal SabbathBibliographyIndexes