We may think that our tradition is exactly the same as it has always been, but that is an illusion.

Christ's work is a kind of deterrent to us, and a way of upholding the justice of God's divine government of the world.

For those interested in Reformed thought more broadly, I'd recommend Peter Leithart's recent book on Reformed Catholicism entitled, The End of Protestantism: Pursuing Unity in a Fragmented Church (Brazos Press, 2016), as a thought-provoking and stimulating read that should get us all thinking about the future shape of the Church, wherever we come from.

Reading [John] Calvin is a breath of fresh air.

We are still living with the consequences of that today in popular Reformed thinking from the likes of John Piper, R. C. Sproul, and Tim Keller.

[ Jonathan] Edwards is the person who really made theological determinism a serious option for Reformed thinkers, and the influence his views had in nineteenth century Reformed thought, in the USA and the UK in particular, is enormous.

God shows us in Christ what he would have to do if he were to punish us for our sins.