After Darkness, Light</a>

About Me

Since the web can be such an anonymous, impersonal place, let me tell you just a little about myself.

My name is Aaron Garber and I am the pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church (PCA), just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. I grew up in Miamisburg, OH and I am a graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. I am glad to be married to a lovely wife. We have a wonderful daughter and a delightful son.

Most importantly, since I have been justified by faith, I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him I have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

Why “After Darkness, Light?

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. These theses were highly critical of the Roman Catholic church’s system of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins, and they signaled the beginning of the Protestant Reformation (although Luther was by no means the first to challenge Rome - see Hus and Wycliffe). At the heart of this Reformation was the rediscovery of the Biblical gospel. The righteousness that God required of man, Luther discovered, was a passive righteousness, a righteousness that wasn’t earned for good works, but freely given to all who trust in Christ. Christ’s righteousness is credited to the believer, not earned by the believer.

The rediscovery of this simple truth changed the course of history. The motto of the Reformation became Post Tenebras Lux (after darkness, light).

Luther said, “It is very hard for a man to believe that God is gracious to him. The human heart can’t grasp this.” For centuries, the church could not grasp it either.

The blog title refers to the great gospel truths recovered in the Reformation, but also to the true light of the world who comes to us in our darkness.

John 1:9-14 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.