Reed S Rusniak

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I was born in 1954 and raised in Chicago, Illinois. In 1982, I moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to serve in an inner-city church ministry, where I lived until 1989. I married in 1984, and in 1990, my beloved wife and I relocated to central Pennsylvania, where we raised our family. We are blessed with three adult sons and seven cherished grandchildren.

I am a graduate of Southern Illinois University and Reformed Theological Seminary. However, in my life, what matters most is the transforming work of Jesus Christ. In 1974, by God's grace, love, and power, I was saved from the penalty of my sins through the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. My salvation and hope of eternal life entirely depend on His finished work and His perfect merits.

My prayer is that the studies I have written, conducted, and posted on this website will be helpful and beneficial to your spiritual life. If you have any questions or would like to discuss my writings, please don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I will respond promptly. May the Holy Spirit bless His Word to your soul, and may the One who loved us and gave Himself for us (Jesus Christ) draw you to Himself today.

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Papers by Reed S Rusniak

When The Church Listens To The Wrong Voice

It is a striking fact of church history that, for nearly two thousand years, the ordination of wo... more It is a striking fact of church history that, for nearly two thousand years, the ordination of women and the practice of women teaching men in public worship were rarely questioned among orthodox Christians. It was not until 1969 that this debate emerged forcefully within Western Christianity. This timing is significant, as it coincided with the rapid rise of the women’s liberation movement. Soon after, a wave of books and articles advocating for women in pastoral leadership began to appear.

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He Is Worthy: Worship from a Biblical Perspective

We were made to worship. This is not simply a religious idea; it speaks to the very foundation of... more We were made to worship. This is not simply a religious idea; it speaks to the very foundation of human existence. Every person, whether they acknowledge God or not, arranges their life around something they treasure most, something they trust to give life meaning and security. This is what the Bible calls the heart, and whatever captures the heart is, in reality, what a person worships.

The real question is not whether you will worship, but whom you will worship. The God of the Bible does not present worship as just one option among many. He commands it because he alone is worthy, and because we become like whatever we worship. To worship the living God in spirit and truth is to be shaped by Him, to be drawn out of us and into something far greater and more beautiful than anything the world can offer.

This paper is an effort to think carefully about the meaning of worship, what Scripture teaches about how God is to be worshiped, and what genuine, life-changing worship looks like in the daily life of a believer. It is written with the conviction that recovering true worship is one of the most urgent needs facing the church today.

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The Tenth Commandment

This chapter examines the Tenth Commandment, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shal... more This chapter examines the Tenth Commandment, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's" (Exodus 20:17). Unlike the preceding commandments, which address outward actions such as murder, adultery, theft, and false witness, the Tenth Commandment addresses the inner life of the soul. It exposes the sinful desires and longings that give rise to every external transgression. Covetousness is the root from which all other sins against our neighbor grow, and by prohibiting it, God reveals that His law governs not only what we do but also what we desire. This study traces a biblical theology of covetousness, examines its manifestations in Scripture and in the life of the believer, and demonstrates that the remedy for covetousness is found in contentment rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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The Ninth Commandment

Study This chapter examines the Ninth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your... more Study This chapter examines the Ninth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), exploring its theological foundations, its broader implications for truthfulness in all of life, and its enduring relevance for the people of God. The commandment was first given in the context of Israel's legal system, where a lying witness could send an innocent man to his death or allow a guilty man to walk free. That alone should tell us how seriously God regards the truth. But as we follow this commandment through the whole of Scripture, we see that its reach extends far beyond the courtroom. It touches every conversation, every relationship, and every setting in which we open our mouths. Slander, gossip, flattery, and deception in any form all fall under the ninth commandment's far-reaching prohibition. Our study examines the biblical foundation of truthfulness, grounded in the character of God Himself, who is identified throughout Scripture as the God of truth, and in whose image His people are called to reflect that truthfulness in their speech. Our study demonstrates that the Ninth Commandment requires not only that we reject falsehood but that we actively pursue and defend the truth. It teaches us that we should speak well of our neighbor's good name and guard the reputation of others as carefully as we would guard our own. Our review of the commandment concludes with practical applications for believers living in a culture that is increasingly indifferent to or opposed to truth, calling us to be people whose speech is characterized by honesty, integrity, and love.

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The Eighth Commandment

This study examines the Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15), exploring its t... more This study examines the Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15), exploring its theological foundations, practical applications, and ongoing relevance to contemporary Christian life. The commandment assumes the legitimacy of private property, a principle rooted in creation and affirmed throughout both Testaments. The study shows that theft extends beyond outright stealing to include dishonest labor practices, business deception, unpaid debts, and even the misappropriation of reputation and time.

At the heart of theft lies covetousness, a failure to trust in God's provision that our consumer culture actively cultivates. However, the commandment is not merely prohibitive. It also calls believers to positive duties, including honest labor, contentment with God's providential provision, and generous sharing with those in need. Drawing on texts such as Ephesians 4:28, the study shows how the gospel transforms thieves into generous workers who labor not merely for personal gain but to help those in need. We conclude with practical applications for believers, emphasizing the stewardship principle that all we have ultimately belongs to God, and challenging readers to learn contentment, maintain integrity in all dealings, and use their resources to serve their neighbors in need and advance God's kingdom.

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The Fifth Commandment

Study This study examines the Fifth Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father a... more Study This study examines the Fifth Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." This commandment bridges the first four commandments, which concern our duty to God, and the remaining five, which concern our duty to one another. By placing parents' honor above our duties to fellow human beings, God establishes the family as the foundational institution of human society. We will see that the Fifth Commandment requires far more than outward obedience from children. It calls for sincere and heartfelt reverence, respect, and care that extend throughout life. It applies to young children in the home, to adults caring for aging parents, and, by extension, to all who are placed in positions of legitimate authority. Our study examines the theological significance of the commandment, its place within the broader structure of the Decalogue, its teaching on the family and authority, and its application to the Church today. The apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, calls this "the first commandment with a promise" (Ephesians 6:2), highlighting both the importance of the obligation and the gracious blessing that comes with faithful obedience. For the believer, the Fifth Commandment reveals God's design for human relationships and calls us to honor the authorities He has placed over us, beginning in the home and extending to every aspect of life.

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The Apostolic Commission

"The Apostolic Commission: A Study in the Resurrection Mandates of the Lord Jesus Christ" takes u... more "The Apostolic Commission: A Study in the Resurrection Mandates of the Lord Jesus Christ" takes up one of the most consequential questions the church has always faced, namely, what did the risen Lord Jesus actually command His people to do, and what does that mean for the church in every age? Beginning with the story of William Carey and the theological lethargy he confronted in eighteenth-century England, this study traces the Great Commission through all four of its recorded forms, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, listening carefully to each in turn. What emerges is not a collection of loosely related passages but a unified mandate, one that speaks to the authority behind the mission, the scope of its reach, the doctrinal content it must carry, and the power without which it cannot be accomplished.
This is not an academic exercise. The study is written for pastors, teachers, and serious students of the Word who want to think clearly about the church's calling, about what it means to make disciples rather than merely collect decisions, and about why the Great Commission remains, in the words of the Lord Himself, unfinished work. At a time when roughly 42 percent of the world's population still has no meaningful access to the gospel, the resurrection mandates of Jesus Christ press upon the church with undiminished urgency. This study invites the reader to hear them again and to take them seriously.

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The Seventh Commandment

Our paper examines the Seventh Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:14, which addresses the sanct... more Our paper examines the Seventh Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:14, which addresses the sanctity of marriage and the sin of adultery. The commandment declares, "You shall not commit adultery," establishing God's design for sexual purity and marital faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, marriage is presented as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting the relationship between Christ and His Church. The Seventh Commandment protects this God-ordained institution by forbidding any sexual activity outside the marriage bond. This prohibition extends beyond the physical act of adultery to encompass lustful thoughts, improper desires, and any behavior that violates the exclusive nature of the marriage covenant. 1 The commandment reveals God's holy standard for sexual conduct and His concern for the welfare of families, the foundation of society. For the Church, this commandment calls believers to pursue purity in thought and deed, to honor marriage as God has ordained it, and to flee from all forms of sexual immorality.

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The Third Commandment

This study examines the Third Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:7, which forbids taking the na... more This study examines the Third Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:7, which forbids taking the name of the LORD in vain. Far from merely prohibiting vulgar profanity, this commandment addresses the reverent use of God's holy name across all aspects of worship and life. God's name represents His character, His person, and His glory. Throughout Scripture, God's names reveal aspects of His divine nature and redemptive work. The Third Commandment calls believers to honor God's name in speech, in worship, in oaths, and in daily conduct. It warns against hypocrisy, false profession, and irreverent familiarity with the sacred. This study explores the theological significance of God's names, examines ways this commandment can be violated, and considers its application for believers today who claim the name of Christ as Lord and Savior. The commandment concludes with a solemn and explicit warning that God will not hold guiltless those who take His name in vain, underscoring the seriousness with which He regards the honor of His name.

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The First Commandment

Study This study examines the First Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:3, which establishes the... more Study This study examines the First Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:3, which establishes the foundation of all true worship by commanding exclusive devotion to the one true God. The commandment declares, "You shall have no other gods before me," setting forth God's rightful claim to supreme allegiance from His covenant people. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as the only true and living God, distinct from the false deities of the surrounding nations. The First Commandment addresses not merely intellectual acknowledgment of God's existence but the heart's devotion, calling for complete loyalty, trust, and worship directed solely to the triune God. This study explores the theological significance of God's exclusive claim to worship, examines historical violations of this commandment in Israel's experience, and considers various forms of idolatry that continue to threaten God's people today. The commandment reveals God's character as a jealous 1 God who will share His glory with no other and demands undivided love and allegiance. For the Church, this commandment remains foundational, calling believers to examine their hearts for any competing loyalties that would usurp God's rightful place as the supreme object of worship and affection.

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The Second Commandment

This study examines the Second Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:4-6, exploring its emphasis o... more This study examines the Second Commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:4-6, exploring its emphasis on the manner of worship rather than merely the object of worship. While the First Commandment addresses worshipping the one true God exclusively, the Second Commandment concerns itself with worshipping God correctly and in a manner acceptable to Him. Throughout Israel's history, the misuse of images in worship proved to be a persistent and besetting sin. God's prohibition against graven images stems from His jealous zeal for proper worship, the inherent dishonor that images bring to His glory, and their tendency to mislead people into false conceptions of the true God. The commandment includes both a severe warning against those who practice idolatry and a gracious promise of covenant love to those who worship according to His revealed will. This study considers the theological foundations of the commandment, its historical context in Israel, and its continuing relevance for the Church today in both public and private worship.

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Marriage: A Creation Ordinance

This study examines the creation ordinance of marriage as established in Genesis 2:18–25, explori... more This study examines the creation ordinance of marriage as established in Genesis 2:18–25, exploring God's divine design for the union between husband and wife. Building upon previous instruction on creation ordinances, this exposition demonstrates how marriage reflects God's sovereign care for humanity through the account of Adam's need for a suitable helper and God's provision of Eve. The study traces the institution of marriage from its origins in Eden through biblical history, emphasizing the principles of monogamy, permanence, and the sanctity of the marriage covenant. Special attention is given to Christ's interpretation of marriage in Matthew 19, the impact of sin on this sacred institution, and marriage as a profound illustration of Christ's relationship with His church. Through careful exegesis and practical application, this work affirms the timeless relevance of God's created order for marriage in contemporary society.

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Creation Ordinances: An Introduction God's Foundational Design for Human Life

This study examines the biblical foundation of creation ordinances, the specific mandates God est... more This study examines the biblical foundation of creation ordinances, the specific mandates God established for humanity at the beginning of creation. Often overshadowed by the prohibition concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil, these ordinances encompass essential areas of human life including marriage, procreation, labor, dominion over creation, and the Sabbath. Drawing primarily from Genesis 1 and 2, with supporting evidence from the broader biblical narrative, this analysis demonstrates that these divine mandates remain relevant and authoritative, providing essential structure for family, work, and worship. The study particularly focuses on the marriage and procreation ordinances, exploring their theological significance, biblical examples of their recognition throughout history, and their application in contemporary Christian life.

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