Friday, May 29, 2009

A tongue prepared for confession

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 4 - Impurity of Sophists' doctrine of repentance;
discussion of confession and satisfaction

Sections 9-13 - Scriptural confession of sins, public and private
Section 9 - Confession before God
They mistakenly read "confession" (Ps 42:4) as required confession of sin to a priest, when the word means praise - Ps 7:18; 9:2; 95:2; 100:4; 118:1. To praise is to confess, in a sense, and the Vulgate says "confess."
Since we offend God with our sin, we should confess to Him directly.
Heb 4:12; Ps 32:5; 51:1; Dan 9:5; 1 John 1:9.

Section 10 - Confession of sins before men
The repentant in heart will be ready to confess "often, publicly, with all the world hearing, unfeignedly to recount both his own disgrace and God's magnificence and honor."
David confessed this way - 2 Sam 12:13.
Confession was encouraged in the temple, in this way - Lev 5:5; 16:21.
This takes away our pride and gives glory to God's mercy.

Section 11 - General confession of sin
God's people should confess all together at every worship service.
And at any other time they are found guilty of a common transgression.
"Every Lord's Day the minister frames the formula of confession in his own and the people's name, and by it he accuses all of wickedness and implores pardon from the Lord."

Section 12 - Private confession in the cure of souls
We may need to confess for our own sake (James 5:16) or for the other's sake (Matt 5:23-24).
We ought to make use of ministers, appointed partly for this purpose, to confess our sins - Matt 16:19; 18:18; John 20:23 - for our relief and solace.
"The Lord has appointed them by the very calling of the ministry to insturct us by word of mouth to overcome and correct our sins, and also to give us consolation through assurance of pardon."
To require this confession undoes the intended effect of solace:
"Where God prescribes nothing definite, consciences [may not be] bound with a definite yoke.... confession of this sort ought to be free so as not to be required of all."

Section 13 - Private confession for the removal of an offense
If you know your brother has something against you, be reconciled - Matt 5:23-24.
This also applies if you have offended the whole church: confess to the whole church!
Reconciliation and communion can then take place - 2 Cor 2:6.
Calvin "ardently wish[es]" that believers present themselves before their shepherds for confession and communion often.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Confession to priests alone?

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 4 - Impurity of Sophists' doctrine of repentance;
discussion of confession and satisfaction

Sections 1-6 - The Scholastic doctrine of confession and contrition,
with its alleged Scriptural basis, examined
Section 5 - The unbinding of Lazarus misapplied
Jesus didn't have the disciples loose Lazarus to show that the apostolic successors had power to loose from sin at confession. If anything, it means to treat forgiven sinners gently and mercifully, but allegories are not "of great value in confirming any dogma."

Section 6 - Scriptural confession
They derive a confession to priests from John's baptism - Matt 3:6.
Of course they confessed; it was a baptism of repentance.
They derive a confession to priests from James 5:16:
"Confess your sins to one another."
But this is mutual, not from laity to priest only.

Section 7 - Compulsory confession unknown in the ancient church
Innocent III began requiring it only 300 years ago (since Calvin).
A Nectarius did away with formal confession once when it was abused, without outcry from the church. None of the eastern churches require it, either.

Section 8 - Chrysostom does not enjoin confession to men

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Miserable consciences are tormented

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 4 - Impurity of Sophists' doctrine of repentance;
discussion of confession and satisfaction

Sections 1-6 - The Scholastic doctrine of confession and contrition,
with its alleged Scriptural basis, examined
Section 1 - The Scholastic doctrine of penance
Repentance is contrite heart, verbal confession & outward works, they say.
They heal wounded consciences with "a light sprinkling of ceremonies."

Section 2 - The Scholastic doctrine of penance torments the conscience
Their definition is too vague to assure our conscience of forgiveness of sin.
"When a bitterness of sorrow is demanded that corresponds to the magnitude of the offense... here truly miserable consciences are tormented.... for when will anyone dare assure himself that he has applied all of his powers to lament his sins?"

Section 3 - Not the sinner's contrition, but the Lord's mercy awaits
Following them, you're driven either to desperation, or to pretend repentance.
"The sinner does not dwell upon his own compunction or tears, but fixes both eyes upon the Lord's mercy alone.... It makes a great difference whether you teach forgiveness of sins as deserved by just and full contrition, which the sinner can never perform; or whether you enjoin him to hunger and thirst after God's mercy to show him - through the recognition of his misery, his vacillation, his weariness, and his captivity - where he ought to seek refreshment, rest and freedom; in fine, to teach him in his humility to give glory to God."

Section 4 - Confession not enjoined
They say it is when Jesus sends the lepers to the priests.
But this isn't to hear confession - the priests were never appointed to do this.
It was to obey the Law - Leviticus 14:1-3.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Choking the Spirit

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 21-25 - Sins for which there is no repentance or pardon
Section 21 - Repentance as God's free gift
God gives it - Acts 11:18; 2 Cor 7:10; 2 Tim 2:25-26; Eph 2:10.
Without the Spirit working, our hearts remain hard.
Isa 63:17; Heb 6:4-6; 10:26, 29.
The unforgiveable sin of Matt 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10 relates to this, and "cannot be ascribed to weakness," but only to stubborn and rebellious evil.

Section 22 - Unpardonable sin
... is to knowingly "resist God's truth." Matt 12:32.
Calvin disagrees with Augustine here!
Reprobates rage against God, but when those whom the Spirit of truth has touched do so, it is the unforgiveable sin. Acts 6:10; Matt 9:34; 12:24; 1 Tim 1:13.

Section 23 - How the impossibility of "second repentance" is to be understood
Heb 6:4-6; 10:26; 1 John 2:19
You don't just lapse into this sin, almost accidentally;
it is "choking the light of the Spirit with deliberate impiety."

Section 24 - Those who cannot be forgiven are those who cannot repent
This is consistent with God's mercy;
He doesn't refuse pardon to those who repent - Ezek 18:21-22.
But those who choke the Spirit will not repent.
When they cry, and God doesn't hear, that cry is not true repentance.
Heb 12:17; Zech 7:13.

Section 25 - Sham repentance and honest repentance
There is a temporary, fake repentance that sometimes brings temporary mercy from God.
Ahab - 1 Kings 21:27-29. Esau - Gen 27:28.
These are examples to the godly, both of God's ready mercy and His ultimate condemnation when we fail to repent sincerely.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Continual effort and exercise

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 16-20 - Fruit of repentance - lifelong holiness, confession
Section 18 - Confession of sin before God and before men
We express our "self-displeasure" to God always, and to men when needed.
Matt 11:21; Luke 10:13; 1 Cor 11:31.
We magnify, rather than minimize, our guilt in true repentance.
Psalm 51:3-5; 25:7; 2 Cor 12:21.

Section 19 - Repentance and forgiveness are interrelated
The two summarize the Gospel, and both come from God's grace.
Matt 11:10; 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:4, 15; Luke 3:3; 24:26, 46-47; Acts 5:30-31; 1 Cor 1:30.

Section 20 - In what sense is repentance the prior condition of forgiveness?
Our repentance is not "the basis of our deserving pardon."
Rather, God shows us how to repent, how to hate sin, then gives us grace to do so.
Isa 56:1; 59:20; 55:6-7; 61:1-3; Matt 9:13; 11:5, 28; Luke 4:18; Acts 3:19, 26; 5:31.
"The life of a Christian man is a continual effort and exercise in the mortification of the flesh, till it is utterly slain, and God's Spirit reigns in us."

The fruit of repentance

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 16-20 - Fruit of repentance - lifelong holiness, confession
Section 16 - Outward and inward repentance
We have to measure ourselves by God's law to be sure of our repentance.
"When we have to deal with God nothing is achieved unless we begin from the inner disposition of the heart."
Joel 2:13; James 4:8.
Outward, bodily denial and disciplines to express repentance are okay, but tend to obscure the spiritual emphasis.

Section 17 - The outward practice of penance must not become the chief thing
It is fine for pastors to call their churches to fasting, provided they emphasize the rending of hearts more - Matt 9:15; Joel 2:13.

Friday, May 22, 2009

A smoldering cinder of evil remains

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 10-15 - Believers experience sanctification, but not sinless perfection in this life
Section 10 - Believers are still sinners
Though free from the bondage of sin, "a smolder cinder of evil" remains.
"In the saints, until they are divested of mortal bodies, there is always sin."

Section 11 - In believers sin has lost its dominion; but it still dwells in them
We are washed from the guilt of our sin - Eph 5:26-27.
Sin no longer reigns in us - Rom 6:6; 8:2.
The traces that remain will not be imputed to us - Rom 7:6.
But they hinder us from loving God wholly - Deut 6:5; Matt 22:37.

Section 12 - What does "natural corruption" mean?
All our faculties are corrupted because of our fall into sin,
not because God made us that way.

Section 13 - Augustine as witness to the sinfulness of believers
Gal 5:17.
Rom 6:12 - "He does not say: 'Let it not be,' but 'Let it not reign.'"

Section 14 - Against the illusion of perfection
Some anabaptists claimed that a total yielding to the Spirit would bring perfection.
"The Spirit is not giddy.... [He] does not stir up man to dissolute and unbridled license."

Section 15 - Repentance according to 2 Cor 7:11
It involves diligence (not to sin again), clearing (asking pardon), indignation (at oneself for the sin), fear (considering what the sin deserves from God), desire and zeal (to do the right thing, instead), vindication (working to set things right).
We must "exercise restraint, lest sorrow engulf us... falling into despair."
Fear leading to humility is always good.
But there is an excessive fear that drives us from Him - Heb 12:3.

Violently slain

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 5-9 - Repentance defined
Section 5 - Definition
Faith and repentance are different things; repentance requires faith.
Repentance is a "turning of our life to God."
Matt 3:2; 1 Sam 7:2-3; Luke 3:8; Acts 26:20; Rom 6:4.

Section 6 - Repentance as turning to God
This means a change of the inner soul, not just external deeds.
Ezek 18:31; Deut 6:5; 10:12; 30:2, 6, 10; Jer 24:7; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:1, 3-4; James 1:8; Isa 58:6.

Section 7 - Repentance as induced by the fear of God
We hate sin and fear God's judgment of it.
Jer 4:4; Acts 17:30-31; Deut 29:19ff; 2 Cor 7:10.
"If we were not sharply pricked [by fear of judgment], the slothfulness of our flesh could not be corrected."

Section 8 - Mortification and vivification as component parts of repentance.
"Cease to do evil; learn to do good" - Isa 1:16-17.
This involves denying ourselves, as we are all "hostility against God."
This is hard! We must be "violently slain... brought to nought."
The Spirit plants "new thoughts and feelings" in us to seek righteousness.

Section 9 - Rebirth in Christ!
Repentance is essentially regeneration - 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:23-4; Col 3:10.
"This restoration does not take place in one moment," but is a process.
We are to repent and seek conformity to God's image throughout life.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Repentance is born of faith

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 3 - Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance

Sections 1-4 - Repentance the fruit of faith: review of some errors
Section 1 - Repentance as a consequence of faith
The sum of the gospel is repentance and forgiveness - Luke 24:47; Acts 5:31.
Repentance is a result of faith, both being given by Christ.

Section 2 - Repentance has its foundation in the gospel, which faith embraces
Some say repentance comes before faith, pointing to Matt 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21.
But the repentance is based on the kingdom coming near, which they must first believe. Also, in Isaiah 40:1-3, which John the Baptist fulfills, promises to believe come first (vss 1-2), then the call to repent (vs 3).
True repentance comes to God believing He will forgive, not in craven fear.
Ps 130:4; Hosea 6:1.

Section 3 - Mortification and vivification
Repentance consists of mortification - being contrite and broken over the awfulness and judgment upon your sin, hating and seeking to kill that sin - and vivification - looking to God's mercy and desiring to live a holy life.
We die to ourselves, and turn to live for God.

Section 4 - Penance under law and under gospel
The repentance of Cain (Gen 4:13), Saul (1 Sam 15:30), and Judas (Matt 27:4) was not authentic. They did not turn to God, but only feared God cravenly for their sin, not turning to Him.
True repentance includes turning to God in faith for mercy.
2 Kings 20:2; Isa 38:2; Jonah 3:5, 9; 2 Sam 24:10; 12:13, 16; Acts 2:37.

Faith engenders love of God

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 41-43 - Relation of faith to hope and love
Section 41 - Faith according to Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the substance, a support for us to rest on, of things hoped for.
Rom 8:24.
Love doesn't come first; faith engenders love.

Section 42 - Faith and hope belong together
Faith is the foundation of hope. Hope expects what faith believes.
Rom 8:24; Hab 2:3.
Even when it has to wait a while - Isa 8:17; 2 Pet 3:3, 8; Ps 90:4.

Section 43 - Faith and hope have the same foundation: God's mercy
1 Pet 1:5, 21; Phil 1:20; Heb 11:1; Gal 5:5 all mingle faith and hope together, somewhat.
This is because they have the same foundation and goal: 
God's mercy, not our merit.

Being sure, by the Spirit

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 38-40 - Refutation of Scholastic objections
Section 38 - Scholastic error concerning the assurance of faith
They say we discern the grace of God to us by moral evaluation of ourselves.
Faith is based on " a simple and free promise," not on a moral condition meriting grace.
They distort Ecclesiastes 9:1-2. These verses mean to say that we can't tell God's blessing and judgment by physical prosperity or curse. They don't mean to say we can't tell what we deserve from God.

Section 39 - The Christian rejoices in the indwelling of the Spirit
They say we presume rashly to know God's will.
But the Spirit has shown us His will - 1 Cor 2:12; Rom 8:9, 11, 14, 16.
They "devise a Christianity that does not require the Spirit of Christ."
They think it humility to be unsure if we have the Spirit.
The Word says differently.
2 Cor Cor 13:15; 1 John 3:24; 4:13; Isa 44:3; Joel 2:28; John 14:17.

Section 40 - The alleged uncertainty as to whether we will persevere to the end
Rom 8:38-39 gives us assurance of our perseverance.
The warning of 1 Cor 10:12 is given to keep us humble (1 Peter 5:6),
not take away our certainty.
It is not arrogant to be sure of our salvation; 
it suppresses God's goodness to us to feign humble uncertainty about it.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Faith in the heart by the Spirit

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 33-37 - Faith revealed in our hearts by the Spirit
Section 33 - The Word becomes efficacious for our faith through the Holy Spirit
Thus, faith is more than our understanding; confidence and assurance, too.
2 Tim 1:14; Gal 3:2; John 6:65.

Section 34 - Only the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ
Without Him, in our own understanding, we are lost.
Matt 16:17; 1 Cor 2:14; Rom 11:34; John 6:44.
The Spirit must open our minds to the truth.
1 Cor 2:10, 16; John 6:45; Luke 24:45; John 16:13.

Section 35 - Without the Spirit man is incapable of faith
2 Cor 4:13; 2 Thess 1:11; 1 Cor 2:4-5; John 6:44, 65.
Scripture "denies that man himself initiates faith."
How do 2 hear the Gospel, but only 1 receives it? It is a mystery.
"Christ, when He illumines us into faith by the power of His Spirit, at the same time so engrafts us into His body that we become partakers of every good."

Section 36 - Faith as a matter of the heart
True faith doesn't just "flit about in the top of the brain" but penetrates the heart.
But "the heart's distrust is greater than the mind's blindness;"
so the Spirit has to seal the heart with assurance, too.
Eph 1:13-14; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 5:5.

Section 37 - Doubt cannot smother faith
"The minds of the godly are rarely at peace,"
But Scripture calls us to faith and peace, which overcomes our doubts.
Ps 46:2-3; 3:5; Isa 30:15; Ps 37:7; Heb 10:36.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Faith rests upon God's mercy

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 29-32 - Basis of faith the free promise in the Word of grace in Christ
Section 29 - God's promise is the foundation of faith
His promise doesn't depend on our works, but is outside ourselves in Christ.
Rom 10:8; 2 Cor 5:19-20.
His promise of mercy is the object of our faith - what we believe in.
Ps 86:5; 103:8; 145:9.

Section 30 - Why faith depends solely on the promise of grace
Faith has to believe God's promise of mercy, not just that He will judge.
Faith "does not reconcile us to God at all unless it joins us to Christ."

Section 31 - The significance of the Word for faith
Faith needs the Word like fruit needs the root of a plant.
We trust in God's power, first, to give us faith - Rom 4:21; 2 Tim 1:12.
God must illumine His Word to us, to bring about faith in us.
The patriarchs messed up, but still had faith, even in their errors - Gen 16:2, 5; 27:9.
"Errors are often mingled with faith."

Section 32 - The promise of faith fulfilled in Christ
All God's promises testify to His love for us.
They are fulfilled in Christ - 2 Cor 1:20.
"No one is love by God apart from Christ." See Eph 1:6; Rom 15:8.
The Jews knew of Christ only obscurely, sometimes with very little understanding - 2 Kings 5:1-19; Acts 10:31; 8:27-31.

We fear offending God more than punishment

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 16-28 - Certainty of faith in relation to fear
Section 26 - Fear of God and honor of God
We fear God as our Lord, and honor Him as our Father - Mal 1:6.

Section 27 - Childlike and servile fear
Servile fear is just afraid of God's punishing power.
Childlike fear is afraid to offend God, regardless of punishment.
1 John 4:18.

Section 28 - Faith assures us not of earthly prosperity but of God's favor
1 Tim 4:8; Ps 63:3; Rom 8:35-39; Ps 23:4.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Fear and faith in the same mind

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 16-28 - Certainty of faith in relation to fear
Section 22 - Right fear
There is a fear that establishes faith, instead of shaking it - Phil 2:12.
God warns Gentiles against presumption that the Jews fell into - 1 Cor 10:1-12.
"It is one thing to restrain presumption.... It is another thing so to dishearten the conscience with fear that it cannot rest with full assurance in God's mercy."

Section 23 - "Fear and trembling"
In fear of You I will worship - Ps 5:7.
Blessed is the man who is always reverent - Prov 28:14.
"Nothing so moves us to repose our assurance and certainty of mind in the Lord as distrust of ourselves, and the anxiety occasioned by the awareness of our ruin."
Fear and faith can be active at the same time, just like laziness and worry can.
The impious can't rest because of God's judgment;
the pious fear God by trustingly submitting to His power.

Section 24 - The certainty of faith rests upon Christ's oneness with us
Many set hope and fear against each other, as though our conscience constantly wavers between either trusting Christ or ourselves. But Christ is united with us! His righteousness overwhelms our sin. Rom 8:10.

Section 25 - Bernard of Clairvaux on the two aspects of faith
Bernard agrees, as follows:
Our souls are sinful - Ps 73:22; Isa 64:6; Matt 6:23.
Before God, we are condemned (Isa 40:17); but "not within" Him (Rom 4:17).
We are vindicated, "by His dignifying us, not by our own dignity."

The least drop of faith

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 16-28 - Certainty of faith in relation to fear
Section 16 - Certainty of faith
Faith doesn't just know God is merciful to many, but embraces it for one's self - Rom 5:1.
A believer -
relies on God's promises,
sees God as well-disposed toward him in Christ,
expects salvation and forgiveness,
hopes well in the Lord,
glories in the inheritance of God's Kingdom, Eph 1:18
triumphs over Satan and death - Rom 8:38-39.

Section 17 - Faith in the struggle against temptation
If faith is confident certainty, we have to explain anxiety and disquiet in a believer's soul.
David illustrates this - Ps 42:5, 11:43:5; 31:22; 116:7.
But faith "raises itself upward" - Ps 92:12; 27:14.
Ahaz doesn't do this - Isa 7:2, 4.
"Believers... constantly rise up, although not without difficulty and trouble."

Section 18 - The conflict in the heart of the believer
...comes from imperfect faith.
Though distracted and agitated, "faith ultimately triumphs."

Section 19 - Even weak faith is real faith
We see His mercy clearly, but afar off, like the sun's small rays through a small window.

Section 20 - The weakness and strength of faith
We know in part - 1 Cor 13:9, 12.
But it is a genuine taste of God's glory - 2 Cor 3:18.
Our conscience and adversity weigh down our faith with doubt.

Section 21 - The Word of God as the shield of faith
Unbelief assails us from outside of us. Faith is our shield - Eph 6:16.
Shaken faith is like a fire, almost put out and buried under ashes, but still burning.
It is like a soldier forced to step back from the force of a spear on his shield. But the shield is not broken - Ps 23:4.
Faith gets the victory - 1 John 5:4.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

More persuaded than instructed by rational proof

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 14-15 - Detailed examination of of faith: knowledge
Section 14 - Faith as higher knowledge
Faith does not comprehend what it knows - Eph 3:17-19.
But it is a knowing - Eph 1:17; 4:13; Col 1:9; 3:10; 1 Tim 2:4; Tit 1:1; Philemon 6; 2 Pet 2:21; 1 John 3:2.
Believers "are more strengthened by the persuasion of divine truth than instructed by rational proof.... Faith consists in assurance rather than in comprehension" - 2 Cor 5:6-7.

Section 15 - Faith implies certainty
Without certainty, it isn't faith.
And God's Word is trustworthy - Ps 12:6; 18:30; 119; Prov 30:5.
Many know God intends mercy to us, but doubt whether they will receive it.
This is not faith; faith is feeling and experiencing the sweetness of God's goodness.
Col 2:2; 1 Thess 1:5; Heb 6:11; 10:22.
Faith is almost synonymous with confidence - Eph 3:12.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A taste of the heavenly gifts

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained


Sections 8-13 - Various unacceptable views of "faith"
Section 8 - Formed and unformed faith
Any genuine assent to the truth of the gospel is of the heart,
of "a devout desposition," leaving out an "unformed" faith, by definition.
Rom 1:5; John 3:33; 6:29.

Section 9 - 1 Corinthians 13:2 - a proof of the difference
between formed and unformed
They think Scripture speaks of unformed faith in this verse:
"If anyone has faith to move rountains, but has not love..."
But this is speaking of the Spirit's gifts, and using them to edify the church.
There is only one kind of faith among those who believe, not two.

Section 10 - What is called "unformed" faith is only an illusion of faith
Simon Magus - Acts 8:13-18 - wasn't pretending, fooling only others.
He was also fooling himself, thinking he believed.
Same with Luke 8:6-7, 13. Our hearts easily deceive us. James 2:19.

Section 11 - "Faith" even among the reprobate?
Though true faith is only given to the elect - 1 Thess 1:4-5 - the reprobate
often have a very similar feeling and experience to true faith - Heb 6:4-6.
Some object that this leaves believers no assurance. But the elect's
assurance doesn't come from others having nothing like their faith,
but from the Spirit sealing their salvation in their hearts.
Gal 4:6; Rom 8:15.
The reprobate may gain "a momentary awareness of His grace."
But only the elect persevere to the end - Luke 24:13.

Section 12 - True and false faith
Reprobate are like a tree without deep roots that withers after a while.
They have a "common" faith: transitory, and not "living and permanent."
Jesus didn't entrust Himself to this sort - John 2:24-25.
More Scripture on enduring, true faith, versus fleeting faith:
John 8:31-32; Titus 1:1; Matt 15:13; James 2:14-26; 1 Tim 1:5, 19; 3:9.
Many "fall from the common faith," but none from true faith.

[Modern theologians who object to Federal Vision -
that it erodes assurance - need to read sections 11-12.
Then again, Federal Vision theologians need to read II.17.1-3,
on Christ meriting our salvation.]


Section 13 - Different meanings of the word "faith" in Scripture
"The meaning of the word "faith" is ambiguous."
1 Tim 3:9; 4:1, 6; 6:20-21; 2 Tim 2:16; 3:8; Titus 2:2; 1:13.

A firm and certain knowledge

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained

Sections 6-7 - Relation of faith to the Word and brief definition of faith
Section 6 - Faith rests upon God's Word
We must receive Christ as the Father offers Him in His Word.
Eph 4:20-21; Isa 55:3; John 20:31; Ps 95:7.
Paul defines faith as obeying the gospel - Rom 1:5.
Faith is knowing God's will toward you, as you see it in His Word.

Section 7 - Faith arises from God's promise of grace in Christ
The Word doesn't automatically produce faith - Gen 2:17; 4:10.
We also need God's promise of benevolence to us, in Christ.
This is why mercy and truth are combined in the Psalms, often.
Ps 89:14, 24; 92:2; 98:3; 100:5; 108:4; 115:1; 40:10-11; 36:5; 25:10; 117:2; 138:2.
Faith is "a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and selaed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit."

Look straight toward Him

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ

Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained
Section 1 - The object of faith is Christ
If we don't keep the law, we are condemned.
We can't keep the law, so we can't look to ourselves.
Christ has provided the only means of redemption for us.
Faith is more than just assenting to the historical record of the Gospels.
We must believe not just in God, generically, but in the Mediator, Jesus.
1 Tim 6:16; John 8:12; 14:6; Luke 10:22; 1 Cor 2:2; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor 4:6; John 17:3; Heb 1:3; 1 Peter 1:21.

Sections 2-5 - Faith involves knowledge; this truth obscured by "implicit faith"
Section 2 - Faith rests upon knowledge, not upon pious ignorance
Faith doesn't trust blindly, or submit its judgment to the church.
Rom 10:9-10

Section 3 - The Roman doctrine of "implicit faith" is basically false
There is no use tempering ignorance with "humility" and calling it faith.
Faith isn't honoring the church, but knowing God and His Son.
Understanding is joined with faith.

Section 4 - Even right faith is always surrounded by error and unbelief
We DO have an implicit faith, since our knowledge is imperfect and flawed.
"Unbelief is always mixed with faith."
We DO need humility in our knowledge and disagreements with others.
Phil 3:15; Rom 12:3.

Section 5 - "Implicit" faith as prerequisite of faith
There is also a teachable, beginning-to-believe that isn't yet faith.
John 2:23; 4:42, 50, 53.
This is different from apathetic ignorance disguised as implicit faith.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Sacred Wedlock by the Spirit

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 3 - The Way in Which We Receive the Grace of Christ:
What Benefits Come to Us from it, and What Effects Follow

Chapter 1 - The Things Spoken Concerning Christ Profit Us
by the Secret Working of the Spirit

Section 1 - The Holy Spirit as the bond that unites us to Christ
To receive Christ's benefits, we have to be united with Him, by faith.
Rom 11:17; Gal 3:27.
"In order that the shedding of His sacred blood may not be nullified, our souls are cleansed by the secret watering of the Spirit" - 1 John 5:6-8; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Cor 6:11.

Section 2 - How and why Christ was endowed with the Holy Spirit
The Spirit enlivens and strengthens all flesh, generally.
He gives "heavenly life" to believers, sanctifying them in the world.
2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2; Rom 1:4.
The Spirit is of the Father and of the Son.
Rom 8:9, 11; John 7:37; Eph 4:7; 1 Cor 15:45; 2 Cor 13:14; Rom 5:5.

Section 3 - Titles of the Holy Spirit in Scripture
He is the spirit of adoption - Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6.
He is the guarantee and seal - 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14; Rom 8:10.
He is water - Isa 55:1; 44:3; John 7:37; Ezek 36:25.
He is oil, in giving "vigor of life" - 1 John 2:20, 27.
He is fire, purifying our desires - Luke 3:16.
He is the source of life - John 4:14.
He unites us with Christ - Eph 4:15; Rom 8:29; Gal 3:27; Eph 5:30.

Section 4 - Faith as the main work of the Spirit
"He leads us into the light of the gospel."
John 1:12-13; Matt 16:17; Eph 1:13; 2 Thess 2:13

Monday, May 11, 2009

Christ gives us what He acquired

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 17 - Christ Rightly and Properly Said to Have Merited God's Grace and Salvation for Us
Section 1 - Christ's merit does not exclude God's free grace, but precedes it
God's merciful ordinance, reckoning Christ meritorius, lies behind Christ's merit.
Jesus didn't "deserve" to be the Son of God.
But there is true merit in Christ - Acts 3:15.

Section 2 - Scripture couples God's grace and Christ's merit
God loved us, and so gives us Christ, who gives us "what He has acquired."
John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; Col 1:19-20; 2 Cor 5:19, 21; Eph 1:4-6; 2:3, 15-16.

Section 3 - The merit of Christ in the witness of Scripture
He "acquired... grace for us with His Father." Rom 5:10-11, 16, 19.
"He acquired salvation for us by His righteousness, which is tantamount to deserving it."

Section 4 - The substitution of Christ
His sacrificial blood has power to cleanse us from sin.
1 John 1:7; Matt 26:28; John 1:29; Heb 9:22, 26, 28, 12-14.
If He bore the curse for us, it was to "pay... what [we] owed" and give us rightesouness.
Isa 53:5, 8; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24.

Section 5 - Christ's death the price of our redemption
Rom 3:24-25; 1 Pet 1:18-19; 1 Cor 6:20; 1 Tim 2:5-6.
This results in forgiveness of sins - Col 1:14; 2:14.
In Christ we get the law's promise of life we couldn't get by works.
Gal 2:21; Lev 18:5; Acts 13:39; Gal 4:4-5.
The result: John 6:55, 57; Eph 5:2; Rom 4:25; 1 John 2:12.

Section 6 - Christ acquired no merit for himself
All He did was for us.
Rom 8:32; Isa 9:6; Rom 5:10; John 17:19.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Ponder that Visible Presence of Christ

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 16 - How Christ Accomplished our Redemption
His Death, Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven

Sections 17-19 - Return, and conclusion
Section 17 - "He shall come to judge the living and the dead"
Christ's Kingdom is now "hidden in the earth."
He will return as He came, with angels, to judge everyone, whether currently alive or already dead.
Acts 1:11; Matt 24:30; Matt 25:31-33; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Heb 9:27; 1 Cor 15:51-52; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1.

Section 18 - The Judge is the Redeemer!
This is great assurance: our only judge already died to remove judgment from us.
Matt 19:28; Rom 8:33-34; John 5:22.
The Head will not scatter His own members.
He seeks to "care for the consciences of His people" with this judgment in hand.

Section 19 - Christ alone in all the clauses of the Creed
Acts 4:12; 1 Cor 1:20.
All we seek, we find in what Christ has done.
"If purity, in His conception; if gentleness... in His birth.... if acquittal, in His condemnation..."

Invested with Lordship

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 16 - How Christ Accomplished our Redemption
His Death, Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven

Sections 13-16 - Christ's resurrection, ascension, and session
Section 13 - "On the third Day He rose again from the dead"
Faith must go beyond Christ's death and burial, to His resurrection.
1 Peter 1:3. Victory over death is only in resurrection.
His death wipes away our sin and death.
His resurrection restores righteousness and life, and shows that His death "worked" for us.
Rom 4:25; 1:4; 2 Cor 13:4; Phil 3:10; 1 Pet 1:21.
Anywhere Scripture mentions His death alone, it also implies His resurrection, and vice versa.
1 Cor 15:17; Rom 8:34; 6:4; Col 3:1-5.
Our resurrection is guaranteed by His - 1 Cor 15:12-26.

Section 14 - "Ascended into heaven"
He withdrew His bodily presence, only to rule more immediately by His Spirit.
Eph 4:10; John 7:37-39; 16:7; 14:18-19; 16:14; Acts 1:9.
As His body ascended, "His power and energy were diffused and spread beyond all bounds of heaven and earth." Matt 28:20; 26:11.

Section 15 - "Seated at the right hand of the Father"
Thi smeans He has taken "possession of the government committed to Him."
Eph 1:20-22; 1 Cor 15:27; Phil 2:9.

Section 16 - Benefits imparted to our faith by Christ's ascension
We see Christ has paved the way to heaven for us - John 14:3; Eph 2:6.
Christ intercedes for us with the Father there - Heb 7:25; 9:11-12; Rom 8:34.
Christ sanctifies us and subdues our enemies, by His power.
Eph 4:8; Ps 68:18; 1 Cor 15:25; Ps 110:1

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Weight of Divine Severity

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 16 - How Christ Accomplished our Redemption
His Death, Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven

Sections 8-12 - The Descent into Hell
Section 8 - "Descended into Hell"
This may have been added to the Apostles' Creed later, but it belongs.
It is not a repetition of "was buried," but adds to the benefit of His death.

Section 9 - Christ in the nether world?
Christ did not free souls from prison, or "Limbo."
But He brought greater awareness of grace to the godly and condemnation to the wicked "spirits in prison" - 1 Pet 3:19.

Section 10 - "Descent into hell" as an expression of the spiritual torment that Christ underwent for us.
Christ underwent God's vengeance for our sin on the cross.
He was in hell there, then died.
The chronological order of the Creed is reversed: descent, then death.

Section 11 - Defense of this explanation from Scripture
Acts 2:24 - Christ was laid hold of by death, but not overcome by it.
Jesus truly feared bearing God's punishment for our sin - Heb 5:7.
Ps 22:1; Matt 27:46 - My God, why have You forsaken Me? This was hell.
"He bore the weight of divine severity." Isa 53:5: "Stricken and afflicted."
Death is overcome - Heb 2:14-15.

Section 12 - Defense of the doctrine against misunderstandings and errors
Christ's soul was truly afflicted, or He redeemed our bodies alone.
John 13:21; Matt 26:37.
He was open to temptation and fear - Heb 4:15 - like us - Heb 2:17 - but didn't give in to wild emotion and sin in that.
Sweating drops of blood in Gethsemane shows that He fought more than normal death - Luke 22:43-44; Matt 26:39.
Note "how much our salvation cost the Son of God."
His suffering began in the Garden, where His soul was troubled.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Remember This Substitution

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 16 - How Christ Accomplished our Redemption
His Death, Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven

Sections 5-7 - The effects of the obedience and death of Christ
Section 5 - Christ has redeemed us through His obedience,
which He practiced thoughout His life
Rom 5:19.
We are freed from the curse of the Law by "the whole life of Christ" - Gal 4:4-5.
All righteousness was already being fulfilled in His baptism - Matt 3:15.
His death, more specifically, redeems us.
Matt 20:28; Rom 3:24-25; 4:25; 5:9-10; John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21.
Obedience, between birth and death mentioned in the Apostles' Creed, is not excluded from the means of redemption - Phil 2:7-8. His sacrificial death couldn't have counted if He hadn't "subjected and yielded Himself wholly to His Father's will." John 10:15, 18; Heb 10:7, 9.

Condemnation through Pilate
This taught us that our guilt was imposed on Christ - Isa 53:5; Mark 15:28.
Moreso, since Pilate also acquitted Him - Matt 27:23; John 18:38; Ps 69:4.
He obviously bore another's guilt in His condemnation.
"We must, above all, remember this substitution, lest we tremble and remain anxious throughout life - as if God's righteous vengeance, which the Son of God has taken upon Himself, still hung over us."

Section 6 - "Crucified"
The curse on us for our sins was taken off and put on Christ on the cross.
Deut 21:23.
His life became of offering for sin - Isa 53:10; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 8:3; Isa 53:6; 1 Pet 2:24.
He overcame the curse; He didn't succomb to it - Col 2:14-15.
We are washed clean by His blood - Eph 5:26; Titus 3:5; Rev 1:5.

Section 7 - "Dead and buried"
His death delivers us from death - Heb 2:9, 14-15.
His death delivers us from the power of sin - Rom 6:2-5; Gal 2:19; 6:14; Col 3:3.

He First Loved Us

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 16 - How Christ Accomplished our Redemption
His Death, Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven

Sections 1-4 - Alienated by God, who yet loved us, we are reconciled by Christ
Section 1 - The Redeemer
The name Jesus means salvation, Savior - Matt 1:21; Acts 4:12.
Our salvation vanishes when we leave Him.
We now examine HOW He saved us.

Section 2 - The awareness of God's wrath makes us thankful for His loving act in Christ
God favored us before He gave His Son, or He wouldn't have given Him.
Yet He was at enmity with, and estranged from, us, too.
Rom 5:10; Gal 3:10, 13: Col 1:21-22.
We must know both, to be grateful for God's mercy, in Christ.

Section 3 - God's wrath against unrighteousness;
His love precedes our reconciliation in Christ
God loves us before He saves us. 1 John 4:19.
He cannot receive us until He redeems us.
Only in Christ do we escape our sins being counted against us.

Section 4 - Atonement derives from God's love; it has not established His love
He loved us from before the world was made, so He sent His Son to die for us.
Eph 1:4-5; John 3:16; Rom 5:8.
God hated what sin we had made, while loving us - what HE had made.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

An everlasting Intercessor

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 15 - To Know the purpose for which Christ was sent by the Father and what He conferred upon us, we must look at Him as prophet, king and priest

Sections 6 - Priestly office: reconciliation and intercession
Christ intercedes for us forever, offering a sacrifice -His death - that satisfies God's wrath against our sin. Heb 9:7, 22; Lev 16:2-3
He is our everlasting mediator and intercessor: Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; 7:15.
He is both priest and sacrifice.
We are now priests with Him - Rev 1:6 - offering acceptable prayer and praise.

Christ's Kingdom Lies in the Spirit

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer
Chapter 15 - To Know the purpose for which Christ was sent by the Father and what He conferred upon us, we must look at Him as prophet, king and priest

Sections 3-5 - Christ as king
Section 3 - The eternity of Christ's dominion
His kingship is spiritual.
He will protect and defend His Church, through His power given His Son.
Dan 2:44; Luke 1:33; Psalm 2:1-6; 110:1.
We wait for the full fruit of the better life in the coming age - John 18:36.

Section 4 - The blessing of Christ's kingly office for us
We fight throughout life, "under the cross."
Our happiness is from heaven, not of earthly circumstance.
We are content: whatever we need our King will give until we're called home.

Section 5 - His Kingship is spiritual: sovereignty of Christ and of the Father
The oil of gladness Christ received was the Spirit - Isa 11:2; Ps 45:7
His Kingdom lies in the Spirit, not earthly pomp.
John 3:34; 1:16; Eph 4:7.
We see this in His baptism, by the Spirit - John 1:32; Luke 3:22
Our anointing is from the Spirit - 1 John 2:20, 27.
Without the Spirit, we have "not one drop of vigor."
While we wander from God in this age, Christ is given to lead us to Him.
When this age is over, Christ's duty of defense will be over.
1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:20-23; Phil 2:9-11.
Jesus is a gentle ruler to the obedient; He has a rod of iron for the stubborn.
Ps 2:9; 110:6.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

All parts of perfect wisdom

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 15 - To Know the purpose for which Christ was sent by the Father and what He conferred upon us, we must look at Him as prophet, king and priest
Sections 1-2 - Christ as prophet
Section 1 - The need of understanding this doctrine: Scripture applicable to Christ's prophetic office
We can't just know the labels, prophet, priest and king.
We have have to understand what they mean.
God gave Israel prophets all along, so they would always have "doctrine sufficient for salvation."
John 4:25; Isa 55:4; 9:6; 28:29; Jer 32:19; Heb 1:1-2; Dan 9:24.

Section 2 - The meaning of the prophetic office for us
The title Christ, Messiah, pertains to all 3 of these offices, as all were anointed with oil. Isa 61:1-2; Luke 4:18.
His teaching is continued in the Church by the Spirit, where the Gospel is preached. Matt 17:5; Joel 2:28; 1 Cor 1:30; Col 2:3. "The perfect doctrine He has brought has made an end to all prophecies." If it is added on to Christ, it isn't worth knowing or teaching.
"It is not lawful to go beyond the simplicity of the gospel."

Only-begotten Son by Nature

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 14 - How the Two Natures of the Mediator Make One Person
Sections 4-8 - Condemnation of errors
Section 4 - The two natures may not be thought of as either fused or separated
The two natures are united: Son of God born to a virgin, the mother of our Lord - Luke 1:32, 43.
The two natures are not mixed: He called His body a temple because divinity was within - John 2:19.

Section 5 - Christ is the Son of God from everlasting
Christ "took human nature in a hypostatic union... which constitutes one person out of two natures."
He "had by virtue of eternal generation always possessed sonship."
"To neither angels nor men was God ever Father, except with regard to His only-begotten Son; and men, especially, hateful to God because of their iniquity, become God's sons by free adoption because Christ is the Son of God by nature." [Feel the zeal for Christ's glory in that sentence!]
If angels are sons of God - Ps 82:6 - and Christ is first-born of all creation - Col 1:15 - we can "infer that He was the Son of God also before the creation of the world."

Section 6 - Christ as Son of God and Son of man
Servetus says Christ couldn't have been Son of God without being human.
But He is the only-begotten because He is Son by nature - we are sons only by adoption.
Rom 1:3-4 also refutes this, implying He was named Son of God for some other reason than His taking on humanity.
Son of man refers to human nature; Son of God refers to divine nature.

Section 7 - Servetus' flimsy counterevidence

Section 8 - Comprehensive presentation and rebuttal of Servetus' doctrine

Monday, May 4, 2009

These two natures constitute one Christ

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 14 - How the Two Natures of the Mediator Make One Person
Sections 1-3 - Explanation of the human and divine natures in Christ
Section 1 - Duality and unity
The Word became flesh - John 1:14 - doesn't mean Word was changed into, or mingled with, flesh. Unity of person made this so, not the confusion of substances, Word and flesh. Like we have a body and a soul in one person, but they are not the same thing.

Section 2 - Divinity and humanity in their relation to each other
This doctrine not "humanly devised:" Scripture abounds!
John 8:58; Col 1:15, 17; John 17:5; 5:17 all refer (not solely) to Jesus' divinity.
Isa 42:1; Luke 2:52; John 8:50; Mark 13:32; John 14:10; 6:38; Luke 24:39 all refer (not solely) to His humanity.
Can't separate these natures, though. They are united in His person.
Sometimes the divine nature is spoken of with human terms:
Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 2:8; 1 John 1:1
"For the sake of the union of both natures He gave to the one what belonged to the other."

Section 3 - The unity of the person of the Mediator
Christ, true man, with divine qualities: 
John 1:29; 5:21-23; 9:5; 8:12; 10:9, 11; 15:1.
The office of the Mediator carried out:
1 Cor 15:24-28; Phil 2:7-10; Mark 16:19; Rom 8:34.
We can't speak exclusively of only the human or divine nature.

True man but without fault and corruption

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 13 - 
Christ Assumed the True Substance of Human Flesh
Section 3 - Christ's descent through the virgin Mary: an absurdity exposed
Luke 1:42; Ps 132:11; 2 Sam 7:12; Acts 2:30.
Matthew's geneology of Jesus is Joseph's.
They try to say Mary - and all women - are without seed. Absurd.
Since the woman shares in the act of generation, Christ was begotten of Mary - Gal 4:4.
Mary was thus related to Joseph.

Section 4 - True man - and yet sinless! - True man - and yet eternal God!
Rom 5:12, 15, 18 - through one Man grace abounded.
God exempted Him from corruption, though born of a woman.
The Word was not confined within the one man;
He did not leave heaven as He went to the manger and the cross.

They bunglingly stir up contention

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 13 - 
Christ Assumed the True Substance of Human Flesh
Section 1 - Proof of Christ's true manhood
The Marcionites thought Jesus only appeared to have a body.
The Manichees thought His flesh was heavenly.
But... Gen 12:3; 17:2, 7; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; Ps 45:6; 132:11; Matt 1:1; Rom 1:3; 9:5; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:11-17; 4:15; Rom 8:3.

Section 2 - Against the opponents of Christ's true manhood
Marcion thinks Phil 2:7-8 means that Jesus put on a ghost of a body.
But Paul wasn't describing Christ's physical body, but His character.
1 Pet 3:18; 2 Cor 13:4
A heavenly body - 1 Cor 15:47 - doesn't mean unearthly;
1 Cor 15:12-20 make no sense, then.
"Son of Man" doesn't just mean FOR men. Ps 8:4; Heb 2:6, 14, 11.
"Firstborn" doesn't mean chronological birth, but in honor - Rom 8:29.
Gen 3:15 should end all debate - Christ had to be seed of the woman.
The pattern for refuting heresy is to compare the Scripture they are distorting with other Scripture, or the context.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Such rubbish as this

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 12 - Christ had to become Man in Order to Fulfill the Office of Mediator
Sections 4-7 - Objections answered
Section 4 - The sole purpose of Christ's incarnation was our redemption
It's useless to speculate if He would have become man, if we didn't sin.
He came to expiate sin - Heb 9:11-12, 22; Isa 53:4-6.
To move us from death to life - John 1:9-11, 14; 3:16; 5:25; 11:25; Matt 18:11; 9:12.
To reconcile us to God - Heb 5:1; 2 Cor 5:19; Rom 8:3-4; Titus 2:11; Luke 24:46-47; John 10:15-18; John 3:14; 12:23, 27-28; Luke 1:79.

Section 5 - Would Christ have also become man if Adam had not sinned?
Eph 1:4-6 shows that God meant His Son to redeem us before the world began.
We should remain in Christ, and not try to speculate beyond Him.
Eph 3:14-19; 1 Tim 1:15; 2 Tim 1:9.

Section 6 - Osiander's doctrine of the image of God
This error comes from thinking our being - body and soul - is patterned after what Messiah would be. But the angels also bear God's image, so did Messiah have to be like them, too? No. The image of God in us is that which sets us apart from the animals.

Section 7 - Point by point refutation of Osiander
Jesus would not have to become man, were there no Fall.
Jesus didn't have to be the first man, physically. He was made like us - Heb 4:15 - a descendant of Adam - Luke 3:38 - the second Adam - 1 Cor 15:47.
Jesus was still head of the human race, as the exact image of God, surpassing angels and men, also in the image of God - Col 1:14-16, 18.
Christ could rule angels and men without becoming man.
Osiander misapplies Gen 2:23, thinking God spoke it to Christ first, of the church. This is nonsense.
Gal 4:4-5 clinches it: Jesus was born of a woman to redeem mankind.