The Bond of our Union

Book 4/Chapter 17 Not brought down (section 31) 1. Are we fed by Christ’s body through Him coming down from Heaven in any way? A secret too lofty (section 32) 1. Does Calvin claim to comprehend this mystery? 2. What teaching does Calvin emphatically reject? What unbelievers receive (section 33) 1. What do inquisitive men …

The Suburbs of Sin

As we come, week after week, to confess our sins, we need to learn to make certain fine distinctions. In one direction is the peril of a false scrupulousness, and in the other we see the error of rejecting that, and settling in complacently to substandard Christian living. We don’t want hyper-scrupulousness of conscience, but …

Tackle Gear Attached to Head and Neck

Just a few more comments about The Manhattan Declaration. I was asked to respond to John Stackhouse’s dismissal of the whole thing as just one more iteration of “been there, done that” Religious Rightism. There are two things to say about his reasoning. The first is that he maintains that he is on the side …

The Error of Ubiquity

Book 4/Chapter 17 A Lutheran error (section 29) 1. What error of Servetus is adopted in order to make it possible for Christ’s body to be everywhere? 2. What is Calvin’s central objection to this notion? 3. How does Calvin explain Stephen and Paul seeing Christ? Ubiquity of the body (section 30) 1. What does …

The Ascension and the Supper

Book 4/Chapter 17 The meaning of the ascension (section 27) 1. What did the Sophists teach about the ascension? 2. What does Calvin counter with? Testimony from Augustine (section 28) 1. What do these men appeal to in support of their doctrine? 2. What does Calvin answer concerning Augustine? 3. According to Augustine, why did …