The life that Christ has called us into is a life that is not just everlasting in duration. The eternal life that He welcomes us into is qualitative. Jesus says that He is the resurrection and the life, and that life is one that the Holy Spirit weaves us into. This affects the texture and …
A Magnificent Theater
Book 2/Chapter 6 The need for a Mediator (section 1) 1. What illustration does Calvin use to describe heaven and earth? 2. What is our problem then? 3. What does God do for us in this situation? 4. Has any worship apart from Christ ever pleased God? Even in the old covenant (section 2) 1. …
Real Wealth Hasn’t Gone Anywhere
In these, the golden years of congressional farce, we need periodically to be reminded of a few basic economic realities. Here is just one of them. I will try to offer up others from time to time, but I keep getting distracted by the glorious theatrics all arouund us. It is hard to keep my …
Allegorically Half Alive?
Book 2/Chapter 5 Straining for something (section 17) 1. What argument for free will is drawn from Romans 9:16? 2. What word does Calvin use in dismissing this argument? Ecclesiasticus (section 18) 1. Does Calvin reject the author of Ecclesiasticus? 2. How does he handle this appeal? 3. What does man need instead of an …
Learning to Say “Geronimo” to Yourself in the Pulpit
“The apostle believes that boldness in preaching is at heart a question of getting the message of Christ out clearly, despite the fearful threat of unpleasant consequences. In short, as I said before, boldness in the preacher is the willingness and ability to be clear in the face of fear” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 42).
The Chicken and Egg
“A man who says that he is easily led . . . never uses this characteristic to explain his good deeds, good characteristics, or positive achievements. A man never claims to have been easily led to higher mathematics, the subjunctives of foreign languages, or unpaid work among the poor. People are influenced by the people …
We Have What God Gives
Book 2/Chapter 5When God waits (section 13)1. What is the next objection that Calvin deals with?2. How does Calvin answer this? Our works (section 14)1. What objection is addressed in this section?2. How does Calvin answer? Shared possession (section 15)1. In what sense are our good works ours, and in what sense God’s? Cain and …
What Makes Satan’s Factories Hum
When we emphasize that Christ died as a propitiatory sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, we are emphasizing something right at the heart of the gospel. And shrewd evangelists have known for centuries that preaching the cross this way is essential to effective evangelism — a process quite distinct from what passes for evangelism these days, a …
Unbelief, Straight Up
The word apistos is rendered in a number of different ways, but all of them relate to the sin of unbelief. Paul refers to those “that believe not” in the context of marriage. A Christian spouse is not bound if he or she has a husband or wife who doesn’t believe, and who does not …
Calvin 500
I was pleased and honored to be invited to speak for the national Desiring God conference to be held next fall. I understand that registrations for that conference are now open here. It looks to be about as much fun as Calvinists are allowed by their critics to have. Here is the lineup of speakers: …