Book I/Chapter 5 God manifested (section 1) 1. How clear is God’s self-disclosure? 2. Does Calvin make a distinction between a seed of religion sowed in men’s minds and a revelation of Himself in creation? 3. Can men look where God is not plainly visible? Divine wisdom (section 2) 4. Can anyone see God in …
Covered By Snow
Once a young man was told by his father to pick up some clutter in the side yard—there were some tools, and a few toys, and some debris from a small rock wall that they had been building for a flower bed. His father came home after dark that day (it was winter and so …
Forgiveness in the Wine
When the people of Israel sinned in the notorious golden calf incident, Moses responded by grinding their idol to powder, throwing it into the water, and making them drink it. They drank the object of their foul worship, thus becoming completely identified with it—in that case, for cursing. We also consume what we worship, partaking …
A Royal Priesthood
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Father, we confess to You now the murderous wickedness that is …
How Pacifism Protects War
Given how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love and esteem one another, and given how God has revealed this triune nature to the world through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the world has now been inaugurated into a new era of biblical glory. This glory is tied to worship, and so as the Church …
A Topping Suitable
The discussion horses for my Israel and Hamas post are galloping down the road, reins dragging on the road behind them. So let me get a few band aids on my fingers and then say just a few more things here. Might calm everybody right down, or we might get to see another set of …
Getting a One Day Jump On It
Book I/Chapter 4 Superstition (section 1) 1. If men fall into superstition through ignorance, does this excuse them? 2. What is their blindness combined with? 3. How do ignorant and superstitious men measure God? 4. What is the object of such men’s worship? 5. What is the danger of wanting to know more than is …
Sardonic Laughter
Book I/Chapter 3 Natural Knowledge (section 1) 1. Does the human mind have a natural and innate knowledge of God? 2. In Calvin’s mind, is this up for dispute? 3. What effect does this knowledge have upon sinful men? 4. How is idolatry a testimony to this knowledge of God? Religious Invention (section 2) 1. …
Israel and Hamas
Before I say what I am going to say about Israel and Hamas, let me start with a few preliminaries. First, I am a Christian and this means that I believe that Jesus Christ is the only hope of every nation, and this includes Israel. This means that Muslims and Israelis both are summoned by …
No Drop of Wisdom or Light
Book I/Chapter 2 Piety (section 1) 1. What is a necessary prerequisite to knowledge of God? 2. Would natural revelation be possible in an unfallen world? 3. Is it possible in our fallen condition? 4. What is the distinction Calvin makes between having right notions about God and “embracing the grace of reconciliation?” 5. How …