The wonderful thing about living through four seasons is that just when one of them is threatening to overstay its welcome, and you are frankly tired of it, a natural desire is born that longs for the signs of the next approaching season. Snow was met with great excitement and laughter in November, but by …
Reduced to Grazing
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. Our Father God, we confess to You that our rulers have …
No Need to Replace the Furniture
The next section of Wright’s book (pp. 169-176) was glorious in what it affirmed, and weirdly disappointing in what it denied. He does a fantastic job in situating the point of the discussion that swirls around “let God be true, and every man a liar.” As Wright puts it, the problem with Israel’s sin is …
Not Optional
“While it may not be difficult to find churchgoing people who are pleased with ‘preaching’ that lacks biblical boldness, it is not at all possible, as a preacher, to please God without it” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 40).
Natural and Unnatural Both
Book 2/Chapter 1 Definition of original sin (section 8) 1. How does Calvin define original sin? 2. Do infants bear the curse of original sin? 3. Is this original sin nothing more than the absence of righteousness? The whole man in sin (section 9) 1. How far does original sin extend in a man? 2. …
Original Sin
Book 2/Chapter 1 Original Sin (section 5) 1. How does Calvin define the “death of Adam’s soul”? 2. How does Calvin define “original sin”? 3. What was Pelagius’ “profane fiction”? Is Original Sin Imitative? (section 6) 1. When are children defiled by original sin? 2. What is Adam’s position with regard to the human race? …
That Every Mouth May be Stopped/Romans 12
INTRODUCTION: One difficulty that presents itself while working through a book like Romans in small segments is that it is very hard to find a place to stop . . . becauses Paul frequently doesn’t stop. This week we need to run a little ahead and stop in mid-thought, and next week we will back …
Part of the Temple Belonged to Them
I don’t really have a lot to say about Wright’s next section (pp. 158-168), a section focused largely on Romans 2. Just a few things. Wright makes some worthy points about the general neglect of Paul’s eschatology of justification. The doers of the law will be justified (Rom. 2:13). Might not mean what it appears …
Primal Worthiness
Book 2/Chapter1 True knowledge of ourselves (section 1) 1. What ancient proverb does Calvin commend? 2. What echo of an earlier point in Calvin does this make? 3. What are the two essential parts of self-knowledge? Deluded self-admiration (section 2) 1. Instead of true self-knowledge, what do we tend to seek out instead? 2. What …
Not Harsh at All
Book 1/Chapter 18 God’s manifold will(section 3) 1. What is the disposition behind a dismissal of God’s complete sovereignty with a simple “to me it seems otherwise”? 2. Why do opponents of this doctrine claim that it makes have God possess two contrary wills? 3. What is meant by God’s “manifold” wisdom? God’s holy disposition …