I recall one time, back in the day, when I was having a discussion with my dear wife about what I was going to wear for preaching attire. This was back in the Jesus people period. At issue was whether or not I was going to wear jeans with or without the patches. Not surprisingly, …
True Repentance
Book 3/Chapter 3 Repentance born of faith (section 1) 1. According to Calvin, does true repentance follow faith or precede it? Foundation in the gospel (section 2) 1. How does he deal with the objection that in Scripture, the command to repent comes first? Two aspects of repentance (section 3) 1. What two aspects of …
Faith and Hope
Book 3/Chapter 2 Is our future unknown (section 40)? 1. What other argument against assurance is brought? 2. Did Paul say what he did in Romans 8:38ff by special revelation in his own case? 3. What does Calvin say doubt about our future reveals instead of modesty? The substance of faith (section 41) 1. What …
The Top of the Brain
Book 3/Chapter 2 Unfit for belief (section 35) 1. What does our corruption of nature do to our capacity for faith? 2. Can man initiate faith? 3. What then is necessary for belief? Top of the brain (section 36) 1. What is not true faith? 2. What is greater than the mind’s blindness? Shaken, not …
Faith in the Word
Book 3/Chapter 2 The Word needed (section 31) 1. Can faith latch on to nothing? 2. What must God do to bring about faith? Fulfilled in Christ (section 32) 1. What is the testimony of God’s love toward us? 2. Did the ancient Jews know of Christ? Real faith (section 33) 1. How do the …
Kinder, Gentler Principalities and Powers
Craig Blomberg has a post here, reviewing N.T. Wright’s book-length response to John Piper’s book. Justin Taylor has some good comments on the related issue of active obedience here. And now I have some comments, with no link necessary, because as it turns out, you are already where you need to be. Just scroll down. …
Foundation of Faith
Book 3/Chapter 2 Fear and honor (section 26) 1. What do our duties of fear and honor relate to? True and false fear (section 27) 1. What distinguishes childlike and servile fear. What God promises (section 28) 1. Does God guarantee believers earthly prosperity? 2. What does He promise then? The basic foundation (section 29) …
Two Kinds of Fear
Book 3/Chapter 2 Right fear (section 22) 1. What are the two kinds of fear? 2. What might happen among the Gentiles that had happened among the Jews? The right kind of constant fear (section 23) 1. What kind of man does Solomon pronounce a blessing on? Union with Christ (section 24) 1. What does …
Weak Faith is Real Faith
Book 3/Chapter 2 Faith that struggles (section 17) 1. If faith is essentially certain, then what must we explain in the believer’s experience? 2. Who does Calvin use as a prime example of this? The believer’s conflict (section 18) 1. How does this variation arise within us? 2. What does this imperfect faith do? Weak …
Real Faith
Book 3/Chapter 2 Different uses of the word faith (section 13) 1. What must we understand about the meaning of the word faith? 2. Does the Bible use the word in ways that allows the reprobate to have “faith”? Higher faith (section 14) 1. Does faith comprehend what it knows? Certainty by faith (section 15) …