As we bring up the subject of secret or hidden sin, a few preliminary cautions are in order. We are not concerned with sins that might have been committed by somebody else but weren’t. Nor is this about sins confessed and forgiven. This is not a post put up to stumble the introspective. The sole …
Why Preachers Avoid the Second Person Plural
“For all its talk about honesty, our culture has refined the art of indirection and euphemism in an attempt not to have to say directly what we really mean . . . When things get tense, you put a little verbal distance between yourself and the congregation. The real problem, however, is that in doing …
Destruo Ergo Sum
“There is one other romantic attraction of opiates: and that is to the antinomian turn of mind. This turn of mind has become much more common with the general rise of self-importance, which is a corollary of democracy: and in an age of celebrity, everyone feels obliged to leave his mark on the world, or …
Remaining Sin
Book 3/Chapter 3 Believers still sinners (section 10) 1. In this life, do we receive entire freedom from sin? 2. What remains within every believer? 3. Where does Calvin differ with Augustine on this point? Remaining, not reigning (section 11) 1. What is the believer’s relation to sin? 2. Do we have to worry about …
Lifelong Regeneration
Book 3/Chapter 3 Faith and repentance (section 5) 1. What is the relationship of faith and repentance? 2. What does Calvin draw from the Hebrew and Greek meanings of their words for repentance? Repentance defined (section 6) 1. What is the first of three heads in Calvin’s understanding of repentance? Earnest fear (section 7) 1. …
At Seven Pip Emma
For those here in the Moscow area, tomorrow night there will be a great family concert with Jamie Soles at the Nuart. Click the pic for more info about Jamie.
Let’s Go Kiss Us Some Icons
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 …
He Keeps the Soul
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 167 “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” (Prov. 28:20) One of the blessings that comes from Hebraic parallelism and its “thought rhymes” is the ability we acquire …
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 …