Post on 07-Apr-2018
transcript
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What is a True Calvinist?
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Who was John Calvin?
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Three Big Names
in Reformed Theology Augustine
Luther
Calvin
John Calvin
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Protestant Reformation
European Christian reform movement
reformers objected to (protested) the
doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structureof the Catholic Church
1517: Luther publishes The Ninety-Five Theses
1648: Treaty of Westphalia
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Calvins Life
1517:
Luthers Ninety-Five Theses
1450s: Gutenberg press
Latin language bible
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Early Life and Conversion
Calvin was born July 10, 1509, in Noyon, France,when Martin Luther was 25 years old and had
just begun to teach the Bible in Wittenberg.
Initially studied theology. Univ. ofParis untouched by the Reformation
Calvins father wanted him to study law ratherthan theology.
Studied at the best universities in France.
A brilliant career was opening before him
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Early Life and Conversion
Then something happened
1533: Nicholas Cop preached at Univ. ofParis
Called to Parliament for his Lutheran-like doctrines General persecution broke out against reformers
Calvin now crossed the line
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Seven years later, he writes
. . .when, lo, a very different form of doctrine started up, notone which led us away from the Christian profession, but onewhich brought it back to its fountain . . . to its original purity.Offended by the novelty, I lent an unwilling ear, and at first, Iconfess, strenuously and passionately resisted . . . to confess thatI had all my life long been in ignorance and error. . . .
I at length perceived, as if light had broken in upon me, in what asty of error I had wallowed, and how much pollution andimpurity I had thereby contracted. Being exceedingly alarmed atthe misery into which I had fallen . . . as in duty bound, [I] madeit my first business to betake myself to thy way [O God],
condemning my past life, not without groans and tears.God, by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to ateachable frame. . . . Having thus received some taste andknowledge of true godliness, I was immediately inflamed with[an] intense desire to make progress
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Later Life
When persecution arose in Paris where he hadreturned to teach in one of the colleges, hewas forced into hiding in France. At last, he
had to leave the country altogether. He soughtrefuge in Basel, Switzerland.
In that city, 450 years ago, he published thefirst edition book with which his name wasalways to be associatedCalvins Institutes.
Five more enlargements
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Calvins Institutes
But lo! while I lay hidden at Basel, and known onlyto few people, many faithful and holy persons wereburnt alive in France. . . . It appeared to me, thatunless I opposed [the perpetrators] to the utmostof my ability, my silence could not be vindicatedfrom the charge of cowardice and treachery. Thiswas the consideration which induced me to publishmy Institutes of the Christian Religion. . . . It was
published with no other design than that menmight know what was the faith held by those whomI saw basely and wickedly defamed.
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I labored at thetask [of writing TheInstitutes] . . ., for Isaw that manywere hungeringand thirsting afterChrist and yet that
only a few had anyreal knowledge ofhim.
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Calvin in Geneva
Farel, who burned with an extraordinary zeal toadvance the gospel, immediately learned that myheart was set upon devoting myself to privatestudies, for which I wished to keep myself free fromother pursuits, and finding that he gained nothingby entreaties, he proceeded to utter an imprecationthat God would curse my retirement, and thetranquillity of the studies which I sought, if I should
withdraw and refuse to give assistance, when thenecessity was so urgent. By this imprecation I wasso stricken with terror, that I desisted from the
journey which I had undertaken
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Strasbourg
Calvin and Farel were
banished from Geneva
eighteen months later
in 1538.
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Idelette
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Back to Geneva for good
He returned to Geneva in 1541 and beganpreaching from the very text that he had left offat three years earlier.
First son died 2 weeks after birth "The Lord has certainly inflicted a severe and bitter
wound in the death of our baby son. But He is Himselfa Father and knows best what is good for his children
Two more children also died at or soon afterbirth.
Idelette died probably of tuberculosis.
Never remarried.
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Calvins Work
He preached twice every Sunday, 10 times
every 2 weeks
He was Old Testament professor lectured 3times every week.
Friday bible study.
Never failed in visiting the sick Taught, exhorted, counseled, consoled by
letters those being persecuted in France.
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Drawing of Calvin by
one of his students
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Calvins Suffering
He suffered from Migraines.
He had gout (as did Spurgeon).
He often had to be carried in a chair to the
church to preach because he couldnt walk.
Terrible hemorrhoids and kidney stones
When he could not get to school he brought
the students to his bedroom for lectures.
Threats to his life.
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Calvin is Loved and Hated
He (Calvin) the most Christian man of his
age. Ernst Renan, French Historian
Calvin has, I believe, caused untold millionsof souls to be damned Jimmy Swaggart,
If Calvin ever wrote anything in favor of
religious liberty, it was a typographical error.
Roland Bainton, Yale Church Historian
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Loved and Hated
[Calvin was] the cruel and the unopposed
dictator of Geneva. Oxford Dictionary ofthe
Christian Church
Calvin is the man who, next to St. Paul, hasdone most good to mankind. William
Cunningham, Scottish Theologian
The longer I live the clearer does it appearthat John Calvins system is the nearest to
perfection. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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What is a true Calvinist?
There is no one, all-inclusive definition.
Hold to the doctrines of most Christians
Trinity, deity/humanity of Jesus Christ, necessity ofJesus atonement for sin, church as divinelyordained institution, inspiration of the bible,Christians live moral lives, resurrection of thebody
Reformed faith Calvin was a man God used during the Protestant
Reformation.
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five points of Calvinism
T total depravity (radical depravity)
U unconditional election
L limited atonement (particular redemption)
I irresistible grace (efficacious grace)
P perseverance ofthe saints (perseverance)
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Arminianism
Jacobus Arminium 1560-1609 followers the Remonstrants
Five points of the Remonstrance asserted that:1. election (and condemnation on the day of judgment) was
conditioned by the rational faith or nonfaith of man;
2. the Atonement, while qualitatively adequate for all men, wasefficacious only for the man of faith;
3. unaided by the Holy Spirit, no person is able to respond to Godswill;
4. grace is not irresistible; and
5. believers are able to resist sin but are not beyond the possibility of
falling from grace.
Human dignity requires an unimpaired freedom of thewill.
Influenced by Arminianism: Baptists, Methodists,
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Doctrines of Grace
five points of Calvinism
Synod ofDort in 1619
Settle serious controversy in the Dutch churchesinitiated by the rise of Arminianism
Point by point response to the five points of theArminian Remonstrance
TULIP functions as a summary of the differencesbetween Calvinism and Arminianism
Calvin died in 1564, Arminias born 1560
Distinctive of reformed faith
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What is a True Calvinist?
Is it relevant today?
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US Religious
Knowledge Survey
Pew Research Center: Forum on Religion & Public Life
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What is a true Calvinist?
Author: Philip Ryken
1995: joined Tenth Presbyterian Church in
Philadelphia
2000: senior minister upon death of James Boice
2010: President of Wheaton College
Pages 5-6
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What is a true Calvinist?
In the next 2 sessions
Short didactic session?
Break up into small groups
Each group will be a assigned a section of the book to
review
As a group, come up with a summary, pertinent
highlights, any questions
Reconvene to hear from each group and discuss