Book Four!

Well I’ve made it to the fourth book of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. He is expounding upon church, sacraments and civil order in this book. Its official title is as follows: “The External Means or Aims by Which God Invites Us Into the Society of Christ and Holds Us Therein”.

In chapter 1, section 9 speaking of the marks of the church, Calvin points out that the invisible church “becomes visible to our eyes” my the following means of grace. “Where we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists (cf. Ephesians 2:20). For his promise cannot fail, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20).”

Enjoy!

Access & Assurance!

Let us draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22). For through Jesus we … have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Eph. 2:18). In deed we have boldness and access with confidence trough faith in Jesus (Eph. 3:12). So let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Enjoy!

Chamber's thought!

When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, “Oh yes, I believe God can do it,” but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28–42).

Get you behind me!

The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night (Rev. 12:10). They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11).

So who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:33, 34). Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly (Col. 2:15). That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:14, 15).

Now in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us (Rom. 8:37). So put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:11, 17).

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

Enjoy!

Many Called!

“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:1-14) …may be freely paraphrased as follows. Many are called, but there will only be few who in following the call will prove worthy of, and act in accordance with, the fact that as the called of God they are His elect, predestined from all eternity for life with Him and for His service. There will only be few who in the words of 2 Pet. 1:10 are obedient to their calling and make sure, i.e., validate and confirm, their election. There will only be few who really are what they are as called, namely, elect or Christians. - K. Barth, Church Dogmatics IV, 3, p. 485.

Election!

Calvin 09 - Read The Institutes:

10. The elect before their call. There is no 'seed of election'

"The elect are gathered into Christ's flock by a call not immediately at birth, and not all at the same time, but according as it pleases God to dispense his grace to them. But before they are gathered unto that supreme Shepherd, they wander scattered in the wilderness common to all; and they do not differ at all from others except that they are protected by God's especial mercy from rushing headlong into the final ruin of death. If you look upon them, you will see Adam's offspring, who savor of the common corruption of the mass. The fact that they are not carried to utter and even desperate impiety is not due to any innate goodness of theirs but because the eye of God watches over their safety and his hand is outstretched to them!" - The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.24.10