what is a true calvinist - day 1

8/6/2019 What is a True Calvinist - Day 1

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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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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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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

what is a true calvinist - day 1

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