Calvin on sin, desire and temptation

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The primary claim of those arguing that concupiscence is sin with the implication that it is sinful to even be tempted is that theirs is the historical position of the church.  This will often include a reference to Augustine, although his view doesn’t seem to have been as clear cut.   However, the claim is also… Continue reading Calvin on sin, desire and temptation

Total Depravity

This is the “T” in TULIP.  Total Depravity means that because of Adam’s sin, our spiritual condition is that we are dead in sin.  It means that sin or depravity reaches into every aspect of our lives, there isn’t a part of my life that wasn’t affected by sin. Key Bible passages include Genesis 2:17-18… Continue reading Total Depravity

Is Complementarianism novel?

This question crops up from time to time on my social media feed. It’s there at the moment I presume because the Southern Baptist Convention is meeting and in the light of developments at Saddleback Church where it’s former pastor, Rick Warren has now reversed his position and apologised to women, the topic is a… Continue reading Is Complementarianism novel?

“This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?

I want to return to something we looked at a bit earlier this week.  What was it that Jesus said at the last supper and what does this mean for when we take communion today? Mark 14:22-25 reports: 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave… Continue reading “This is my body” … what exactly do we eat at communion?

What was the basis of the Reformation criticism of veneration of Saints?

Explaining the basis for the reformation criticism of the veneration seems at first to be a straight-forward task of finding out what the arguments were that the reformers used.  However, a number of contemporary historians have criticised the reliability of such an approach arguing that the reformers arguments alone fail to explain why change occurred… Continue reading What was the basis of the Reformation criticism of veneration of Saints?

Calvin on parents and children

Having had a look at what Calvin has to say about slaves and masters based on Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 5-6, I thought it would be worth having a look at his comments on the other two issues treated there, first on parents and children, then on wives and husbands. Calvin picks up on the… Continue reading Calvin on parents and children

Gethsemane and The Father – Son relationship

I would now like to revisit Matthew 26 and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. You will recall from earlier posts that the events here are central to our discussion about how the Son relates to the Father.  Orthodox Christology asserts that because Jesus is one person with two natures and that he is… Continue reading Gethsemane and The Father – Son relationship