The church is your mother – discuss - 15 November 2010 |
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In session 38 of the Emmanuel Evangelical Church Guided Reading Course we’re returning to Calvin, Institutes, IV.i-ii (pp. 1011-1053), and beginning the next major section of the course: the doctrine of the church.
As we will see, Calvin’s exposition and development of this topic guards us against the common temptation to view it as an entirely discrete and separate area of Christian theology. Throughout this portion of the course, we’ll notice strong connections between Calvin’s doctrine of the church and his doctrine of the application of redemption by the Holy Spirit.
IV.i
1. Why, according to IV.i.1, has God instituted the church? Would Calvin have agreed with Cyprian’s claim that “You cannot have God for your Father unless you have the church for your Mother” (p. 1012, n. 3; cf. IV.i.4)? Do you agree?
2. “The saints are gathered into the society of Christ on the principle that whatever benefits God confers upon them, they should in turn share with one another” (III.i.3). What does this tell us about Calvin’s view of the relationship between Christ and his church? How do Calvin’s citations of Acts 4:32 and Ephesians 4:4 support this position?
3. “It is very important for us to know what benefit we shall gain from this” (IV.i.3). What is this “benefit,” and how does it arise?
4. How does God work through preachers (IV.i.5-6)? How does this relate to Calvin’s view of the relationship between Christ and the church?
5. “Holy Scripture speaks of the church in two ways” (IV.i.7). What does Calvin mean by this?
6. What are the “marks and tokens” by which we may identify the church and its members (IV.i.8-9)?
7. “Separation from the church is the denial of God and Christ” (IV.i.10). Why? (cf. IV.i.10-16)
8. What counsel does Calvin have for dealing with doctrinal disagreements (IV.i.12)?
9. What do you make of Calvin’s sustained emphasis on the forgiveness of sins within the church (IV.i.17-29)?
IV.ii
10. Did Calvin believe that the Roman church in his day was a true church? What reasons does he give for his judgment? (IV.ii)
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Guided Reading Course, Minister's Blog