A History of Christian Theology

Class Notes #10 – December 6, 2006

Chapters 14

1. O God, who hast sent thy beloved Son to be unto us the Way, the Truth and the Life, Grant that we, looking unto him, may set forward the teaching power of thy Church, to the nurture of thy people, the increase of thy Kingdom, and the glory of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. Recap last class – November 29, 2006
   
   

3. John Calvin

1. born in France and ultimately fled to Switzerland as his reformed theology led him in to conflict with French officials.

2. Pp 220 Become leader of a theocracy

                                                               i.      Heavily based on moral laws (outlawed dancing and gambling)

1.      Luther had little use for the Law other than as a pointed to our inadequacy before God; Calvin believed the Law remained important as a goal for men to follow (see quote on pp 221)

                                                             ii.      Pp 224/5 Calvin generally believed in the power & authority of the State which held the perversities of human nature in check. Only when government betrayed faith should it be disobeyed – otherwise “put up with it”.

4. Predestination

1. An inevitable but not necessary key or central part of Calvin’s theology – it became much more prominent in his followers.

2. Pp 222 Calvin worried much less about his (or anyone else’s) individual salvation and much more about the Glory of God

                                                               i.      A result was that many followers spend much effort trying to determine how we could discover the Elect – Calvin was not much interested in this question – he was more interested in purifying the church of morals in order to glorify God.

3. Article XVII.  Of Predestination and Election
   Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to ever-lasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.
   
   As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God’s Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wrethchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation.
   
   Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture: and, in our doings, that Will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the word of God.
   
   

4. Pp 226 Synod of Dort (1619) gathered to condemn Arminianism affirmed 5 basic principals (TULIP)

                                                               i.      Total Depravity

                                                             ii.      Unconditional Election

                                                            iii.      Limited Atonement

                                                           iv.      Irresistible grace

                                                             v.      Perseverance of the Saints.

5. Pp 226 Arminianism

                                                               i.      Affirms Original sin and corruption; however also affirms that we must respond to accept the grace God gives us that enables us to turn towards Him.

1.      Christ’s sacrifice is available to all

2.      Denied that God determines who will accept grace and who will refuse it.

5. pp 223 Reformed sacramental theology

1. Calvin was heavily influenced by Bucer who was important in the English reformation and play a moderate and reconciling role in the Continental Reformation.

                                                               i.      Bucer ‘ “Flee Formulas” pp 223

                                                             ii.      Taught what was a foundation of the Anglican mystical acceptance of the blood & wine as the body & blood of Jesus.

2. Calvin sought middle ground between Luther’s Consubstantiation (Jesus is everywhere) and Zwingli’s mere memorialism.

3. Pp 224 - The chief means of implementing discipline was by exclusion from communion (excommunication)

                                                               i.      Should be done only in a ‘medicinal’ manner.

4. The state was responsible for a higher order of enforcement of moral law.
   
   

5. The English Reformation

1. Luther and Calvin both had deep influence upon English religious leaders as well as on Henry VIII and Edward VI

                                                               i.      Direction of the church changed a number of times from Henry to Edward to Mary to Elizabeth and then, later through Cromwell and the Restoration.

2. Generally, Anglicanism settled on a moderated Reformed theology

                                                               i.      Article 17 affirms God’s sovereignty without the extremes (for example, of double predestination)

                                                             ii.      Article 28 specifically rejects Transubstantiation while declaring that the Lords Supper is more than simply a sign or memorial.

1.      Black Rubric - "Whereas it is ordained in this Office for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, that the Communicants should receive the same kneeling; (which order is well meant, for a signification of our humble and grateful acknowledgment of the benefits of Christ therein given to all worthy Receivers, and for the avoiding of such profanation and disorder in the holy Communion, as might otherwise ensue;) yet, lest the same kneeling should by any persons, either out of ignorance and infirmity, or out of malice and obstinacy, be misconstrued and depraved: It is hereby declared, That thereby no adoration is intended, or ought to be done, either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine there bodily received, or unto any Corporal Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood. For the Sacramental Bread and Wine remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore may not be adored; (for that were Idolatry, to be abhorred of all faithful Christians;) and the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ are in Heaven, and not here; it being against the truth of Christ's natural Body to be at one time in more places than one."

                                                            iii.      Other Articles clearly deal with disputes of the day:

1.      Article 6 – of the Sufficiency of Holy Scripture for Salvation

2.      Article 9 – Of Original Sin

3.      Article 10 – Of Free Will

4.      Article 11 – Of Justification

5.      Article 12, 13 & 14 – of Good Works, Works before Justification and Works of Supererogation

6.      Article 15 – Of Christ alone without Sin

7.      Article 17 – Of Predestination

8.      Article 18 – Of obtaining Salvation only by Christ

9.      Article 19 – Of the Church

10.  Article 20 – Of Authority of the Church

11.  Article 22 – Of Purgatory

12.  Article 24 – Of Speaking in tongues

13.  Article 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 – Of the Sacraments, Baptism, Lords Supper, Communion for the unworthy, Communion of both Kinds

14.  Article 31 – Of the Sacrifice of the Christ

15.  Article 32 – Of the marriage of Priests

16.  Article 34 – Of Traditions of the Church

3. Elizabethan Settlement - The Elizabethan Religious Settlement was Elizabeth I’s response to the religious divisions created over the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary. This response was set out in two Acts of the Parliament – the Act of Supremacy of 1559 (wich re-established Englands independence from Rome) and the Act of Univormity which established the worship form English churches would follow.

                                                               i.      Established the Anglican “Via Media” or “

                                                             ii.      Seen in, among other places, the words of communion:

1.      The  Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.