Sunday, July 26, 2009
Most Baptist State?
What's the most 'Baptist' state in the world? It must be in the American South, I thought. Nope. It's in India - Nagaland to be specific - where an estimated 75 % of the population are Baptists. Interesting!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Calvin at 500
John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 - exactly 500 years ago today.
An excerpt from the Institutes of Christian Religion.
As a Mediator, free from all taint, He (Jesus) may by His own holiness procure the favour of God for us. But because a deserved curse obstructs the entrance, and God in His character of judge is hostile to us, expiation must necessarily intervene, that as a priest employed to appease the wrath of God, He must reinstate us in His favour. Wherefore, in order that Christ might fulfill this office, it behooved Him to appear with a sacrifice. For even under the law of the priesthood it was forbidden to enter the sanctuary without blood, to teach the worshiper that however the priest might interprose to deprecate, God could not be propitiated without the expiation of son. On this subject the apostole discourses at lengh in the Epistle to the Hebrews, from the seventh almost to the end of the tenth chapter. The sum comes to this, that the honour of the priesthood was competent to none but Christ, because, by the sacrifice of His death, He wiped away our guilt, and made satisfaction for sin. Of the great importance of this matter, we are reminded by that solemn oath which God uttered, and of which He declared He would not repent 'Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek' (Ps. 110:4). For, doubtless, His purpose was to ratify that point on which He knew that our salvation chiefly hinged. For, as has been said, there is no access to God for us or for our prayers until the priest, purging away our defilements, sanctify us, and obtain for us that favour of which the impurty of our lives and our hearts deprives us. Thus we see, that if the benefit and efficacy of Christ's priesthood is to reach us, the commencement must be with His death. Whence it follows, that He by whose aid we obtain favour, must be a perpetual intercessor. From this again arises not only confidence in prayer, but also the tranquility of pious minds, while they recline in safety on th epaternal indulgence of God, and feel assured, that whatever has been consecreated by the Mediator is pleasing to Him.
Source: John Calvin, The Institutes. Chapter 15, Section 6, (p.322).
An excerpt from the Institutes of Christian Religion.
As a Mediator, free from all taint, He (Jesus) may by His own holiness procure the favour of God for us. But because a deserved curse obstructs the entrance, and God in His character of judge is hostile to us, expiation must necessarily intervene, that as a priest employed to appease the wrath of God, He must reinstate us in His favour. Wherefore, in order that Christ might fulfill this office, it behooved Him to appear with a sacrifice. For even under the law of the priesthood it was forbidden to enter the sanctuary without blood, to teach the worshiper that however the priest might interprose to deprecate, God could not be propitiated without the expiation of son. On this subject the apostole discourses at lengh in the Epistle to the Hebrews, from the seventh almost to the end of the tenth chapter. The sum comes to this, that the honour of the priesthood was competent to none but Christ, because, by the sacrifice of His death, He wiped away our guilt, and made satisfaction for sin. Of the great importance of this matter, we are reminded by that solemn oath which God uttered, and of which He declared He would not repent 'Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek' (Ps. 110:4). For, doubtless, His purpose was to ratify that point on which He knew that our salvation chiefly hinged. For, as has been said, there is no access to God for us or for our prayers until the priest, purging away our defilements, sanctify us, and obtain for us that favour of which the impurty of our lives and our hearts deprives us. Thus we see, that if the benefit and efficacy of Christ's priesthood is to reach us, the commencement must be with His death. Whence it follows, that He by whose aid we obtain favour, must be a perpetual intercessor. From this again arises not only confidence in prayer, but also the tranquility of pious minds, while they recline in safety on th epaternal indulgence of God, and feel assured, that whatever has been consecreated by the Mediator is pleasing to Him.
Source: John Calvin, The Institutes. Chapter 15, Section 6, (p.322).
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