The Role of Tradition in what We believe, Original class lecture by Dr. Lenord Allen.

Tradition and its role---shaped by the restoration movement. The period between the first century church and the modern church played an important role. Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone broke the ranks with the traditional church. There is a fundamental anti- historical bias built into our tradition as well as the American tradition. No creed but the Bible was the slogan that came from this group. Often times a loss of conscience comes when you realize where your beliefs come from.

The second hour Reformation---1300 to 1400. Luther was a key figure. There were many abuses in the Catholic Church. The spiritual people wanted piety. Ordinary folks began to read and the Lollards and Husites were breaking out. Peter Waldo, and the Franciscans were also part of the Reformation.

Death and Guilt

There was an intrinsic occupation with death. The plague (black death) and powder for guns increased the dimensions of death and brought war to a new level of meaning. Just the sheer amount of human cadavers lying everywhere made people more aware of death. Preachers of the era, often carried a skull to the pulpit. There is a close connection between death and guilt. John Calvin said that death comes from the anger of God. Death is God's punishment. Official flagellants moved from town to town to whip up the public. The penance system sought to make peace with God (individual penance) and confessional manuals and the invention of the printing press spread these practices fast.

The penance system aided in guilt. The establishment of a legal system perpetuated by the penance writings were of marked importance. This is the legal system and the infliction of guilt on the public that Luther rebelled against. Since penance was a legal system one could work off violations of the law. Beyond this lie purgatory and hell. Thomas Moore wrote of the "fire in purgatory: adding to the fear.

Many old boundaries were shaken. Columbus, Magellan, and others were changing what we knew about the world. Copernicus, an Galileo, moved from the "Geo Centric" to the "Helo Centric" idea of the universe. The 100 years war was in progress and the Feudal walls were coming down. John Dunn, Shakesphere, and other Poets reflect the current mood.

There was a wide spread belief in the occult. Wholesale extermination of those involved in witchcraft was taking place. The Inquisition alone executed 30,000 for witchcraft by the end of the 16th century. Martin Luther was accused of being a cross between a witch and a demon. Death and guilt were a precondition for the Reformation. This caused a new spiritual awaking. In the official church, simony, clerical concubinage and Nepotism were under attack.

Conciliarism --- a basic distinction between the universal church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Papal schism was behind the councilor movement. The movement did not seek to abolish the Pope but wanted the Pope to be a subordinate to the council. Objects were to return the church to the New Testament. The councilor movement failed. It died in 1460 under Pope Pious.

John Wycliffe and John Hus

Wycliffe is called the star of the Reformation. He influenced Luther. Luther said we are now Husites. Wycliffe and the three part church. 1) The triumphant in heaven 2) the militant on earth 3) the dormant in purgatory. The church militant contaminated both the wheat and the tares. For one to be affiliated with the "visible church" does not mean you belong to the "invisible church." Wycliffe applied this directly to the Pope and since the Pope is a heathen he does not have to be obeyed.

The Spiritual Franciscans were a sub-order of the Franciscans. Joachim of Floras--- called the first Marxist. He preached a "New Age" of the "Holy Spirit." The Spiritual Franciscans were being burned at the stake by 1318.

The Waldosians were a blending of the Husite with the Waldo. They believed that the Roman church had lost all spiritual authority. Priest were no good and the sacraments void. They believed that all rituals should be done away with. The Waldo's were persecuted by still survive today as a sub-group of Roman Catholicism.

The Councilor movement did affect the Papacy. The mid-evil church was not monolithic. The theological currents were scholasticism, mysticism, and humanism. Penitential theology was an effort to impose on people the theology of the clergy.

1)Scholasticism was the theology of the Universities. Prior to the Reformation most of the work was done by monks. Anselm, Albelard and Aquinas were the main advocates. Nature and reason provides man with all the revelation about God. Pope Leo declared Aquinas the official theologian of the church based on the above predicate. Then in the 14^th century Dun Scotus, William of Ockham expanded on the ontological argument. Ontology shifted to the will of God instead of the being of God. This created a new idea, and that is “God might not keep his Word.” This became a major spiritual problem. Ockham said, God is free, He can change His mind. Since God has a free will He may suspend all the rules at anytime.

2) Mysticism had three parts. 1) natural theology, creation and human reason 2) Dogmatic theology, meaning the Bible and creeds 3) a direct experience from God. (II Cor. 12: 1-4) that induced a mystical union. Thomas Aquinas had a mystical experience at the end of his life. Mister Eckhart said that the soul has a spark of divine life. This spark makes it possible for a union with God. This involves “letting go of ones self.” The eternal sun is in the soul and absorbs into God. He was accused of heresy in 1329. Eckharts teachings meant that the Church was not needed. John Tavler was a disciple of Eckhart. He encouraged the reformation. The German theology of Luther was Tavlers works. It allowed him to critique the doctrine of justification by faith. At the end of his life Tavler moved away from mysticism. John Calvin had a “mystical” understanding of the “Lords Supper.” Mysticism flowed throughout the Reformation.

3) Humanism was for the elite. A particular method of learning. It tried to recover the classical literature and go back to the source. Erasmus was the prince of the humanist. The humanist hated the scholastics. Erasmus said we needed another “Holy Spirit,” to deal with the new breed of scholars. Erasmus wrote on the “Philosophy of Life.” And course, John Calvin was in the humanist tradition.

The Council of Trent, Read canons and creeds of the Council of Trent.

The councilor movement was to resolve the Papal schism of 1409. The council of Constance was ordained for that purpose. They fired the existing Popes and executed John Hus. They also tried to mandate regular councils. Of course, the Pope opposed the councils. By 1660 a decree reinstated the supremacy of the authority of the Pope. In 1512 to 1517 the Lateran council was called. It was the last effort before Luther to reform the church. Two monks from Italy blamed all the problems of the church on the Pope. We need to re-do church law, and reduce the number of mendicant orders . This ought to bring uniformity to liturgy. Sweeping reforms were killed in the council. In 1517 Luther issued his thesis against indulgences. Luther concluded that church doctrines were impeding reform. Catholics were afraid to complain because they did not want to be called a Lutherite. In 1530,s a final attempt is made to bring things together. The talks begin at Worms to bring about a compromise.

1) Human nature before the fall

2) how free will was lost

3) sin is an act of human will

4) the affects of the original sin

5) double justification.

On one hand people are justified by a imputed righteousness. But they also inherit righteousness that is partly because of their own works. John Calvin accepted these ideas. The council of Trent was meant to reestablish controls on Church life but failed. The Lateran council dates are 1545 to 1563 and 1545 to 1552, and 1561 to April 1563. Trent rejected some issues while affirming others. 1) it affirmed that people are saved by works and not by Luther's imputed righteousness. 2) It upheld and re-affirmed Penance. 3) There are two sources of authority was upheld, Scripture and Tradition. 4) Trent reaffirmed the 7 sacraments. 5) upheld the traditional view of the mass – transubstantiation. 6) The Council of Trent said that layman may only receive bread and rejected the Lord's Supper of Hus and the Protestants. 7) Outlawed clerical marriage. 8) Affirmed celibacy, purgatory, indulgences, worship of the saints and worship of relics. The Protestants reacted to this ---- .

Leaths reading pg. 411, Glory of God, Christ merciful God causes of justification. Disposition and co-operation. Truly called and just. Notice, the terminology is from Aristotle. pg. 412, two thirds down the page, hope and charity, neither circumcision nor uncircumcism. pg. 413, chapter 9, sins remitted page 414 at th every top, become righteousness by good works. Chapter 10 the last few lines. page 417, chapter 14, the fallen and the restoration. What does Luther have to say about the person who has fallen? Throw you and your mercy on Christ and participate in sacramental confession. You need a humble and contrite heart. page 419, Fruits of justification. Not only God's judgment but also man's judgment? 1) all Lutheran theology is framed around justification. 2) reformed tradition. Your life style is your sign of justification. 3) Anabaptist. Ethics became a test for the Christian life. The Jesuits Loyla, were to recapture people from Luther.

Only two other surpass Luther. Hippo and Aquinas. No other writings have even been studied so much. What drove Luther? How can I find the grace of God? The dynamics of guilt. Guilt nurtured by penance and confession. All of this lead to despair. Luther trembled before God. He lived in terror. He was afraid that God had rejected him. He was well educated, a monastic monk. In Sept. 1511 he went into spiritual depression. Luther,s mentor told him he should be a PhD, but Luther wanted to be a monk. He had three degrees. A B.A. in Bible, and a Scholastic theology degree and was working on a PhD. He was appointed lecturer of the Bible. He lectured on Romans and Galatians and Hebrews and Psalms while he was a full time college professor.

The papacy just slipped away from him. How is it that the gospel can be good news if it condemns men for violations of law. Then he found Romans 1:16-17, “the just shall live by faith.” After this he wrote his 95 thesis. Luther was a systematic theologian. There were three aspects of Luther's theology. 1) Biblical theology, 2) existential theology, 3) dialectical theology.

1) Biblical theology broke with the scholastics. Theology must be developed from the actual biblical text. The study of the Bible was restored. Must drop philosophy and stay in the bible. Luther attacked Aristotle from every direction. Need to leave him in the past where he belongs.

2) Existential—concerned with God as a personal experience. Theology is always done in the presence of God. Scholastic theology put God at arms length. To believe in God one must get down on their knees . Christ is personal. He is for me and for us. This was at the heart of Luther's theology. Unfectium, are assaults of the devil, a sense of doom. I want to creep into a hole and hide....

3) Gospel cannot be understood without God. Luther believed that God helped us understand. To try and understand without God is a forced interpretation and claims salvation by works when we are Justified by Faith.

This was the total summary of the doctrine of Luther. This is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. Luther said that he found God in this doctrine. This was a classic Greek idea. The Greek concept of making divine. Okham said that Christ became man so man may become God. Sin requires healing. Sacraments were medicine. Grace was infused and the Christian healed. A Christian is always suspended between Grace and Mercy. The Scholastic idea was actual grace and habitual grace. Actual grace forgives actual sins if they were confessed. Actual grace was not strong enough to remove the original sin so man needs habitual grace. Habitual grace was pure grace and also a infusion of grace. This is the grace that lets one become righteous. Justification was the pronouncement of healing. Luther was obsessed with the idea that he might have forgot about a sin. “HAVE I BEEN CONTRITE IN ALL MY CONFESSIONS?”

Mystical Theology -

In 1516 Talver introduces Luther to this idea. Luther liked the idea. Luther said that it is important for one to “let himself go.” Luther embraced the doctrine of “union with God.” The idea that one has a “divine spark” in the soul. (Eckhart). Luther finally grew out of mystical theology. Mystical theology was viewed by the humanist as soothsaying rebels. Sin is so bad because it isn't controllable. The plight of humans before God is empty. If anyone was to feel the greatness of sin they could not continue for one minute.

Luther had a nominal view of justification by faith. He tried hard to make it on his own but failed. Sacraments infused grace and accomplished actual grace. These were his first views. Actual grace works when one tries as hard as they can. God committed Himself to bestow Grace on those who do the best they can on their own. Luther finally changed his mind on the human condition and sin. Sin is a rebellion against God and no human can do anything about it. No person can save them self. Luther went well beyond Augustine. In Romans 1:17 Luther found his answer. Faith operates prior to justification. 1) imputation 2) faith alone 3) at some time both sinner and righteous. A) the medieval language for justification was infusion (a medical model). Since Luther was a lawyer, he moved to a legal model for infusion. Thus, we have an infusion of righteousness. B) By faith alone---means personal trust, take hold of Christ. Have a full relationship with God. Breaks medieval idea of faith. C) sinner and righteous at the same time. We have been acquitted by Christ but are still sinners. God rejects one half goodness.

D. Predestination, Augustine v. Pelagius---human free will. Pelagius said that humans had the ability to choose to do God's will. Grace is the natural capacity to do right. Augustine said grace is a free gift for those who cannot choose. Grace is God's good pleasure. Luther found Predestination in Romans chapter 9 through chapter 11.

The medieval framework was set. Imputation of grace is complete and finite. Can human will love God of its own ability. Was Luther a complete determinist? He never denied free will. The will is a slave to sin was his answer. The human will cannot effect salvation. The purpose of grace is to retrieve one from sin. Erasmus said 'let God be good.” God's ways are inscrutable. 1) light of nature 2) the light of grace 3) the light of glory. The mystery of predestination cannot be known according to Luther. It is the elect who are tormented by sin and not the non elect!

Luther's doctrine of the Inspiration of Scripture. Diet of Worms---1521. Here I stand and I can do no other since my conscience is captive to the Word of God. “Sola Scripture” means the Bible stands over judges and all councils. Luther did not reject all tradition. He pleaded not to reject the Pope! He believed in the apostles creed, the Pope and council creeds. Luther said that form was different than content. Scripture was swaddling in which Christ was wrapped. Christ is the center of Scripture. What ever preaches Christ is from the Apostles and if Christ is not found it is to be rejected. He formed a cannon within a cannon on this basis. ¹

For Luther, the Holy Spirit quickens the words of the preacher.

Luther's understanding of what is the church?

Luther did not mean to start a new church. He did not seek a fight as mentioned, he believed in the Pope and papacy. However, during fits of anger Luther did call the Pope the anti Christ and the whore of the devil. Luther said the church was “Holy Believers.” The church was non-institutional. He was not comfortable with the church building. Sees the Augsburg Confessions about the Lutheran idea of the church. In brief:

The Church is: 1) where the gospel is preached. 2) where sacraments are administered but only two sacraments. The key aspects of the church are 1) centrality of the gospel 2) sacraments 3) Priesthood of all believers. Luther's revolt was theological. He claimed:

1. The Pope was parceling out grace. The gospel makes the church. The church does not make the gospel. When Luther finally broke with Rome he had to identify the “true church.” (Memorize this). 1) Where the gospel is preached. 2) Where baptism is administered 3) where the Lord's supper is, 4) those who hold the office of the keys 5) consecration of ministers 6) prayer and public praise 7) faithfulness of the suffering. These are the seven marks of the church. The church is created by the living Christ. The church has nothing to do with this world. He could not dismiss the Roman church, however, the Roman church is corrupt, Luther had the concept of the hidden church. That is, beneath the seen church is the hidden or real church. The church lives by the gospel. Luther differed from the Anabaptist. They insisted on a visible church. Must be able to SEE the saints. Luther said the church is a mixed body and does not depend on the moral quality of the saints or members. The true church therefore can never cease to exist.

The Word and Sacraments---Augsburg Confession pg. 77

Cosubstansiational—Christ is present in a mystical way. Public preaching means dispensing grace.

Preaching--------Lord's Supper because they proclaim. Baptism and the gospel are extensions of the Word of God.

Luther – church was mix body—Anabaptist---church is pure body.

Baptism—Luther believed in infant baptism. Faith is imputed to infants. Baptism is a one time event. Priesthood of all believers. Ever Christian is a Priest. Ministering---all have an equal share. The highest office is preaching. There must be a calling and that calling comes from the congregation.

HULDREICH ZWINGLI was born in the Alps in 1484. The influences on his thinking were: 1) Swiss Patriotism and 2) Erasmanium humanism. The Swiss were mercenaries. Zwingli went with soldiers to the battle field as Chaplin. In 1515 he was present when 10,000 died on the battle field. He himself died later on the battle field.

Humanism-- Christian humanism means back to the sources including the classics. In 1514 and again in 1519 Zwingli studied with Erasmus. Influenced by the Greek New Testament more than any before him. Bullinger records that Zwingli studied all of Paul's works and memorized them in Greek. To some extent, to read Zwingli is to read Erasmus. January 1st, 1519 was a crucial date. Zwingli was called to serve as the Peoples Priest. It took him 6 years but he started preaching through the Bible. This was the preparation for the Reformation. Zwingli did not get his insights from Luther. Zwingli had no crisis or turning point. His conversion was very slow. In 1520, Zwingli broke with Rome. In 1520, Zwingli renounced the Papal pension. He resigned as the Peoples Priest but the city of Zurich rehired him as the cities preacher. The Bishop of Constance begin to react and sent Zwingli warnings. Zwingli responded with a challenge. On Jan. 9, 1513 the first public disputation of Zurich was held. Zwingli insisted that the talks be held in German so that no one dared to accuse Zwingli of heresy. The Catholics wanted a council but Zwingli wanted an assembly of the people. Zwingli had his way and the Council (assembly) upheld the doctrines of Zwingli and Zurich became the first Protestant state.

In 1523 s second meeting was held. In this, Zwingli attacked the Roman mass. Zwingli said that the Lord's Supper was a memorial. In Feb. 1523, all images, idols and musical instruments were removed and burned. The Temple was cleansed.

The Anabaptist under Conrad Grable wants the reforms to move faster. In 1525 Zwingli breaks with the Anabaptist. The reforms stripped all the buildings. The walls were white washed. Zwingli wanted a plain service. All instrumental music was rejected by the Reformers. “If the Bible does not command it, it is forbidden.” Luther and Zwingli had many of the same insights. 1) Zwingli made an absolute distinction between the creator and the creation. Christian diminished the great sin of idolatry. The Reformation was a move away from Idolatry. “If God turns away, we vanish.” 2) Sovereignty of God or divine providence. Zwingli had a sense of providence. Divine predestination as a subset of divine providence. Predestination was Providence for him. He viewed Predestination as an attempt to limit people from claiming they might save them selves. Zwingli taught that some of the pious heathens and pagans are God's elect. This view made Luther mad. 3) Zwingli focused on the Bible as compared to human tradition. a) Zwingli's own conversion to scripture as a principle in approx. 1516 was behind this idea. b) by 1519, he abandoned all church traditions. c) Now the city authority accepted Zwingli's ideas. d) Bible study was practiced through an institution called “prophecy.” Zwingli did not believe that the Word of God and Scripture were the same thing. For Zwingli, the Word was spoken before Scripture. For Zwingli, the “Holy Spirit” enlightened one to understand Scripture.

1) Scripture is supreme.

2) illumination of the Holy Spirit, and God communicates by the Spirit and His word.

3) There is a contrast between true religion and ceremony. Zwingli—Fabree--no ladder, just Christ. (as opposed to Luther). Very opposed to images.

IMAGES

1) violate scripture and no human commandment is allowed. Reformed----Luther-----Anabaptist-----Anglican. Zwingli comes under Luther.

Speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. Zwingli's training made him sensitive to the damages of images in worship. Images have real demonic power. With images, ceremonial piety becomes a substitute for the real worship of God. Therefore, true religion of clinging to God. 5) Zwingli's nature of God's Kingdom. The Lutheran reformation was sparked by how one might be saved. Zwingli's reformation was born out of social problems. Luther made a polarization between law and gospel and Zwingli made no distinction. Zwingli came very close to legalism. In Zurich the church and the civic community became one in the same. This brought about Magisterial reforms. The church was abusing magisterial authority according to Zwingli. The first German political system comes from here. Zwingli taught that the church and the state were related like body and soul.

Zwingli and his trail of innocent blood.

The second refutation and the Anabaptist break off. Conrad Grabel---1523--the Word has been put into slavery. Jan. 21, 1525, there is a break with the Anabaptist. After a Bible study, Fleix Mantze is baptized. George Barrick also asked to be baptized. Immersion in water was unheard of. Only infant baptism was acceptable. Claimed that Fleix Mantze had been baptized twice, but rejecting infant baptism was also rejecting the state. The death penalty was passed for all those who practiced adult baptism. On Jan. 5th, Fleix Mantze was drown to death as punishment for adult baptism. Zwingli was now at war on two fronts. The Catholics and the Anabaptist. Zwingli had a different view of sin as opposed to Luther. He said that the original sin was a defect but did not hurt. Infants only go to an air conditioned type hell. Zwingli said that baptism was a witness or pledge. Later Zwingli changed his mind and defended infant baptism but only after complaints that the Anabaptist “were overturning everything.” Believers baptism became a mark of separation.

JOHN CALVIN

I. The compendium of the Institutes of Christian Religion. Also, must read Meno Simons.

Calvin was known as the Inquisitor for the Protestants

Calvin was converted from the Catholic Church around 1530. The first indication of his conversion is found in his commentary on Psalms. He first studied theology then law. He went to West Germany to escape and study. He believed that God brought him to where he was.

1) God turned my heart----all people must have God first to turn their hearts. This is a form of Augustine's preveient grace. The word did it all. I did nothing.

2) Docility or teachableness----having true faith is not a fear of God but a heart that submits.

3) Calvin wants to live in seclusion. He was a first class scholar. Luther was a volcano, loved the public----Zwingli died in battle---but Calvin was shy and unsociable. Claimed he was pulled into Geneva by the curse of God.

Calvin's Theology

1) The institutes are his commentaries---They include all but Revelation, II and III John---the Pentateuch, and Joshua and Isaiah. He had 59 vol. of works. He was a master preacher, wrote tracts and treatise. First the Institutes, 1536---and 1539, five years before his death.

II) Major Systematic Theology Period

1) Knowledge of God's creation

a) The two fold knowledge of God

b) nature and function of Scripture

c) The Trinity

d) The creation

e) Providence of God

B. Book 2

1) Knowledge of God the redeemer

a) human sin

b) the law

c) The Covenants OT/NT

d) Person of Christ—The mediator

1. Prophet 2. Priest 3. King 4. work of atonement

C. Book 3

1) The way in which we receive grace from Christ.

a) faith

b) repentance

c) the Christian life

d) Justification

e) predestination

f) final resurrection

D. Book 4

1) The external means by which God instructs us.

a) the society of Christ

b) the doctrine of the church

c) Sacraments

d) civil government

Predestination in v.2—book 3, was not the center of his theology.

II. The Two Fold Knowledge of God

One cannot know about the knowledge of God until he knows about himself. there is a connection between God and self. This is a learning process. When he talks about God he is speaking about how God revealed himself in the natural universe. One cannot have a natural response. It is either the God of the true faith or idolatry. Calvin isn't a proponent of natural revelation, since the fall took place. Sin has changed everything. We know just enough through the light of nature to make idolatry inexcusable.

LABYRINTH---all of us are covered with filth. Humanity has become a factory of idols. Man set out out to exalt himself. Image of God has been defaced. Natural reason can never lead us to know God rightly.

III. All true knowledge of God has derived from one point. God has chosen freely to reveal Himself. God cannot be comprehended except as He allows Himself to be. Calvin called this God's accommodation. God has revealed Himself through nature and the world.

A) He set forth His Word in flesh, in the reincarnation, put in Scriptures and furnished the Sacraments.

B) The Focus is on Christ

C) God talks to us in baby talk since that is all we can understand. God makes Himself clear.

D) The Bible is a pair of glasses. Scripture gathers confused knowledge about God in our mind and shows us a clear picture.

___________________________Calvin's basic Convictions about the Bible_________

A. Inspired Word of God. II Tim. 3:15---all must accept this. B) Inspired Word revealed in human language. Flowed to us from the mouth of God to man. Calvin dealt with the text critically. C). Bible confirmed believers by inner witness of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the Word of God because the Holy Spirit witnessed it. The ability to understand the Bible is a gift from God. Calvin sought to keep a balance between the Spirit and the Word. The Bible is not a book of natural science. That isn't in keeping with what the author intends.

IV. Providence---Calvin's understanding of Providence.

Book I. Came of of the awareness of the hap-hazard course of the Christian life. Mandates against fatalism and Deism. Fatalism, was a Stoic doctrine. Calvin was accused of Stoicism. Providence is God's second cause. Nothing takes place by chance. So, what about evil?? The will of God and the precept of God. You have a choice. Providence protects you. In Book one he addresses God as the author of sin.

Calvin's Providence---------------------------

A) God has universal providence. God is personally involved.

B) God's special procedure. How God aids people without discrimination.

C) God's providence to the elect. God's governing the chosen ones. Predestination for Calvin is providence.

Calvin's understanding of Christ!

A) Doctrine of sin---humans are unfit and covered with mire. Calvin was not all that pessimistic in actions. Human desire to seek truth can only be from common grace. Calvin's speech is hypothetical. If Adam had remained upright things would be different.

-------Philosophers are passers by with a small grain of truth

------Original Sin—Calvin did not agree with Augustine. A hereditary sin is in all parts of the flesh and creates the works of the flesh. Makes us liable to God's wrath. Augustine believed that the sin was only in part of the flesh.

I.

A. We cannot blame all our sin on Adam. A disease still lives in us and deserves punishment.

B. Calvin rejected the idea that the corrupted soul of Adam survived biologically and is transmitted from parent to parent!

C. Calvin refused to limit the original sin to one dimension of humanity.

The Whole man is evil. The floor of hell are lined with dead babies.

II. The Person and the Work of Christ.

A) God set Christ before us and let us see Him.

B) The work of Christ is threefold. Prophet, Priest and King.

a. As a Prophet He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Fathers grace.

b. As King, He is the Fathers vice regent.

c. The Priestly work of Christ.

1. Christ appeased the wrath of God. Made perfect human sin.

2. God had to become man. Calvin did not agree with Anselm. God chose Christ to show His love.

3. God does not love us because Christ died for us but died for us because He loves us.

4. There is a focus on Penal work but did not forget about Satan.

5. Calvin takes an objective view of atonement.

I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THROUGH THE SPIRIT!

Book III—The way we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit---Faith and repentance, prayer, regeneration and election.

THE CHURCH AND THE STATE

Readings are Meno Simons-----------

1) Anabaptist 2) Spiritualist 3) Evangelicals

The Anabaptist wanted reform and restoration of the church.

The Spiritualist were not concerned with the visible church at all.

The Rationalist questioned the doctrine of the Trinity.

Luther called these people the Swhamers, like little bees buzzing around.

I. The First Person cast serious doubts was Meno Simmons!

A. Transubstantiation is not flesh and blood. Flesh and blood is an idea from Satan.

B. He called infant baptism into question.

C. He was shocked by Munster (the murder of thousands) and breaks with the Catholic church.

The Writings of Meno Simons

1) The foundation of Christian Doctrine 1539.

2) Meditation on the 25^th Psalms

3) The Spiritual Resurrection

4) The New Birth 1537

5) The Confessions of a distressed Christian.

The foundation of Christian Doctrine was written to stop the persecution .

A) Baptism for Simons was a personal adult experience.

B) Repentance actually brings about a real change (no just paying the Priest).

C) Sin – Accepted the Original sin.

D) Rejects Predestination.

Meno Simmons said that All state church members are not converted. The community of Christ must be an intentional community.

Use as an introduction to class for beginning students, Lane