Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

2008-05-01 / 5-6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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E. God warns against any deviation from the Bible. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

II. No Other Guide Is Entirely Reliable

A. Any other guide is hopeless; the Confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches of France (1542) states, “Our philosophy is to receive in simplicity what the Scripture shows us.” “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. ” (Isaiah 8:20)

B. Tradition and folk wisdom fail to produce useful results.

“But refuse profane and old wives 'fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)

C. Philosophy will not accomplish what Scripture delivers.

“That yourfaith should not stand in the wisdom of men, butin the power of God. ” (1 Corinthians 2:5)

D. Philosopher William Young, English translator of Herman Dooveweerd, said in retrospect he would gladly have given up his career and academic acclaim to have spent his life as a simple Bible teacher. “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. ” (Psalm 84:10)

E. Calvin said [when commenting on Colossians 2:9] “He who is not contented with Christ alone, desires something better and more excellent than God.” “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ”

(Philippians 3:8)

F. There is no alternate gospel or legitimate improvement on the Word of God. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

(Galatians 1:8-9)

G. Calvin said [in his commentary on Isaiah] “They who wish to build the Church by rejecting the doctrine of the word, build a hog’s sty, and not the Church of God.” “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man s work of what

sort it is. ” (1 Corinthians 3:11-13)

III. The Ultimate Teacher Used the Bible as His Textbook

A. Jesus treated the full Bible as His own story and taught that even the evidence of personal sight would not convince someone who did not find Him in the Torah. “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. ” (Luke 16:29-31)

B. The power in the Scriptures is the truth which appears in it and that truth has always been Jesus. “To the law and

to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. ” (Isaiah 8:20)

C. Some people cannot understand the light and they cannot find Jesus even in the Bible. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ” (John 1:4-5)

D. People who find the Jesus of Scripture will come to God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ” (John 14:6)

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church Manassas, Virginia

Pastoral Counseling and Bible Story Telling

It’s funny how crises hit a pastor. They appear out of “nowhere” and you’re supposed to say something that hopefully is intelligent.

I got home tonight and just such a crisis was waiting for me.

It was one of those situations where the person needed to do some practical things in short order. Saying that didn’t seem too theological. It certainly was nothing some secularist couldn’t say. I suppose all pastors face that... having to say the equivalent of “brush your teeth,” “don’t get into trouble.” Nothing theological needed to be immediately said - simply practical things at first.

But I do not believe pastors are called to dispense moral platitudes. Instead they are messengers of the Gospel.

The Gospel need I discerned in the midst of this crisis was a sense of hopelessness and helplessness... perhaps even wondering “What on earth have I done to deserve this?”

So before things were over I decided I needed to tell a Bible Story.

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