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Handout Church History

John H. gerstner

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Contents

Part OneIntroductionThe Bible and Church HistorySecond Century: The Church of the Apostolic Fathers and ApologistsThird and Fourth Centuries: nicaea and the Deity of ChristFifth Century in the east: Two natures of Christ in one Divine PersonFifth Century in the Westearly Middle Ages: ecclesiastico-Political romanismThe Thirteenth CenturyThe end of the Middle: A Summary

Part TwoForerunners of lutherMartin lutherUlrich ZwingliColloquy of MarburgPhilip Melanchthon and lutheran SlippageThe lutheran Book of Concord and Saxon Visitation ArticlesJohn Calvin and the CalvinistsCalvinistic Creeds and the Westminster StandardsThe Anabaptists

Part Threeromanism’s Counter reformation: TrentThe Thirty Years Warorthodoxy on the Continent and BritainPuritanism in england and new englandArminianism and the external Attack on reformation orthodoxyCovenant Theology and the internal Attack on reformation orthodoxyenlightenment: root and Branch Attack on reformation orthodoxyThe Modern Missionary MovementThe Twentieth CenturyConclusion

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1

introduction

1. “ChurchHistory”isheredefinedastheperiodfromtheendoftheapostolicperiodtothereturnofJesus

2. Inthesethirty-ninesteps,Iwilltrytobringthestoryofthechurch’sascentanddescenttotheendofourowntimeinwhicheachofusiswritinghisownpage.

3. YourteachersubscribestothechildhooddictumthatallhistoryisHis story.

4. AllthatcomestopassiseternallyordainedbyGod(Lamentations3:37),forHisownglory,andthegoodofmankind.

5. Thismayseemstrangebecauseallhistoryendswithheavenandhell(Matthew25:31ff.).Allcanseethatheavenisforthegoodofthosewhoarethere,buthell?

6. Thatisgood,too,becauseallhistoryisthe“forbearanceofGodthatleadstorepentance”(Romans2:4)andeternallife.

7. Itismanhimselfwhochoosesnottorepentandlive,anditisgoodthathereceivewhathehimselfchoosestoreceive.

8. Godissurelynotto“blame”forwhathappensonlywhenman,rejectingHim,leavesHim“outofthepicture.”

9. Everyhistorianhashisownspecialityinthisvastfield.Yourprofessor’sisthedevelopmentofdoctrine,andthatwillbeemphasizedinthisbriefsketch.ItookmyPh.D.atHarvardinhistoryandreligionandamprofessoremeritusofPittsburghTheologicalSeminary,whereItaughtthissubjectforthirtyyears.

10. ThiscourseiscalledHandout Church HistorybecauseeachstudentreceivesahandoutcontainingtenpointsfromwhichIlectureextemporaneously.Forthosewhowanttogodeeperwesuggestamongthousandsoftitles:

a. Heaviest:W.Walker,A History of the Christian Churchb. Lessheavy:E.E.Cairns,Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the

Christian Churchc. Lighter:Eerdmans Handbook to the History of Christianityd. Lightest:Kuiper,Story of the Churche. Reference:Bettenson,Documents of the Christian ChurchandPhilipSchaff,

Creeds of Christendom,3volumes

Part O

ne

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the Bible and Church History

(Part 1)

1. TheBibleistheonlyinspiredchurchhistoryeverwritten(2Timothy3:16).

2. Or,thateverwillbewritten.

3. SinceitisGod’sWord,itis,ofcourse,withoutanyerrorinfactorjudgment.Yes,theBiblewaswrittenbymen;butifitisGod’sWord,Hewouldnotallowthehumanwriterstoerr.

4. Someonewillpersistandsay,“Thenthehumanwriterscouldnotbereallyhumaniftheycouldnoterr.”Ifthatwereso,Ireply,thenJesusChrist,whonevererred,wasnothuman.Enoughsaid?

5. SincetheBibleistheWordofGod,allmayreaditsinspiredchurchhistorywithabsoluteconfidenceinitscontents.

6. ButtheBiblealsohasgreatrelevancetothechurchhistorywearestudyinghere.

7. First,theBibletellsusmanythingsthatwillhappeninourage.Thishelpsusunderstandwhatisactuallyoccurring.Eventsthemselvesareoftenlikeatrainconductorcallingoutastation,almostindecipherably,untilweseethepostedsignoutsideourwindow.

8. Second,theBibletellsusthisisall“His”story,sotheChristiancanrejoiceineveryepisode,howeversaditmaybebyitselfalone.Wecanrollwitheverypunch.

9. Third,theBibletellsusallthatthisworld’shistorywillendwiththereturnofJesusChrist.TheChristianthenknowsthateverydaybringshistoryclosertotheblessedhope!

10. Fourth,dependingonone’sinterpretationofthelastbookoftheBible,muchofchurchhistoryhasbeenprogressivelyunfoldingsothattheChristianknowsthatthetimeoftheendisapproachingwithouteverknowingtheprecisedate.

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the Bible and Church History

(Part 2)

1. Fifth,mostimportantofall,theBibleis“normative”history,whilemerelyhumanchurchhistoriesare“descriptive.”

2. ThatmeansthattheBibletellsuswhatchurchhistoryoughttobe,while“churchhistory”onlytellsuswhatitis.

3. Thenon-biblicallyorientedchurchhistoriancanonlyrelateeventsbutcannotjudgetheirgoodnessorbadnessascanthebiblicalchurchhistorian.

4. IfancyIhearanexpostulationfromsomemembersoftheclass:“Howcantherebeany‘badness’or‘oughtnot’inhistory,if,asyousay,allhistoryisHisstory?”

5. Answer:HisstorymeansdecreedorpredeterminedbyGodbutnotnecessarilyauthoredbyHim.Heeternallydecreed(aswesawabove)toallowmentochoosetoabusedivineforbearanceandbringjudgmentonthemselves,whichtheyoughtnottohavedone.

6. Backtothesequeltopoint#3above.ThebiblicalchurchhistorianshouldfollowEmerson’sadvice:“Hugthefacts;thencutloose.”Lethim,withthehelpofsecu-lar,non-biblicalhistorians,gatherthemereandsheerdataandonlythen“cutloose”withbiblicalevaluations.

7. Thedifferencebetweenbiblicalandnon-biblicalchurchhistoriansevensurfacesinthenamesofcoursestaught.Forexamplewhenyouseeacoursein“NewTes-tamentandEarlyChurch,”probablytheprofessordoesnotbelievethatthereisaqualitativedifferencebetweenNewTestamenthistoryandearlychurchhistory,whichtherecertainlyis.

8. Thatisnottosaythatthereisnoquantitativecontinuity.

9. So,youshouldunderstandthiscoursefarbetterforknowingyourBible.

10. And,youshouldunderstandyourBiblebetterforknowingthiscourse.

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Second Century:

the Church of the

Apostolic Fathers and Apologists

1. Asthechurchgrewitencounteredpersecution.Indeed,itwaspersecutionbywhichitgrew.

2. Alreadybytheendofthefirstandthroughouttheearlycenturies,itwasthe“bloodofthemartyrsthatwastheseedofthechurch.”

3. ItmaybethattheReformedchurchisnotnotablygrowingtodaybecausethereisnotenough“martyrdom.”

4. ThenatureofthechurchintheearlysecondcenturyisknownmainlyfromtheapostolicfatherssuchasClementofRome,Ignatius,Polycarp,andtheShepherdofHermas.

5. Theirswasarelativelysimple,trusting,biblicalChristianity.

6. Thesecondcenturywasgraduallyrecognizingthatintheapostles,andespe-ciallyPaul,GodhadgivenafinalsupplementofinspiredScripturetocompletethethirty-ninebooksoftheOldTestament.

7. Itwasthelater“apologists”(suchasAristides,Tatian,Athenagoras,andTheo-philus)whoweretodefendthedivinetruthoftheChristianreligionasitsimpactwasbeingfeltthroughouttheRomanEmpire,includingitseducatedclasses.

8. Thatdefensewaswhatwetodayusuallycall“classical”or“evidential.”

9. ItrestedchieflyonthefulfillmentofOldTestamentprophecy,themiracles(especiallyofChrist),andthechangedlivesChristproduced.

10. Generally,theapologists(asthemostfamous,JustinMartyr)out-diedaswellasout-thoughttheirheathencontemporaries.

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third and Fourth Centuries:

Nicaea and the deity of Christ

1. TheBibleteachesthedeityofChrist.

2. TheChristianchurchwasfoundedonChrist.ThosewhobelievedinHimmettogethertoworshipChrist.

3. SowhereChristwas,therewasthechurch.

4. ButjustastherewasaJudasamongtheapostlestherewereantichristsinthechurchfromitsbeginnings(1John4:1ff ).

5. ThosewholateropenlydeniedthedeityofChristwerecalledArians,afterArius(thepresbyterofBishopAlexanderofAlexandria);butitwasOrigen(c.185-254)who,thoughheapparentlylovedandworshipedChrist,neverthelessmayhaveledIsraeltosinbyseemingtodenyHisfulldeity.

6. WhateverquestiontheremaybeaboutOrigen’steachingandintention,therecanbenoquestionaboutArius’teachingandintention.

7. EmperorConstantiusshowedthatthesonofagodlyfather(EmperorConstan-tine)couldbecomeanArianandanantichrist,thoughitmustbeadmittedthathisfatherhadbeenmoretolerantofAriansthanAthanasiusapproved.

8. NotbeingforChrist,ConstantiusandothersturnedagainstChristandhisgreatadvocate,Athanasius,successorofAlexanderasbishopofAlexandria.

9. Thefirstecumenicalcouncil,Nicaeain325,mixedmultitudeofecclesiasticalleadersthatitwas,becameneverthelessthegreatesteverbecauseitaffirmedthatChristwasofthesamesubstanceasthedivineFather,God.

10. Afterahalfcenturyoffurtherstruggle,theFirstCouncilofConstantinople(381)reaffirmedthedeityofJesusChristandaffirmedthedeityoftheHolySpiritaswell.

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Fifth Century in the east:

two Natures of Christ

in One divine Person

1. ThetheologicalbattledidnotendatNicaeaorevenatConstantinople,thoughthestandardofadivineChristwasraisedforallofsubsequentchurchhistory.

2. GrantedthatJesusChristwasGod,whatwasthechurchtomakeofHishumanity?

3. Asonemodernhereticputitinanswertothequestion,IsJesusChristGod?“Ofcoursenot.GodisGod.”

4. TherewerealsothoseinthefourthcenturywhocouldnotseethatifChristwasGodHecouldbeman(theMonophysites)orifHeweremanHecouldnotbeGod(theNestorians).

5. ThegreatCouncilofChalcedonin451didnottelltheMonophysitesandNesto-rianshowChristcouldbebothGodandman,butitdidtelltheminalmostinspiredlanguage,thatitwasso.

6. JesusChrist,Chalcedonsaid,isGodandman.

7. JesusChristisoneGodwhohastwonatures:divineandhuman.

8. Thesetwonatureswerenotsocombinedthatthehumanwasabsorbedintothedivine(againsttheMonophysites).

9. NorsoseparatedthattheybecametwopersonsandChristasplitpersonality(againsttheNestorians).

10. From451tothisday,thechurchhasnotessentiallyimprovedonwhatChalcedondidforthegloryoftheincarnateSonofGod.

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Fifth Century in the West:

Augustine and the

“Whole Counsel of God”

1. Bythemiddleofthesecondcentury,thechurchhaddevelopedherApostles’Creedandbythemiddleofthefifthcentury,herclassicalaffirmationoftheper-sonofherLordJesusChrist.

2. ShewaspropagatingthiselementalGospeltothe“world”fromJerusalemtoIndiaintheEast,BritainintheWest,andAfricaintheSouth.

3. ItremainedforChrist’satoningworktobedeclaredasclearlyasHisdivineper-soninhumanformhadbeen.

4. InoteinpassingthatthechurchwasfollowingthedoctrinalpathoftheapostlesintheNewTestament.First,theapostleshadleanedthatChristwas“theSonofthelivingGod,”onlytobetoldthatHemustgotoJerusalemanddie(Matthew16:13ff.).

5. NothingbuthisactualdeathcouldpersuadethemthattheirGodcoulddie(inthehumannature).

6. ButthenChristand“Himcrucified”becametheheartoftheirGospel.

7. BeforetheAtonementwastoreceiveitsclassicalstatementbythechurch,however,the“wholecounselofGod”fromwhichPaulhadnotshrunklesthebeguiltyofthebloodofmen(Acts20:20)hadtobespelledout.

8. Forthis,Augustine(354-430),especially,wasthearchitect.

9. Heshowed,asneverbeforeinchurchhistory,thedepthsofhumandepravityandtheheightsofa“doublepredestination.”

10. Augustinedidnotshrinkfromthewholecounsel,butmostofthechurcheversincehasdoneso.

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Fifth Century in the West: tertullian to Cyprian to Augustine

and the true Church

1. OnenoticesthattheApostle’sCreedhasnomentionofpredestinationintheChristianlife,thoughtheapostlesstressedsuchprinciples.

2. AndNicaeaandChalcedon,preoccupiedwiththepersonofChrist,hadnotimeleftforstressingtheneedofChristianstotakeuptheircrossandfollowHim.

3. ButTertullian,whoprovidedmuchoftheverylanguageofChristology,didstressthelivingChrist.

4. Infact,hethoughtsomuchofthedutyoffollowingChrist,livinganddyingforHim,thathisethicalrigorismmadehimdisgustedwiththedevelopingeasy-believism.

5. Finally,hecouldstanditnolongerandbecameaseparatistfromthechurchcatholic(universal),joiningagroupthatwas,asmostseparatistsare,worsethanthefaultymotherchurchfromwhomtheyseparated.

6. Cyprian,anotherNorthAfrican,affectedbyTertullian,insistedonthepurityofthechurchtothepointofnotacceptingbaptismbyanimpurepriest.

7. Cyprianmatchedhispracticetohisstrictpreachingbydyingamartyr.ThushemadehiserrorseemasgoodasCyprianwashimself.

8. ThatmadeitallthemoredifficultforAugustinetoshowthechurchthatthoughCyprian’sheartwasright,hisheadwasnotalwaysscrewedontightly.

9. But,thankstoAugustineagain,wehaveadoctrineofthechurchthatstrivesforaperfectionsheneverreaches.

10. Thechurch’sunworthyministersdonotdestroythesacramentstheyadministerevenwhentheydestroythemselvesbyhypocriticallyadministeringthem.

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Fifth Century in the West: Fall of imperial Rome and Rise

of ecclesiastical Rome

1. WhilethemissionarychurchwasusingRomanroads,language,andcivilizationtoChristianizetheworld,Romeandherculturewerecollapsingbeforethebar-barianspouringoverherborders.

2. AlarictheVisigoth,pushedbytheHunsandlaterfollowedbytheHunsthem-selvesunderAttila,pouredintoRome,andonlyitsbishopcouldpersuadethemtoleave.

3. ThusbeganthefallofoneRomewhichtyrannizedoverthebodiesofmentobesucceededbyanotherRome,whichultimatelytyrannizedoverthebodiesandsoulsofmen.

4. ImperialRomeadvancedbytheswordandruledbythesword.EcclesiasticalRomewastoconquerandrulebytwoswords:ecclesiasticalandpolitical.

5. TherecanbenoquestionthatpoliticalRomegavebirthtoecclesiastico-politicalRome.ManyscholarsonceheldthatPeterdiedamartyrinRomeafteratwenty-fiveyearbishopric.Hardlyanyonebelievesthattoday,thoughPeterapparentlyreachedRomeanddiedthereasamartyr.

6. ThereisnoquestionthatRomewasPaul’scity,twicevisitedandtheplaceofhismartyrdom,andPaul,notPeter,wastheNewTestamentMoses.

7. ButRome,havingsettledonamisinterpretationofMatthew16:18,“YouarePeter,anduponthisrockIwillbuildMychurch...,”andseeingPeterandnot“Peter-in-faith-in-the-Lordship-of-Jesus-Christ-confessing,”hadtofindasuccessorforhimnotevenmentionedintheNewTestament.

8. AndPeter’ssuccessorsweretobecometheonestowhomsubmissionwasneces-saryforsalvation.

9. Oncebegun,thisvirtualdeificationofthepapacycouldnotbestopped.

10. Howthisdevelopmentcameaboutwillbetracedinthenexthandout.

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early Middle Ages:

ecclesiastico-Political Romanism

1. Theestablishmentoftheecclesiastico-politicalRomewastheworkespeciallyofthreepopes:Hildebrand(1075-1089);InnocentIII(1198-1216);andBonifaceVIII(1294-1303)

2. The“InvestitureStruggle”—whoshouldordainorcrownwhom?Theking,thepope;orthepope,theking?Thiswasabattleroyalofpoliticalandecclesiasticalroyalty.

3. IntheEastthebattlehadbeenwonbytheczars.InIslamtheofficeswerecom-binedinthesultanate.

4. IntheWestthebattlewaspitchedbetweenKingHenryIVandHildebrand,especiallyatCanossa(1077).Theretheemperor,whohadbeenexcommunicatedandhissubjectsfreedfromsubmissionbythepope,stoodbarefootinthesnowoutsidethepapalpalacebeggingforforgiveness.

5. Thepopehadtoforgiveapenitent,buthecouldnotbecauseheknewtoowellwhatwouldhappenifhedid.

6. Theemperorwonhispardonandthepopelosthisthrone—atleasttheoccupa-tionofit,forhewassoondrivenintoexilewherehedied.

7. TheultimatepapaltriumphcamewithInnocentIII,who,morethananypopebeforeorsince,controlledchurchandstate.AttheFourthLateranCouncil(1215),hecommandedcrusades,definedthesevensacraments(includingtran-substantiation),madeconfessionnecessary,andthepenitentialsystemtheonlywayofsalvation.

8. BonifaceVIIIin1302issuedhisUnam Sanctum,whichmadesubmissiontothepopenecessaryforsalvation.

9. HehimselfcouldnotescapethepowerofPhiliptheFair,kingofFrance,inthisworld.

10. Ithasbeensaidthatheruledlikealion,butdiedlikeadog.

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the thirteenth Century:

Salvation by the Church

1. OnceuponatimesalvationwasbyJesusChrist.

2. Bythethirteenthcentury,salvationwasbythechurch.

3. ItwasallegedthatsalvationwasbythegraceofGodalonebutthatgracewasavailablefromthechurchalone.

4. ThesavingGospelmedicinecamefromabove,fromGod;butitwasgiventothechurchtobeadministeredbyher.

5. Aneattheologicalpackage.TherecipientofgracecouldthankGodforitandthankthechurchforlettinghimhaveit.

6. IfGodhadnotgivenit,theworldwouldnothaveit;but,iftheychurchdidnotreleaseit,theworldwouldperish.Insummary:

a. Thechurchadministeredbaptismtotheinfants,whichbroughttheirregeneration.

b. Thechurchadministeredconfirmation,whichbroughtthestrengtheningHolySpirit.

c. ThechurchadministeredtheEucharist,whichfedthepeoplewiththebodyofChristfortheChristianjourney.

d. Thechurchintheconfessionadministeredforgivenessandrequiredpeni-tenceforsinscommitted.

e. Thechurchbyextremeunctionpreparedthesoulfortransitiontoheaven,usuallyindirectlythroughpurgatory.

f. Fortheclergythechurchadministeredindelibleordersandforthelaitymarriage.

7. Absolutecertitudeofsalvationintheecclesiasticalwayfromwombtotombwasguaranteedbythechurch.

8. Onlyoneproblem:Thesystemwillnotwork.

9. Itwillnotworkbecause:(1)Baptismdoesnotregenerate;(2)loveisnotpro-ducedapartfromregeneration;(3)theworkswouldnotbemeritoriouseven

14 Handout Church History

iftheywere“good”works,whichtheyarenot;(4)allsinsofanunregeneratepersonaremortal;(5)thepenitentialsystemispurelyhumanperformance,andassuch,purelyuseless.

10. Toseethedeficiencyanotherway,Icitetheviewofthehistorianofdogma,Seeberg,whoremarksthatsola gratiasurvivedtheMiddleAgesbutnotpredesti-nationorirresistiblegrace.Butwithoutpredestinationandirresistiblegrace,sola gratiacannotsurviveorevenbegintobe.

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the thirteenth Century:

true Church “in the Wilderness”

1. WherewasthechurchofChristduringallofthisanti-Christiandevelopment?

2. Someofit,undoubtedly,wasintheRomanfold,wheretheelectheardChrist’svoiceabovethecryoffalseshepherdsastheblindmanoftheGospels(John9)heardJesusastheChrist.

3. OutsidetheRomanfold,individualbelieverssurvivedandawholemovementgrew.

4. TheWaldensesofthetwelfthandfollowingcenturieswalkedshoelessthroughthestreetsofEuropepreachingasimple,primitiveformoftheNewTestamentmessage,andmanyheardthemgladly.Othersalsowerecryingouttheirhallelu-jahs,thoughthisgroupwasmostprominentandclearlyevangelical.

5. Eventheorganizedchurchatfirsttriedtoembracethem,buttheWaldensesmarchedandlaterdiedtoadifferentdrummer.

6. TheInquisitionwasmoreeffective.Thoseitdidnotdestroyitdroveintohiding,especiallyintoAlpinefortresses.

7. TheretheWaldensessurvivedtotheReformationandtothegreatertolerationofmoderntimes.

8. Manyinterpretersseethemasthewoman-churchofRevelationdrivenintothewildernessandthereprotectedbyherGod.

9. OthersseethemasevidencethatGodwillneverletthevisiblechurchdisappeartotallyfromtheworld.

10. AllseetheWaldenses,alongwiththeLollardsofWyclifasaninspiration,asforerunnersoftheReformation.

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the end of the Middle:

A Summary

1. Thegreatquestionconcerningthechurchattheendofthemiddleis,Wasthechurchstillthere?

2. WehaveseenvastcorruptioncreepinduringtheMiddleAges.Somechangeshadtakenplaceevenduringtheeraofdivinelyguidedapostles.Especiallywasthissoaftertheyleftthechurches;fortunesto“ordinaryofficers”withoutanyfurthersupernaturalguidance.

3. ChrististheonlyHeadoftheChristianchurch,butthepopehadbecomeHisvicarandtheonly(forallpracticalecclesiasticalpurposes)visibleandrealhead.

4. Fromeminenttopreeminenttoindispensable,thepopehadbecomeheadnotonlyoverthechurchbutovertheChristianempireaswell.

5. Membershipinthevisiblechurchhadbecomenecessarytosalvationandsub-missiontothepopenecessarytomembershipinthatchurch.

6. Hehadnotyetbeen“defined”asinfallible,buthewasactingasifhewereandwasbeingacceptedassuchbymany.

7. Thecouncilshadtriedtocontrolthepapacyandfailed.

8. Ontheotherhand,justificationbyfaithalone,thedivinewayofforgivenessandsalvation,hadnotyetbeenexplicitlyrejectedandcondemned.

9. Norhadthechurch’sinterpretationoftheinspiredWordofGodyetbeendeclaredinfallibleandalonelegitimate.

10. WhenLuthercameonthescenetodeclareessentialbiblicalverities,hehadsomereasontothinkthathisadmonitionswouldbeheededandthechurchbecomefaithfultoJesusChrist.

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Forerunners of Luther:

Wyclif and Hus

1. JohnWyclifandJohnHuscouldalmostbeconsideredEnglishandCzechWaldenses.Notquite.TheyhadahistoryoftheirownoutsidetheRomanChurch.

2. WyclifwasanOxfordprofessorwhoalsoprofessedamoreorthodoxChris-tianity,beginningwithanattackontransubstantiation,anadvocacyofsavingpersonalfaith,andafreeindependentchurch.

3. IfhehadnothadthesupportofthenoblemanJohnofGaunt,hecouldhavemetmartyrdominthisworldratherthantheposthumousmartyrdomofhavinghisbonesdugupbytheRomanChurch,burned,andashescastintothewaters.

4. JohnofGauntandothernoblesfelttheycoulddefendWyclifnolongerwhenhisattacksonthechurchbecamemoreradical.

5. Wyclif,inillhealth,retiredtoLutterworth,wherehediedin1384,anevencenturybeforethebirthofLuther.Butnotbefore,likeLuther,inexilehedidhismostimportantliteraryworkofbeginningthetranslationoftheBible.

6. LutherwasnevertocallhimselfaWyclifitebutaHussite.

7. ThoughHuswasaforeigndiscipleofWyclif,itwashewhosufferedmartyrdomattheCouncilofConstanceforprinciplesLutherwaslatertoadopt.

8. HushadcaughttheGospelcontagionfromWyclif,expressingitinvariousways,includingademandofthecupforthelaity.

9. The“utraquists”(communioninbothkinds)couldnotbetoleratedbythechurch,thoughChristhadsoinstitutedtheSupper.

10. TheprincipleoftheReformationisnowalive:Individualsfindingforthemselvesbiblicaltruthsdeniedbythechurchwhowillpartwiththeirlivesratherthanthoseprinciples.

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Forerunners of Luther: Lyra, Valla, erasmus,

and Ockham

1. Onedoesnotalwaysthinkofthesemen,whoneverbrokewiththechurch(nottomentionpayingwiththeirlivesforsodoing),asforerunnersoftheReformers.

2. ButtheywerechildrenoftheRenaissanceifnotoftheReformation,andthereissomequestionwhethertherecouldhavebeenaReformationwithoutaRenaissance.

3. Renaissancemeantrebirth,referringtoGreekandLatinculture,whichhadbeenlargelylostbythebarbarianinvasionsofEurope.

4. Godusesnaturalorcommongraceaswellassupernaturalorspecialgraceforthewell-beingofHischurch.

5. Letmeexplain.WhenmanfellhelostthemoralimageofGod(holiness)butnotthenaturalimageofGod(reasonandwill).

6. Sonaturalmancanandoftendoescultivatethethingsofthemindandwill,how-eversinfullymotivated.Knowledgepuffsupbutitisuseful,asseeninart,music,literature,andcultureingeneral.TheRenaissancemindcangainthewholeworldwhilelosingitssoul,butforthosewhosesoulsarealive,itsculturecanbeagreatblessing.

7. SoitwassaidthatNicolasofLyraplayedthelyretowhichLutherdanced.Beinginterpreted,thismeansthatNicolas’greatscholarshipproducingmanylearnedbiblicalcommentariesshowedLutherhowtousescholarshipinhisprofoundevangelicalpenetrationoftheWordofGod.

8. LorenzoValla,closertoLuther’stime,byhiscriticalresearchesontheforged“DonationofConstantine”andonScriptureitself,showedLutherthewayofnecessarybiblicalexegesisorexpositionfromtheoriginallanguages.

Forerunners of luther: lyra, Valla, erasmus, and ockham 19

9. SayingErasmus,whoselifeoverlappedLuther’slaidtheeggLutherhatchedseemsespeciallystrangeinasmuchasErasmus’andLuther’stheologywerepolemicallyopposed.YetitwasErasmus’biblicalscholarshipthatmadeLutherpossible.

10. Probablythegreatestnon-reformationalforerunnerofLuther’sReformationwasWilliamofOckham,anEnglishFranciscanmonkwhoseunsoundphilosophicalandtheologicalprinciplesindirectlyledMartinLutherinthetruepath.

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Forerunners of Luther: Brothers and Sisters of

the Common Life

1. WhatcameclosesttotheReformationbeforetheReformationwasthemove-mentcalledtheBrothers(andlateralsoSisters)oftheCommonLife.

2. ItbeganwithG.GrooteintheNetherlandsandultimatelyspreadthroughotherpartsoftheEuropeanchurch.

3. ThesebrothersandsisterswerelaypeoplewhoseemedaliveinChrist,spreadingtheGospelanddoingmuchgoodamongthecommonpeople,especiallythepoorandneedy.

4. ThemostfamousadherentwasknownasThomasàKempis(c.1380-1471),authoroftheimmortalImitation of Christ.

5. AlongwithBunyan’sPilgrim’s Progress,itistheworld’sbestsellernextonlytotheBible.

6. ItwasastudyintheinnerlifeofthedevoutChristian,showinghimhowtomediateandpracticeespeciallytheteachingsofJesus.

7. Theemphasiswasonhumility,love,service,andpreparationforthesacrament.

8. TheImitationgivesnogreatdevelopmentofsoteriologybutdoespointtodeeppietyandpractice.

9. Whydidthistypeofmovement,usefulasitwas,notleadtoreformation?

10. ItwasdomesticatedbythepapalchurchastheWaldensianmovementcouldn’tbe.WhenBonifaceIXrecognizeditandgaveitstandinginthechurch,reformwasnippedinthebud.

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Forerunners of Luther:

Savonarola

1. Savonarolawasaone-manmovementstartingoutlikeLuther’sbutwithquiteadifferentending.

2. LikeLuther,Savonarolawasamonk,thoughintheDominicanorder.

3. LikeLuther,hisoppositiontothehierarchy’sindifferencetoChristianthoughtandlifewassurprisinglysuccessful,astheMedicis’Florenceovernightbecamequitezealousandmoral,burningtheirvanitiesandsoberlyreforming.

4. ButthewaythatallcameaboutwasasflukyasSavonarolahimselfwasgenuine.

5. TheReformerofFlorencehadthreateneddivinejudgmentonthecity’ssins.Hebecamespecific,sayingitwouldbebythekingofFrance.

6. Savonaroladidnotknowthatthemiracleofpredictiveprophecyhadceasedwiththeapostolicage.

7. God,whoissometimespleasedtoallowthedeceivedtoremaindeceived,per-mittedthesuccessfulandsoberinginvasionofCharles.

8. TheeasilyandwillinglydeceivedpeoplesawthisasdivineconfirmationofSavonarola.Theyrepentedwholesale.

9. PopeAlexanderknewthatiftheFlorentinescouldbeimpressedbyonefalseclaim,theymightbeimpressedbyanevengreaterfalseclaim.Heputthecityunderinterdict,threatenedthepeople,andexcommunicatedandarrestedSavonarola.

10. Savonarola’slastwordsashewasbeingburnedmayhavebeenhisgreatestandtruest:“Youmaycutmeofffromthechurchmilitantherebelow,butyoucannotcutmeofffromthechurchtriumphantabove.”

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Martin Luther

(Part 1)

1. Lutherwasbornin1483.

2. Thoughhisfatherwasahumbleminer,Luther’sfamilygavehimagoodhuman-isticeducation,hopinghewouldbecomealawyer.

3. IttookaboltoflightningstrikingafriendtodriveMartintothecloister.

4. AnAugustinianmonkandscholar,ittookatriptocorruptRomeandajoltofAugustine’sorthodoxyplusaboltfromheaventhroughRomans1:17tomakeaProtestantReformeroutofhim.

5. Eventhen,hisfather-confessorreassuringhimthattheRomanwasChrist’schurchandthattheagitatedmonkmightstillhavefaithinher,heremainedfaithfultoRome.

6. ItwasthechurchherselfwhichseemstohaveawakenedLuthertotheconvic-tionthatshewasnolongertheholyapostolicchurchoftheNewTestament.

7. ArousedbythecrasssellingofindulgencesbyTetzel,LutherpostedhisNinety-fiveThesestotheWittenbergchapeldoor,challengingvariousecclesiasticalideasandpracticesoftheestablishedchurch.

8. TherewerenoclearaffirmationsofthegreatProtestantprincipleofjustificationandthepriesthoodofbelieversbutonlyaquestioningofthesacramentalsystemthathadprevailedunchallengedforcenturies.

9. Thatyoudon’tquestiontheunquestionableLutherlearnedsoonenough.First,hisAugustinianordersummonedhimtoHeidelbergin1518;thenCardinalCajetansummonedhimtoAugsburgin1519;andfinallyJohnEckmethimindebateatLeipzig.

10. ThatwaswhereLutherlearnedthatnotonlypopesbutcouncilsaswellcoulderr.

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19

Martin Luther

(Part 2)

1. WhenLutherbecamea“Hussite,”theReformationwasborn.Notin1509,whenAugustinewasdiscoveredandtheReformationwasborninLuther’smind,orin1513’s“experienceinthetower,”whenitwasborninhisheart,or1517,whenthetheseswerepostedandtheReformationhaditsexternalbeginnings,butinJuly1519,whenLutherhimselfwasbornasonewhowouldstandfortheReformation,thoughacouncildisapproveandmartyrdombethepriceasitwasforJohnHus.

2. TheBrethrenoftheCommonLifemayhaveseenwhatLuthersawbuttheycametotermswiththepapacy.LefevrecertainlysawwhatLuthersaw,buthewasnotspeakingfortherecord.

3. Butthe“HereIstand”LutherwasbornatLeipzig,thoughitwasnothistoricallyclearuntilhesaidthosewordsattheDietofWormsinApril1521,afteranearlierexcommunication.

4. ThepopebyexcommunicationcouldsentenceLuthertohell,butitwastheemperorwhohadthepowertosendhimtherebyexecution.

5. Thatwasthestarkprobabilityfacinghimattheparliamentwherehewasaskedifherecantedhiswritingsandrepliedwiththeimmortal“NO”and“HereIstand.”

6. WhenLuthersaidthat,hewouldhavebecomeaHussitemartyrwerehenotrescuedandhiddenbyhiselector,FredericktheWise,whowasneverwiser.

7. WhiletheReformerwasinhiding,theReformationwentoninWittenbergwithanewtwistfromthecharismaticsofthatday.

8. WhileLutherwasinhidinghewasaccomplishingthegreatestfeatofhisliterarycareer:thetranslationoftheBibleintoGerman.

9. LutherreturnedtoWittenbergtoremovetheseschwärmer[“fanatics”]andputtheReformationbackontrack.

10. Meanwhile,astheReformerandhislearnedassistantMelanchthonwereenjoy-ingtheirdrinksinaGermanbeergarden,Godwasbringingdownthe“gatesofhell”alloverEurope.

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20

ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

1. UlrichZwingliwasoneofthoseministerswhowasconvertedafter,ratherthanbefore,enteringhisministry.

2. ThoughhishumanisticeducationwasthoroughandhispreachingatGlarusineastSwitzerlandveryaffecting,itseemstohavebeenhisverse-by-versepreach-inginZurichthatmadeaReformeroutofhim.

3. Ofcourse,wheresignsofspirituallifeappearedtheestablishmentbecamecon-cerned.Inthiscase,itwasthebishopofnearbyConstance.

4. Warningswereissued,butthepeoplestoodwiththeirpreacher.Hierarchi-calhandsweretied,especiallysinceZwingliwasconsideredtohavebestedthebishopindebate.

5. ZwingliwasallowedtoflourishandthereformspreadfromZurichtoBernandregionsaround.

6. TheReformer’sSixty-fiveArticlesofFaithshowed,astheSwissproudlyclaim,thattheirZwingliwasindependentlyonewiththeGermanReformer—aco-Reformer,notawarmed-overLuther.

7. Zwingli’sspecialproblemwaswiththeAnabaptistswhoopposedinfantbaptism.

8. TheAnabaptistsfelt,possiblycorrectly,thatZwingli(onceopposedtobaptismapartfromfaith)hadcompromisedtoholdhisconstituency.

9. Trueornot,ZwingliturnedagainsttheAnabaptistsasenemiesofthechurchandstate.Theyopposedthestateasofthisworldandtendedtoundermineitsmili-tary,essentialtodefenseagainstRomanCatholicforces.

10. ItwasindeedRomanCatholicmilitaryforcethatdefeatedtheProtestantarmyatKappelin1531andkilleditschaplain,UlrichZwingli.

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21

Colloquy of Marburg (1529)

1. PrepareforthesaddesteventinearlyReformationhistory.

2. WhenZwinglilearnedthatGodwasreformingthechurchintheNorth(Luther)andLutherlearnedthatGodwasreformingthechurchintheSouth(Zwingli),theyrealizedthattheyshoulddiscusstogethertheirrediscoveredevangelicaltruth.

3. ThemeetingwassetforMarburg,oneoftheLutherancentersinHesse,underPrincePhillip,whoconvenedthemeetingin1529.

4. BecauseLutherandZwingliweretoofierytorisktheirdialoguingtogether,theycoupledLutherwithmilderOecolampadiusofBaselandZwingliwithMelanchthon.

5. ThetwoReformedgroupsrealizedthattheyagreedoneverydoctrineexceptone—theLord’sSupper.Suchunanimity!Butitwasnotenough.

6. ForLuther,thebreadoftheEucharistwasthebodyofChrist.ThatiswhatChristsaid.Lutherwroteonthevelvetcloth:Hoc est corpus meum!

7. TheSwissremindedLutherthatChristalsocalledhimselfthevineandthedoor.ThatmadenodifferencetoLuther.Hoc est corpus meum!

8. Oecolampadiusasked,“Martin,howisChristanymorepresentinthesacramentifHeiscorporeallypresentthanHeiswhenspirituallyanddynamically?”

9. “Idon’tknow,”answeredLuther,“butifChristtoldmetoeatdungI’ddoitknowingitwasgoodforme.”NottobelieveChrist’swordswastobeof“anotherspirit”(andere geist).ForMartinLutherthisonedifferencewasnonnegotiablebecauseitmeanttohimfidelitytoChristorinfidelity.

10. Twoironichistoricalpostscripts:(1)LuthersawacopyofCalvin’swritingontheLord’sSupper(essentiallylikeOecolampadius’sviews)andseemedtoagreewithit.(2)Manschreck,aMelanchthonauthority,saysthatitwasMelanchthonwhostiffenedLutheragainsttheSwissviewoftheEucharist,fearingwithwouldmakereunionwithRomeimpossible.

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22

Philip Melanchthon

and Lutheran Slippage

1. Weallknowthenot-too-funnyjokethatthemanistheheadofthefamilyandthewifetheneck,butitistheneckthatturnsthehead.

2. ItwassomethinglikethatinMelanchthon’srelationtoLuther.HenotonlyhelpedLutherbutwasinaweofhim.

3. Nevertheless,aswehaveseen,itwasprobablyMelanchthonandnotLutherwhoturnedtheGermanReformationagainsttheSwiss,causingthefirstgreatdivisioninProtestantism.

4. ItwasalsoMelanchthonandnotLutherwhowrotethefirstLutheransystematictheology.Loci Cummunes(“commonplaces”)wasthefirstProtestanttheol-ogy(1521),anditwasMelanchthonwhonegotiatedwithRomanCatholicismatAugsburgin1530,thoughLutherwasinthebackgroundkeepinghisassociateinline.

5. Nevertheless,MelanchthonneveragreedwithLuther’sprofoundAugustinian-ism,thoughheneverdareddifferwithhimopenlywhileLutherlived.

6. AfterLuther’sdeathin1546,immediatelyandopenlyMelanchthondiffered,andLutheranismgraduallyslippedbacktomedievalsemi-Augustinianism(calledsemi-Pelagianism).

7. TherewereviolentcriticismsofMelanchthon’slittlestepsbackwardtowardtheCalvinisticviewoftheEucharistbutlittleornoneagainsthissynergism(thatGodandthesinnercooperatedinregeneration).

8. AfterthecontroversieswithinLutheranismsettledandtheBookofConcordwasadoptedin1580,theLutheranmovementbecameLuther-anism,notLutherismorLutheranism—averysubtleformofsynergismthatfewrecognizedassuch.

9. TheyagreedwiththeReformeduptothepointthatregenerationprecededfaithbutthenmadethatfaithresistible—athoughtalientothemindofMartinLuther.

10. ThegreatLutheranchurchoftheReformationhasfollowedLutherinhiseucha-risticerrorandMelanchthoninhissoteriologicalone.

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23

the Lutheran Book of Concord

and Saxon Visitation Articles

1. WhateverdifferencesbetweentheLutheranandReformedreformationswererevealedinLutherhimselfandMelanchthonandthelaterBookofConcord,thedepthofthecleavageisseenevenmoreclearlyinadocumentsuchastheSaxonVisitationArticlesof1595.

2. ThiswasatypicalguideforLutheranofficialsbywhichtheyweretoexamineLutheranadherentsandministersinvariouslocalitiesinSaxony.

3. InadditiontotheusualandtobeexpecteddifferencesconcerningtheLord’sSupper,oneseesasystematicdifferencethatexplainswhymany“oldLutherans”cametoregardCalvinismasaformoffatalismworsethanheathenismorIslam.

4. TheReformedchampionedtheirdifferencesbutneverseemedtohaveviewedLutheranerrorassograve.Theywereawound(naevus) inthebodyofChristbutnotafataldefect.

5. ThoughLutherhimselfwasanuncompromisingpredestinariannotawhitlesssothanJohnCalvin,thesearticlesfindthatdoctrinetobeprofoundheresy.

6. GrowingoutofthedifferencebetweenLutheranandReformedthinkingontheLord’sSupperarosedifferencesinChristologyalso.BecausetheReformeddenythecorporealpresenceofChristintheSupper,theyaredenouncedasrestrictingChristtoheavenanddenyingHispresenceintheEucharist.

7. ProbablytheworstdifferencesasseenbytheVisitationArticlesarethepracticalonesdealingwiththeChristianlifeitself.

8. AccordingtotheReformed(theArticlesteach),apredestinedpersonissavednomatterhowhethinksorhowbadlyhebehaves.

9. Ontheotherhand,anon-electpersonislostbeheneversogodly!

10. Marburgisbeing“revisited”todaynotbyoldLutheransandoldCalvinistsbutbynewLutheransandnewCalvinists,anda“NewReformation”maycomeoutofit.

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24

John Calvin (1509-1564)

and the Calvinists

1. ThethreegreatReformersareusuallylistedasLuther,Zwingli,andCalvin.Itshouldberemembered,however,thatCalvinwassecondgeneration,onlybeingconvertedshortlybeforeZwingli’sdeathandthegreatesteventsoftheLutheranReformationera.

2. AccordingtoMelanchthon,Calvinwas“THETheologian”oftheReformation,thoughmonergisticandpredestinarian.

3. Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion,theclassicoftheReformation,wasfirstpublishedin1536,theyearofErasmus’sdeath,adecadebeforeLuther’s,whenCalvinhimselfwasaveritableyouthinhismid-twenties.

4. CalvinwasaLutheran—orshouldwesaythatLutherwasaCalvinist?Ioncegavealecture,“MartinLuthertheGreatCalvinist,”followedbyRogerNicole,“JohnCalvintheGreatLutheran.”

5. ThatthetwogreatestleadersoftheReformationwereatoneintheirmessage—apartfromthesacraments—cannotbedeniedhoweverdivergentthosewhocameafterthem.

6. CalvinwasthesonofaRomanCatholicsecretarytothelocalbishopofNoyon,France.AfteranawakeningtraceabletoLutheranisminhisnativeFrance,CalvinbecameaProtestantrefugeeunderFrancesI,thekingtowhomhededi-catedhisInstitutes,insistingProtestantismwasnotaninnovationbutclassicChristianity.

7. AftermanyvicissitudesCalvinandhisReformationwereestablishedinGenevaby1539andsolidifiedin1559.Calvindiedtriumphantlyandatpeacein1564,justastheRomanCouncilofTrentwasclosing.

8. VirtuallyforcedtosettleinGeneva,hehadalmosthisentireministrythere,con-stantlywriting,teaching,preaching,organizing,corresponding,andspreadingtheGospeltotheworld.

John Calvin (1509-1564) and the Calvinists 29

9. CharlesPorterfieldKrauth,aleadingLutherantheologianoflastcentury,wroteandimportantworkcalledThe Conservative Reformation,showinghowLuther-anismhadpreservedmoreofthemedievalheritagethanCalvinism.

10. ThatistrueaswehaveseeninourbriefsketchofCalvin’slife.

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Calvinistic Creeds and

the Westminster Standards

1. TheLutheransareapeopleofonecreed,itselfasinglecompositeofseveralcreeds,theBookofConcord.TheCalvinistsdevelopedcreedsforvirtuallyeverycountrytheyentered.

2. ScotlandhaditsScots’Confession;EnglanditsThirty-nineArticles;IrelanditsIrishArticles;theNetherlandsitsArticlesofDort;thelowcountriesitsBelgicConfession;GermanyitsHeidelbergCatechism;Switzerland,theFirstandSec-ondHelveticConfessions.

3. AcenturylatercamethemostcomprehensiveReformedcreedoftheReforma-tionera,TheWestminsterConfessionofFaithandCatechisms.

4. Inspiteofthespontaneityoftheseandthenumberofthem,theyhaveaunityequaltotheLutheranBookofConcord.

5. DortisespeciallyinterestingbecausethecontroversywithArminianismlead-inguptoisconvocationledtoadefiningofCalvinisminrelationtoitsinternalchallenger.

6. Arminius,whohadbeenaReformedpastor,departedfromhisdoctrinalheri-tage,adeparturetheremonstrantsdefendedafterhisdeathin1609.

7. ThecontroversywassettledbytheecumenicalsynodconvenedatDortintheNetherlands,1618-1619.

8. ItsreaffirmationofCalvinismanddenunciationofremonstrantprinciplesgavebirthtothefamiliar“fivepoints”popularityrememberedbytheacrosticTULIP.

9. Remonstrantswereultimatelytoleratedandtodayanti-CalvinismprevailsinHolland,thoughnotwithoutvigorousadvocatesoftheReformedfaith.

10. Intheseventeenthcentury,anefforttoharmonizeCalvinismandArminianisminAmyrauldianismfailed.

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Anabaptists

1. ProfessorWilliamsofHarvardcallstheAnabaptiststhe“radicalReformation”asKrauthcalledtheLutheransthe“conservativeReformation.”

2. WemightcalltheAnabaptiststhe“un-conservativeReformation.”

3. TheywerethethornsinthesidesofLutheranismandCalvinismaswellasCatholicism.

4. WhatmadethesepeopleradicalandyetapartoftheReformation?

5. Theirradicalismwastheir“ana-baptism”(secondbaptizingofthosealreadybaptizedininfancy).Infantbaptismisonethingthatallmainlinereformationspreservedfromtheearlyandmedievalchurchwithout(exceptforLutheranism)thebaptismalregeneration.

6. TheAnabaptistsrejectednotonlybaptismalregenerationbutinfantbaptismitself,thusantagonizingtheReformationaswellasCatholicism.BothgroupsweredriventomakemartyrsoftheseradicalReformers.

7. Theotherdistressing-for-the-ReformersfeatureofAnabaptismwasitsseparat-ism.LutheranismandCalvinismdidnotconsiderthemselvesasseparatingfromRomebutRomeasseparatingfromthem.TheywerethecontinuationofbiblicalandearlierChristianity.PapalismhadleftessentialChristianity.

8. TheclassicReformerssawnojustificationfortheantipaedobaptismoranti-civilgovernmentoftheAnabaptists.

9. NordidtheyseeanyjustnessintheAnabaptistclaimofapurechurch,whichAugustineamillenniumearlierhadprovenunbiblicalandimpossible.

10. TheReformerssawthemselvesinamighty,difficult,anddangerousstruggletopreservetheChristianchurchwhenalongcameaprotestinggroupfulloferroritselfandyetseparatingonthegroundofhavingapurechurch.

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Romanism’s

Counter-Reformation: trent

1. RomanCatholicism,afterPopeLeoX,whosawtheReformationinGermanyasonlymonks’squabbles,learnedtotakeitveryseriouslyandfoughtitallthewayandinallareas.

2. Strangely,itseemedreluctanttocallanecumenicalcounciltocondemn(whatitcouldnotconquer),asEmperorCharlesVhadbeenurgingallalong.

3. Papalfoot-draggingwasbecausethepopehadcondemnedthemovementandexcommunicatedLuther.Thatseemedsufficient.Whyacouncilwhentheonlyonewhocouldcallone—thepope—didn’tneeditanddecidedthematterasonlyhecoulddoinanycase?

4. ButfinallythepapacyfeltthecouncilinevitableandcalledoneforTrentin1545.Itmayhavebeenalongtimecoming,butonceformeditwasalongertimeinmeeting,1546-1563.

5. ThereluctanceincallingshoweditselfinareluctancetohaveProtestantspresent.Ifthepopehadalreadycondemnedthem,whatjustificationfortheirpresencebutpenitence—inwhichtheyweretotallylacking?

6. SoRomesettledtheBibleissue,sinissue,andsalvationissuebeforeProtestantsevenarrivedtodiscussthesecrucialdoctrines.

7. ThustheconclusionofTrentmarkedthefallofRomein1564.

8. IsaythatRomefellasachurchin1564(whileshewascallingherselftheonlytruechurch)foratleasttworeasons:

9. First,attheoutset,thecouncildeclaredtheRomanChurchtheonlylegitimateandinfallibleinterpreteroftheWordofGod,thustakingtheBiblefromthepeopletowhomGodgaveit.

10. Second,thecouncilrenouncedtheonlywayofsalvation:justificationbyfaithalone.

Part T

hre

e

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the thirty years War

(1618-1648)

1. TheReformationandTrenthavingsettledthedoctrinalissuesdecisively,noth-ingwasleftbuttosettleexistenceissuesonthefieldofbattle.

2. Christianitywasnotyetreadytoletheresyandtruthliveside-by-sideuntiltheDayofJudgment.

3. Thesituationinseventeenth-centuryGermanywaslikethatinSouthAfricaattheendofthetwentieth.Therewasnoquestionthatwarwouldbreakoutbutonlywhen.

4. WhatbroughtitaboutinGermanywasthe“defenestrationofPrague,”whichbeinginterpretedmeantthatanunwelcomeRomanCatholicofficialwasthrownoutofawindowinProtestantterritory(Prague1618).

5. RomedeclaredwarandProtestantismhadtodefenditself—whichitdidverypoorlyatfirst.TheRomanGeneralWallensteinvirtuallyrompedacrossEurope.

6. ThebattlewouldhavebeensoonoverandtheReformationalmosterasedwereitnotforSweden’sGustavusAdolphus.AlmostanevencenturyaftertheRefor-mation’smostbasiccreedtheAugsburgConfession,wasdrawnupin1530,theSwedes—partlyforpoliticalandpartlyforreligiousreasons—invadedEurope.

7. GustavusAdolphuslosthislifebutwonthebattlefornorthernEurope.

8. FromthePeaceofWestphaliain1648tothisday,ProtestantismhasdominatednorthernEuropeandRomanism,southernEurope.RomanismhasneverbeenabletotakethenorthnorProtestantismthesouth.

9. Itshouldhavebeencalledthe“Truce”ofWestphaliabecausenotuntilthiscen-turyhaseitherRomeortheReformationrecognizedthereligiousrightofeachothertoexist.

10. TodaythefortunesofChristianityhavesunksolowthatjustificationbyfaithalonehasbecomenegotiablewithmen.GodinHisWordseemsnottohavechangedhismind.

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Orthodoxy on the Continent

and Britain

1. Duringandafterthemilitarybattles,orthodoxyinLutheranism,Calvinism,andAnglicanismcontinuedtodevelop.

2. Imention“Anglicanism”separatelyfromCalvinismbecause,thoughitscreedisCalvinistic,manyinthatchurchholdalooffromtheReformationasifitwereavia mediabetweenProtestantismandRomanism.

3. Later,MethodismbrokewiththeAnglicanchurchandwiththeCalvinisticRef-ormationaswell.

4. LutheranorthodoxyfollowedthepatternoftheBookofConcordfaithfully,solidifyingtheArminianizedCalvinismofMelanchthonandtheBookofConcord.

5. IexplainedearlierwhatremainedtrueintheeraofChemnitz,Gerhard,andHol-laz,namelythatLutheranismfeltitselftruetoLutherinaffirmingregeneration’sprioritytofaithwithoutrecognizingthatthenotionthattheregeneratedcouldrejectthatfaithvitiatedLuther’sCalvinisticthinking.

6. Thesacramentalism,bettercalledsacramentalitis,remainedandremainsunchangedinLutheranorthodoxyandtodaythreatensReformedorthodoxy.

7. AsLutheranorthodoxytendedtovitiateLuther’sreformedorthodoxy,Calvin-istorthodoxytendedtostrengthenCalvin’s(untilrecently).IfLutheranismweakenedLuther’sstrength,CalvinismstrengthenedCalvin’sweaknessorincompleteness.

8. Calvintendedtotreatthechildrenofbelieversaselect,barringthemfromtheLord’sSupperonlybecausetheycouldnot“discern”theLord’sbody.

9. Calvinisticorthodoxymadeclearerthatwhatthesacramentssymbolizedwasnotnecessarilyunitedwiththepersonswhoreceivedthem.

10. ContemporaryCalvinismistendingtoreturntoCalvin’sweakness.

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Puritanism in england

and New england

1. ThereconvergedinthePresbyterianismofScotlandandEnglandandanindependentandbaptisticstrandthepurestformofReformationtheology:Puritanism.

2. Mostofthecontinent,aswenoticed,hadcometotermswithmedievalsacra-mentalismoritsReformedequivalentoftyingtheoffspringtobelieverswithsacramentalgrace,thoughnotex opere operato.

3. SinceallCalvinistsfavoredthebiblicalteachingthatallmenareborndeadinsinandarenotnecessarilyregeneratedwhenbaptized,theironlypossibleconclu-sionwasthis:Thoughchildrenofbelieversareinthecovenantofgraceinsomesense,thatsensedoesnotnecessarilyincludeelection.

4. Consequently,allbaptizedchildrenwerestilllittlesinners;or,asEdwardsoncecalledthem,littlevipers.

5. ButwheninalectureIoncereferredtoEdwards’“littlevipers,”oneReformedministerpresentsentmeanotereading:“Littlevipersincovenantaldiapers.”

6. Thenotecontainednoexplanation,butIthinkthemanmeantthatthecovenantrelationshipsomehowremovedtheinfant’sviperishconditionorresponsibilitytherefore.Thatcouldonlybeifthecovenantsomehowpromisedthatthechildwaselectifnotregenerate.

7. ButthePuritanscouldfindnobiblicalevidenceforsuchacomfortingdoctrine.ThePuritans“neverdilutedthevinegaroflife.”

8. GoddidsaywhenHeestablishedtheAbrahamiccovenant,“IwillbeGodtoyouandtoyourdescendantsafteryou”(Genesis17:7).

9. ButGoddidnotsay“allthedescendantsofAbraham,”andtherestoftheBiblepointstothe“spiritualseed”ofAbraham.

10. Furthermore,IshmaelwasthenaturalseedofAbrahamandEsauthenaturalseedofIsaac.

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Arminianism and the external Attack on

Reformation Orthodoxy

1. TheCounter-Reformationmayhaveerredbyanoverlysanguineviewofbap-tismalregenerationwithitseffectofmakingbaptizedchildrenconfidentofpossessingsalvationratherthanseekingforit.

2. Thatwasandremainsaseriousmistake,butnotsoseriousastheArminianattackfromwithout,becausethat,whileencouragingalltoseeksalvation,taughtawayofdoingsothatcouldneverresultinfinding.

3. ThisdeepandfatalerrorcamefromadefectiveviewoftheFall;orrather,fromadefectivedeductionfromacorrectviewoftheFall.

4. LetmeexplainwithJohnWesleyasprincipalandinfluentialexample.JohnWesleyandJonathanEdwardsbothwrotedefensesoforiginalsinattackingJohnTaylor’scriticismoftheorthodoxdoctrine.

5. Afterdefendingoriginalsin,essentiallyasEdwardsdid,Wesley’sbookdepartedradicallyfromEdwards’.WesleycontendedthatthoughmanwasguiltyoftheFallanddeservingdivinewrath,Godhadtogivehimachancetobesaved.WhyamanwhodeservestodiemustbegivenachancetobesavedWesleyneverexplained,nordidheseethatthatwouldchangetheGospelfromgracetojustice.

6. Tomakemattersevenworse,Wesleyassumedthatthesinner,giventhis“chance,”wasable—thoughtotallyfallen—toavailhimselfofitandchooseChristandsalvation.

7. SuchideasarenotfoundintheBiblenordidtheycrossEdwards’mind.

8. Iftheunregeneratesinnersoughtsalvation,itwouldbeaworkofthefleshandnotoffaith.“Abadtreecannotbringforthgoodfruit,”saidWesley’sLord.

9. ThusArminianism,whileaffirmingtheBible’sdoctrineoforiginalsin,denieditsdoctrineofthedivineinitiative.

10. Tohimthathasitshallbegiven.Tohimthathasnotshallbetakenwhathehas.

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Covenant theology and the internal Attack on


1. ThecovenantofgracebecamethecornerstoneofReformedtheology.

2. RomanCatholicismandEasternOrthodoxyneverdidmuchwiththisbiblicalconcept.

3. Lutheranismalwaysopposeditseeingitasaquid pro quo,man’sfaithandobedi-enceequaltoorearningChrist’ssalvation.

4. TheReformed,alwaysrealizedthatthereisnolegalisminthecovenantofgracebecauseGodHimselfprovidesthenon-meritoriousfaithandobedienceHimself,revealedinthedoctrine.

5. Thencametheerrortowhichwehavealreadyalluded:Sincethecovenantincludestheinfantsofbelievers,alltheirchildrenareelect.Wesawinthepre-cedinghandoutthatthatwasnotthecase.

6. Butwhatisthecase?Ifthechildrenofbelieversareinthecovenantbutnotnec-essarilyelect,inwhatsensearetheyallinthecovenantofgrace?

7. Allinfantsofbelieversareinthecovenantofgraceasbeinginitssphere,notnec-essarilyinitssalvificeffects.ThusthecircumcisedJewsoftheOldTestament,whowerenon-electmembersofthecovenant(Esaus,asitwere),wereinthespheresofredemptionbutnotinitssalvificeffects.

8. Thecovenantforbelievers’childrenalsoimpliedthattheirparentswouldcov-enantearnestlytoseektheirsalvation—especiallywhentheywereunabletoseekitforthemselves,andthatisveryhopefulforthechildren.

9. Ifonereadsmoreintothecovenantofgracethanthat,covenantalcorruptioninevitablyfollows.

10. Thatiswhatishappeningtoday,amountingtoaninternalattackonReformationorthodoxy.

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enlightenment: Root and Branch Attack on


1. “Wewrestleagainstfleshandblood...”Thedevil’sstruggleagainsttheChristianissosubtleandformidablethatitwoulddeceive,ifthatwerepossible,theveryelect.

2. Sometimestheprinceofdarknessbecomesverybold,attackingthechurchofGodnotonlysubtlybutbybrazen,open,arrogant,directattacksontheveryWordofGod.

3. Thisdescribestheso-calledEnlightenmentoftheeighteenthcentury.

4. ItshouldbecalledtheEndarklement,becauseinspiteofitsmanyvaluablecon-tributionstoculture,science,andindustryitwascrassnaturalismdenyingGodandespeciallyHissavingrevelation.

5. TheEndarklementwasawayformantogainthewholeworldandlosehissoul.

6. Wehavealreadyseenthatthenatural(unlikethemoral)imageofGodsurvivedtheFall.Thismadeitpossibleforsinnerstoreceivethe“commongrace”ofGodwhilerejectinganddespisingsavinggrace.

7. SomeReformedtheologianstendtothrowouttheEnlightenmentbabywiththeEnlightenmentwash.Thatis,theydenyeventhecommongraceinwhichtheEnlightenmentabounded.

8. ThesetheologiansinsistthattheEnlightenmentdestroystheshouldwhenitgivestheworld.Butthe“world”isagiftofGodinitself.Thefactthatsinnersselltheirsoulsforitdoesnotmakeitevilevenwhenitcomeviaevilmen.

9. TheChristianshouldthankfullyreceivealltheculturalbenefitsGodgivesevenwhenGoddeliversthembythedevilandhisagents,whointendtodestroyoursoulsbythem.

10. ItisGodwhomakestheraintofallontherighteousandunrighteous.Therigh-teousareblessedbyallHisgiftsandtheunrighteousarenotcursedbythembutmakethemintocurses.Romans2:4alongwithMatthew5:45arethegoldentestsofGod’scommongrace.LetChristiansbeenlightenedabouttheEnlightenment.

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the Modern

Missionary Movement

1. MissionaryworkwasapartoftheGospelfromthebeginning.TheGospelwassynonymouswith,“Gointoalltheworld...”

2. AsthefineBaptisttheologianA.H.Strongoncesaid:“Don’taskwhatwillbecomeoftheheathenifyoudon’ttaketheGospeltothem.Askwhatwillbecomeofyouifyoudon’t...”ItwasanotherBaptistCalvinist,WilliamCarey,whofirstattemptedgreatforeignmissionsforGod,whostrengthenedhimtoaccomplishit.

3. WhythenwastherelessexpansionofChristianityintheeighteencenturiespre-cedingthelastthaninthatonecentury?

4. ItmustbeadmittedthattherewerealwayssomeCalvinistswhofelttheGospelwaspreachedunderthewholeheaveninthefirstcenturyandsubsequenteffortswereunnecessary.SuchatheoristtoldWilliamCarey,whenheappealedforfundstosendhimabroad,thatifGodwantedtheFarEastconvertedHewouldhavedoneitHimself.

5. Themainreasonfornon-missionaryactivity,however,wasIslamicoppositionandthelackofveryadequatetransportation.

6. ItisinterestingtoothatthoughCalvinismisthemessagetheBiblehasforthenations,manyofthemissionarieswere—andare—Arminians.

7. So,manywhoareevangelizingtheworldwerenevercommandedtodosowithaperversionoftheGospel(though,thankGod,includingthecore).

8. IhaveoftenbeenaskedwhetheranArminiancanbesaved,muchlessbetheinstrumentofothers’salvation.Theanswerisimportantforanunderstandingofthegreatmodernmissionarymovementthathaspenetratedeverycorneroftheearth.

9. Myanswerisyesandno.Yes,becauseevangelicalArminiansprofessfaithinthedivineChrist,Hisatoningblood,HisinspiredWord,andmany,manyother


elementsofChristiantruth.Peoplehearingthoseessentialtruths—unlikepeoplehearingtheliberaldenialofthem—maybesaved.

10. Theanswerisalsono.Arminianevangelismrestsontheprofounderrorthatfallenmanisnotdeadspirituallybutonlydying.Heisthereforesupposedtobeabletobringabouthisownnewbirthbyhisself-generatedfaith.Thiscanneverhappen.NoonecaneverbesavedbyhimselfevenwiththehelpoftheHolySpirit.IhopeandbelievethatmultitudesofArminiansreallybelievethetruthstheydonotholdinspiteoftheotherwisefatalerrorstheyproclaimtotheworld.

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the twentieth Century:

theological Liberalism

1. Wehavebutonemoredecadeofthetwentiethcentury,completingtwomillen-niasincetheSonofGodbecameincarnateandwasdeliveredupforouroffenses.

2. HowgoestheGospelintheworldattheendofthetwentiethcentury?Thereisnowayofgettingfulloraccuratestatistics(thoughtherearemanyusefulattempts).

3. Onecanonlymakeeducatedguesses.Mineisthatthevastmajority—maybe90percent—ofprofessingChristendomdoesnotprofessChristianity.Orrather,itdoesnotunderstandtheChristianityitprofesses.

4. Pelagianismwastheearlychurch’sformofprofessedChristiansprofessingnon-Christianity.

5. Today,obviously,mostofthosewhoprofessChristianityareprofessingareligionwhichMachencalled“liberalism”(inhisdefinitivevolumeadmiredevenbylib-erals,Christianity and Liberalism).

6. Theeconomyoftheworldcouldnotfunctionwith90percentofthemoneycounterfeit.NeithercanwhatgoesbythenameChristianity.

7. Solution:TrueChristiansmustraiseanensignagainstfalseChristianity.IftheworldchoosestogooncallingthatChristianitywhichwelabelcounterfeit,theworldwillgoonperishing,buttheirbloodwillbeontheirownhead,notonours.

8. LiberalismdeniesthedeityofJesusChrist,thedivineTrinity,aninerrantScrip-ture,thefallofman,thewrathofGodandtheonlysalvationthroughtheatoningbloodoftheCross.Mostofour“mainline”seminariesaretrainingouryouthtogointoalltheworldtounderminetheGospel.

9. Satanappearsasanangeloflightwhenhewhoisthemessengerofeternaldeathpretendstobethewaytoeternallife.TrueChristiansmustneverwearyofwarn-ingtheworldofhimandtryingtoturntheworldtoitsonlySavior.


10. OneofthegreatestofAmericanliberals,H.E.Fosdick,preachedof“ThePerilofWorshippingJesus.”WhenIwasoncetryingtowinaMusliminKhartoum,hetoldmethathehadheardDr.FosdicksaythatChristwasonlyaman.TheChristianmessageforthenationsis“ThePerilofNotWorshippingJesus.”

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theological Ambiguity

(Neo-Orthodoxy)

1. ItwassaidofKarlBarththathismessagewas:ThereisnoGodandJesusChristisHisSon.

2. Henever,tomyknowledge,everputitquitethatway.ThatiswhathismessageamountedtobecauseheofferednoevidencefortheexistenceofGodandmerelydeclaredtheSonshipofJesus.

3. BarthclaimedtogetsuchnotionsfromtheBible,thusblamingtheHolySpiritforthisnonsense.

4. Oneliberalaccusedofneo-orthodoxyofmakingameaninglesscombinationofwordsintothewisdomofGod.VanTilcalledneo-orthodoxythe“newmodern-ism,”contendingthatthemeaninglesscombinationofwordsmerelycoveredunderlyingliberalism.

5. WhydidBarth,probablythegreatesttheologicalgeniusofthetwentiethcentury,engageinpalpableabsurdity?Therewas“methodinhismadness.”Hewasorigi-nallyahard-coreliberalwhenherealizedthathewaseatingswine’sfoodinthefarcountrywhilehesawthefundamentalistsbanqueting.How,hewondered,couldheenjoythebanquetwithoutbecomingafundamentalist?

6. Barth’sanswer:I’llagreewiththesmartliberalsthatChristianitycannotbeprovedandthenenjoythegospelfeastwhichtheignorantfundamentaliststhinkcanbeproved.

7. So,Barth’smassivetheologicalworkspunoutfullybutambiguouslywhatthechurchbelieveswithoutanyreasonforbelievingit.Brunner,Bultmann,andahostofothersweredoingthesamethinginslightlydifferentways.

8. Theneo-orthodoxymessage:Givetheworldachoice—useyourheadandrejecttheGospelorcrucifyyourintellectandaccept.


9. Choosetheworshipoffoolsortheunbeliefoftheknowing.

10. Neo-orthodoxygavebirthtothe“DeathofGod”movement—whichwasborndead.

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Neo-evangelism

1. Rememberthesituationintheearlychurch:Somethoughtmanwaswell:Pela-gians.Somethoughtmanwassick:semi-Pelagians.Somethoughtmanwasdead:Augustinians.

2. AmongProtestantswestillhavethe“well”—liberals—perhaps90percent.

3. Westillhavethe“sick”—evangelicals—perhapseightpercent.

4. Westillhavethe“dead”—Reformed—perhapstwopercent.

5. Itistheevangelicalswewillnoteespeciallyinthishandout.Howdotheevangeli-calsmakemanouttobesickwhentheBible,whichtheyknowtobeinspired,callsman“dead”(Ephesians2:1)?Theythinkthattheythinkmanisdead!TheysimplycannotseethatifamanisstillableofhimselftoacceptChrist,hecannotbedead.

6. Whyisitsoimportanttothemodernevangelicalthatmanbeconsideredsicktodeathbutnotspirituallydead?Becauseifmanissick,heandtheevangelistwiththehelpoftheHolySpiritcansavehim.Ifheweredead,onlytheHolySpiritcouldresurrecthim.

7. TheevangelicalsarenotgoingtogiveGodalltheglory.TheyadmitthattheFathersendstheSonandclaimthattheSondiedtosaveeverybody,andtheHolySpiritiswillingtohelpanyone;but,thesinnerhimself,withtheevangeli-cal’shelp,mustdowhatalonecansavehim—believe.EvenGodunaidedcannotrestorehimtohealth.Theevangelicalcannotdoitalone;neithercantheCreatorGoddoitalone.Onlysickmancandecidethematter.

8. TheevangelicalevenadmitsthattheHolySpiritdoestheregeneratingofthesinner.ThatisaworkoftheHolySpirit.Itlooksforamoment—longenoughtodeceivemanyevangelicals—thattheyaregivingfullglorytothethirdmemberoftheTrinity,aswellastheothertwomembers.

9. Notso.EventhoughtheevangelicalArminianadmitsthatregenerationistheworkoftheHolySpiritalone,itisthesinneralonewhoallowsHimtodoit;indeed,byhisself-initiatedfaithobligestheSpirittoregenerate.


10. Inthelastanalysis,thoughthisconcludingpartofthetwentiethcenturyistheperiodofevangelicalism’sgreatestseemingpowerandinfluence,ArminianismimplicitlydeniestheglorynotonlyoftheSpiritbutoftheFather,whoisnotallowedunconditionallytoelectsinners,northeSontodiespecificallyforthosetheFathergaveHim.

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Neo-Calvinism

1. ManywillquestionourestimatethataslittleastwopercentoftheprofessedChristendomareCalvinists.IcertainlycannotprovethisandIhopeIamwrong;but,Ihavebeenintheministryfiftyyearsandtaughtchurchhistorymuchofthattimeandperhapsamentitledtoahumbleandtentativeguess.

2. IfIamallowedthatmuchImaytotallyexhaustthepatienceofmyreaderswhenIfindsomedoctrinaltendenciesamongtherelativelyfewCalvinistseatingawayatthefoundations.

3. ButIamafraidthatIdo,thoughforthemostpartthistwopercentofChristen-domisessentiallyhealthy.

4. WhatiseatingatthefoundationsofCalvinismisverysimilartowhathastendedtodestroyChristianityintheMiddleAgesandinthecontemporarysacerdotaldenominations?

5. Itwassacramentalismorsacramentalitiswiththem,anditiswhatImaycallcovenantitis,closelyconnectedwiththesacramentofinfantbaptism,withtheCalvinists.

6. WesawearlierthatthecovenantofgracehasbeencentralinmodernCalvinism.

7. Thiscovenantinsomesenseincludesthechildrenofprofessedandcommuni-cantbelievers.

8. Strictlyspeaking,thatsenseinwhichchildrenareincludeddoesnotneces-sarilyincludetheirelection,buttherecanbenoquestionthatmanyCalviniststodaythinkso.OnewriterinastudyofthismatterintheChristianReformedChurch,theOrthodoxPresbyterianChurch,theformerReformedPresbyterianChurchEvangelicalSynod,andhisownReformedPresbyterianChurchofNorthAmericafounditwidespreadintheotherReformeddenominationsandwisheditwouldbecomemoresoinhisown.


9. Thegreattragedyofthisviewisthatthegreatestfieldforevangelism—thechildrenofbelievers—isruledoutasafieldforevangelism.

10. AtthesametimeletitbesaidinconclusionthattheReformedchurchesareessentiallyfaithfultothegreatcommissionand“wholecounsel.”

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Conclusion

1. Inthisconcludingpostscript,letmeremindthereaderandhearerofHandout Church Historythatitisthemerestoutline,highlyinterpretative.Hewillhavetoreadoneofthebooksrecommendedorotherdetailedaccountsofthemyriadaspectsofecclesiasticalhistoryifhewouldfillinthepicture.

2. Nevertheless,thebird’s-eyeviewhasitsvalue.Youseetheforestanddon’tgetlostinthetrees.

3. Atthesametime,thosewhoseethewholeforestdifferentlyaregoingtoraiseamassiveprotest.

4. OnceinavolumeinThe Evangelicals,editedbyWoodbridgeandWells,Iwrotetheopeningchapter,givinganoverviewthatsawtrueevangelicalismasReformed.TheReformationevangelicalismIsawwasdecliningtoArminianism,whichprevailsinthetwentiethcentury.Arminianswrotestingingreviewsofmychapter.IntherevisededitiontheeditorsleftmychapterintactbutaddedachapteronthesamethemebyanArminianhistorian.Interestingly,heessentiallyagreedonthehistorybutinsteadofseeingArminianismasdeclineanddegen-eration,hesawitasprogressandimprovement.

5. Thatillustrateswhatwesaidintheopeningchaptersofthiswork.Historyishis-tory;ecclesiasticalhistoryisecclesiasticalhistory.Butwhetheritisgoodhistoryorbadhistory,historycanneverdetermine.

6. OnlytheWordofGodis“normative.”

7. “Tothelawandtothetestimony!Iftheydonotspeakaccordingtothisword,itisbecausetheyhavenodawn[notomorrow]”(Isaiah8:20).

8. MyconvictionasastudentofScriptureandofchurchhistoryisthatmostofthelatterhasdepartedfromtheformer.IfindmostofchurchhistoryadeparturefromtheReformedmessageoftheScripture.

9. Thewholeworldliesintheevilone(1John5:19)andmostofthechurchisintheworld.Thetruechurchisaremnantoftheremnant,wheatamongtaresintheworldchurch(Matthew13:24-30).WhentheSonofManreturns,Hewillnotfindanyfaithintheearthandlittleintheworldchurch(Luke18:8).


10. ButHewillfindHisbridetherewaitingandwatchingforHimreadyfortheircelestialmarriage!