Some good thoughts on the Lord’s supper from Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin… *** But as this mystery of the secret union of Christ with believers is incomprehensible by nature, he exhibits its figure and image in visible signs adapted to our capacity…. We now, therefore, understand the end which this mystical blessing has…
Author: mrteague
Can Wrestlers Baptize? (Part 2)
In part one, I asked readers what they thought about something John Calvin said about baptism in his book Institutes of the Christian Religion. Several readers made good comments on my Facebook page, and I thought I’d share them: [V]iewing the sacraments as only being able to be administered by clergy takes the emphasis off ‘Christ…
Can Wrestlers Baptize?
Baptism scene from Nacho Libre In other posts, I’ve mentioned I’m wrestling my way though Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. I’m currently reading a section about sacraments. Calvin sees sacraments like communion or baptism as signs of the work of Christ. Baptism, for example, pictures our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. Baptism doesn’t only signify forgiveness. It…
Trees and Mountains
Early this morning, I lay awake for a short time. My mind wandered to Genesis. Two trees take center stage in the garden of Eden: The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There was a commandment associated with the latter tree: “You must not eat from the tree…
Everything and Nothing
Today, I am encouraged that everything is working together to conform me to the image of God’s Son (Rom. 8:28-29). “Everything” includes successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses, righteousness and sins. Nothing is outside God’s redemptive power and use.
Break Time…
I’m going to clock out for a bit and take a blogging break. For the last month, my family has been very busy selling our house and buying another. It’s quite the transition. We’ve lived in our current house for over a decade. It’s the only house our kids have ever known. But it’s time…
Slaves of Death
“Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death–that is, the Devil–and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Certainly, the above verses…
The Book of the Wretched Sins of Mankind (and Especially Yours)
“[T]he heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God” (Ezek. 1:1). Ezekiel does not begin with man’s sin but with God. Sin is not the center of the universe, God’s thoughts, or His eternal plan. Unfortunately, in the way we often think about the Lord, sin usurps the place that belongs to God’s glory. …
Coming to Moriah
Originally posted on Bread for the Bride:
When Abraham laid his son Isaac on a sacrificial altar no witness was present but God. The Bible is silent on whether Abraham wept as he bound the boy to the firewood. The scriptures do not tell us whether he averted his eyes from Isaac’s frightened gaze. If…
Keep on the Shunny Shide
A book I’m reading advocates for the Matthew 18 model of church discipline: If someone sins, talk to him one on one. If he doesn’t respond, re-approach with two or three others. If that doesn’t work, take him before the church. If he doesn’t listen to the church, “let him be like an unbeliever and…