John Calvin -- Ardent , Evangelistic Preacher

[Rippon]

This is a very worthwhile thread and highly informative ( IMHO ) .

 

[TCGreek]

Rippon,

A few months back I had to pleasure of reading Dr. Steven J. Lawson's The Expository Genius of Calvin and I must agree with you.

 

[J.D.]

It just so happened that I browsing another web site tonight and came across this audio file by JMac on Calvin. It's about 10 minutes and well worth the time:

http://www.oldtruth.com/ReformationPreaching.mp3

 

[webdog]

This thread is a waste of bandwidth...and a year old. It should be promptly archived. I have no idea why these threads have to keep being resurrected. If the author of the OP wanted to interact in the thread...the opportunity do have done so existed in the 18 months since the last post.

 

[reformedbeliever]

When did you become a moderator web? Some of us don't think this is a "waste of bandwidth." Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I do have to ask however.... since you hate John Calvin so much.... why even read or respond to such threads? Do you have a purpose in doing so?

 

[webdog]

When did you become a moderator web? Some of us don't think this is a "waste of bandwidth." Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I do have to ask however.... since you hate John Calvin so much.... why even read or respond to such threads? Do you have a purpose in doing so?

Is this the Mr. Hyde side of you, RB?

I have NEVER once said or implied I hated John Calvin. Please quit with the smearing...

If Rippon truly wanted to partake in this thread...why did he wait EIGHTEEN MONTHS to do so?

Like you, I can respond to the threads I want to without a "purpose".

 

[reformedbeliever]

Is this the Mr. Hyde side of you, RB?

I have NEVER once said or implied I hated John Calvin. Please quit with the smearing...

If Rippon truly wanted to partake in this thread...why did he wait EIGHTEEN MONTHS to do so?

Like you, I can respond to the threads I want to without a "purpose".

Mr. Hyde side of me? I don't follow. You will have to explain.

Yes, you can respond to any thread you like......... hense what I said;

Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

If you think it is a waste of bandwidth, then why respond to it? What is the purpose?
I think I have a right to ask that without you implying I have another side to my personality.... but of course I suppose you have the right to do that too web. I'll try to not resort to such things myself.

 

[webdog]

Mr. Hyde side of me? I don't follow. You will have to explain.

You explained it quite well yourself (...I think I have a right to ask that without you implying I have another side to my personality).

I don't appreciate an attributed "hate" attached to me against someone who I never discuss, nor do I hate.

If you think it is a waste of bandwidth, then why respond to it? What is the purpose?

The purpose was to give my thoughts about what I said.

What is the purpose to resurrect a thread that the OP did not participate in for 18 months? Seems like an agenda to me...

 

[reformedbeliever]

You explained it quite well yourself (...I think I have a right to ask that without you implying I have another side to my personality).

I don't appreciate an attributed "hate" attached to me against someone who I never discuss, nor do I hate.

The purpose was to give my thoughts about what I said.

What is the purpose to resurrect a thread that the OP did not participate in for 18 months? Seems like an agenda to me...

And you don't have an agenda? lol
Web, I don't think I ever imply that you have another side to your personality. I don't think I have ever attacked you. If I have please forgive me.
If you think this thread is a "waste of bandwidth", then don't reply. Your reply will just add to the waste. Understood?

 

[Rippon]

I know the following will burst some cherished bubbles for those who seek to cast John Calvin in a cold , uncaring , non-evangelistic manner .But so be it . Let the myths fall . Timber !

DISCLAIMERS : Calvinism is not about John Calvin . But I thought I'd put the record straight on some points about this unique man of God .

I do not want this thread getting derailed into unsavory things completely unrelated ( and most likely lies ) to the issue-at-hand .

If we see then a poor soul going thus into perdition , ought we not to be moved with compassion and kindness , and should we not desire God to apply the remedy ? ( Ephesians sermon 6:18,19 ).

We ought to pray that this and that and every man may be saved and so embrace the whole human race , because we cannot yet distinguish the elect from the reprobate ... we pray for the salvation of all whom we know to have been created in God's image and who have the same nature as ourselves ; and we leave to God's judgement those whom He knows to be reprobate . ( Remarks on John 17:9 )

Therefore , we may be so much the more assured that God taketh and holdeth us for His children , if we endeavour to bring those to Him who are afar off . Let us comfort ourselves , and take courage in this our calling : ... though we seem to be miserable creatures , utterly cast away and condemned , yet we must labour as much as possible to draw those to salvation who seem to be afar off . And above all things , let us pray to God for them , waiting patiently till it please Him to show His good will toward them , as He hath shown it to us . ( sermon on 1 Tim. 2:3-5)

... for though God might bring each person to himself by a secret influence , yet he employs the agency of men , that he may awaken in them an anxiety about the salvation of each other . ( Isaiah 2:3 ).

... nothing could be more inconsistent with the nature of faith than that deadness which would lead a man to disregard his brethren , and to keep the light of knowledge choked up within his own breast . ( Isaiah 2:3 )

... all the godly ought by all means possible to exert themselves in the work of gathering together the Church on every side ; for we are called by the Lord on this condition , that every one should afterwards strive to lead others to the truth , to restore the wandering to the right way , to extend a helping hand to the fallen , to win over those who are without . But if we ought to bestow so much labour on those who are yet aliens to the flock of Christ , how much more diligence is required in exhorting the brethren whom God has already joined to us ? ( Hebrws 10:25 ).

Since I have more than 2,000 posts sometimes I have forgotten some gems which , in my estimation need to resurface. This was a gem of a thread I have rediscovered .

 

[webdog]

And you don't have an agenda? lol

What would that be?

Web, I don't think I ever imply that you have another side to your personality. I don't think I have ever attacked you. If I have please forgive me.

Well, falsely accusing me of hating somebody didn't go over well. No problem, though

 

[Rippon]

Read

Well , I said in the OP that I would deal with Calvin's words AND ways . Since Helen is insistent that what he did speaks a whole lot louder than what he wrote , I will touch on that very aspect . I will quote from J.H.Merle D'Aubigne's History Of The Reformation .

M. de Lignieres begged Calvin to come and preach in their [ monks ] stead . The law-student spoke to an immense crowd with such clearness , freedom , depth and vitality , that every one was moved . ' Upon my word ,' said the lord to his wife , 'Master John Calvin seems to me to preach better than the monks , and he goes heartily to work too . ( Vol. 2:44 )

In this way Calvin labored in the town , in the villages , and in the chateaux , conversing tenderly with the children , preaching to adults , and training heroes and martyrs . ( Vol.2:44)

Mere preaching did not satisfy Calvin : he entered into communication with all who desired a purer religion , made them frequent visits , and conversed seriously with them . He avoided no one , and cultivated the friendship of those whom he had formerly known . He advanced step by step , but he was always busy , and the doctrine of the Gospel made some progress every day . All persons rendered the strongest testimony to his piety . The friends of the Word of God gathered round him , and among them were many burgesses and common people , but there were nobles and college professors also . (Vol.2:137 )

[ Referring to Calvin ] That man whose hand was one day boldly to raise the standard of the Gospel in the world , whose teaching was to enlighten many nations , and whose eloquence was to stir all France ; that man who was yearly to send forth from Geneva some thirty or forty missionaries , and whose letters strengthened all the Churches ... ( Vol.3:28 )

' Compose some short Christian exhortations for us, ' said his friends to him , ' and we will give them to well-disposed parish priests to read to their congregations .' He did so , and humble clerks read these evangelical appeals from their pulpits , as well as they could . Thus Calvin preached through the mouths of priests to poor villagers , as he had addressed the imposing Sorbonne by the mouth of the rector . ( Vol.3:38)

Good stuff , huh ?

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Wow. You know, we don't have enough C vs A threads here at BB.

 

[webdog]

Wow. You know, we don't have enough C vs A threads here at BB.

...that's why some need to keep tooting your own horn by resurrecting the threads you start

 

[MB]

Shouldn't we be more concerned here about God's word, and the doctrine of Christ. Rather than the praise of men or, the defamation of them?
MB

 

[Rippon]

Shouldn't we be more concerned here about God's word, and the doctrine of Christ. Rather than the praise of men or, the defamation of them?
MB

All I'm doing is clearing up some pernicious about John Calvin . If you want to learn more about the Lord and His Word you can consult Calvin's works . They are very instructive .

 

[MB]

All I'm doing is clearing up some pernicious about John Calvin . If you want to learn more about the Lord and His Word you can consult Calvin's works . They are very instructive .

I rely on the Bible for instruction not men. John Calvin may have been a christian, but that doesn't mean his writings are as good as scripture. He wasn't the master of theology a lot of people think that he was. I don't believe it is right to tear him down but then I'm not into praise of men either. Calvin was a born sinner just like the rest of us. he wasn't any better than anyone else. Christ on the other hand was perfect in all his ways and is deserving of our praise. Calvin is not deserving of anything. If Calvin did anything for the cause of Christ it wasn't Calvin who was responsible but the Spirit. So just how is it Calvin is so deserving of your praise?
MB

 

[Rippon]

Reminders Of Facts

There have been several threads about Calvin since I joined a couple months ago . There are quite likely dozens more before my time here . I just wanted to start a fresh thread about his soul-winning words and ways .

I know the following will burst some cherished bubbles for those who seek to cast John Calvin in a cold , uncaring , non-evangelistic manner .But so be it . Let the myths fall . Timber !

DISCLAIMERS : Calvinism is not about John Calvin . But I thought I'd put the record straight on some points about this unique man of God .

I do not want this thread getting derailed into unsavory things completely unrelated ( and most likely lies ) to the issue-at-hand .

If we see then a poor soul going thus into perdition , ought we not to be moved with compassion and kindness , and should we not desire God to apply the remedy ? ( Ephesians sermon 6:18,19 ).

We ought to pray that this and that and every man may be saved and so embrace the whole human race , because we cannot yet distinguish the elect from the reprobate ... we pray for the salvation of all whom we know to have been created in God's image and who have the same nature as ourselves ; and we leave to God's judgement those whom He knows to be reprobate . ( Remarks on John 17:9 )

Therefore , we may be so much the more assured that God taketh and holdeth us for His children , if we endeavour to bring those to Him who are afar off . Let us comfort ourselves , and take courage in this our calling : ... though we seem to be miserable creatures , utterly cast away and condemned , yet we must labour as much as possible to draw those to salvation who seem to be afar off . And above all things , let us pray to God for them , waiting patiently till it please Him to show His good will toward them , as He hath shown it to us . ( sermon on 1 Tim. 2:3-5)

... for though God might bring each person to himself by a secret influence , yet he employs the agency of men , that he may awaken in them an anxiety about the salvation of each other . ( Isaiah 2:3 ).

... nothing could be more inconsistent with the nature of faith than that deadness which would lead a man to disregard his brethren , and to keep the light of knowledge choked up within his own breast . ( Isaiah 2:3 )

... all the godly ought by all means possible to exert themselves in the work of gathering together the Church on every side ; for we are called by the Lord on this condition , that every one should afterwards strive to lead others to the truth , to restore the wandering to the right way , to extend a helping hand to the fallen , to win over those who are without . But if we ought to bestow so much labour on those who are yet aliens to the flock of Christ , how much more diligence is required in exhorting the brethren whom God has already joined to us ? ( Hebrws 10:25 ).

A golden oldie. Take a good gander.

 

[webdog]

...that's why some need to keep tooting your own horn by resurrecting the threads you start

Ditto......

 

[Rippon]

...that's why some need to keep tooting your (sic)own horn by resurrecting the threads you start

No, I'm tooting John Calvin's horn who gave all praise to the Lord.