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13. Of the False Church’s Origin
Of the Ungodly and False Church, which is the Opposite of the Church of God, and the Origin, Progress and Succession of the Same through All Times Where God builds a temple, says the old proverb, there the devil builds another in opposition. This has been apparent ever since the beginning of the world. For at the same time that Abel became a martyr of God, and, therefore, a good leader of the children of God, Cain made himself a murderer, and became a leader of the children of Satan, who belong to the ungodly and false church, as members of one body. Gen. 4:8. He was followed by Lamech, one of Cain's descendants, who slew a young man, and afterwards spoke of it to…
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Three Branches Of True Religion (3)
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • Whether verse 22 should be interpreted as God making a statement of fact, and addressing a concern, or, God speaking with a sense of sarcasm, pointing out the folly of sin • Whether verse 23 should be interpreted as a follow up of verse 22, or a follow up of verses 16-19 • Whether verse 24 should viewed as an act of God’s judgment, prohibiting sinners from the way of the tree of life, or an act of God’s grace, opening up the way of the tree of life to sinners • How the Ark and Mercy Seat of Exodus 25:10-22 is related to the flaming sword of Genesis 3:24 • What the “garden of Eden”…
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Three Branches Of True Religion (2)
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • The clothing of Adam and Eve before they transgressed God’s law • The meaning of a transgressor’s eyes being “opened” • The object lesson of the fig leaves sewn together and aprons made • The folly of good works religion • The deceptiveness of free will religion • The exploitation of Christianized activities • The type of animals God killed and what they represent • The reason why these animals had to be killed, with blood shedding, and what it represents • The “covering” of Adam and Eve in the coats of skins, and what it represents • The meaning of redemption and justification, and how they are connected to true religion (the gospel) • The…
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Three Branches Of True Religion (1)
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • The definition and significance of the term “religion” • Definitions for true and false religion • The three pillars of false religion • The three branches of true religion (the gospel) • God, as a preacher of the gospel • The electing love of God the Father, illustrated by the seed of the woman • The redeeming grace of God the Son, as it relates to His coming into the world for the purpose of destroying the works of the devil • The doctrine of regeneration, as it relates to spiritual growth
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Three Pillars Of False Religion
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • The timeframe when the events of Genesis 3 occurred • The location where the events of Genesis 3 occurred • The main events in Genesis 3 • Examining Satan’s temptation of the woman in verses 1-5 • Examining Adam and Eve’s transgression in verse 6 • Examining Adam and Eve’s vain attempt to make themselves right with God and escape His wrath and judgment in verses 7-13 • Examining the Lord’s pronouncement of judgment upon those involved in Adam and Eve’s transgression in verses 14-19 • Examining Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the garden of Eden in verses 20-24 • Showing how Adam and Eve remained under the authority of the covenant of works after they transgressed…
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Appendix (1): The “Fate” Of The Ancients From The Latin Justus Lipsius.
Concerning The “Fate” Of The Ancients From The Latin Justus Lipsius.[1] Fate (says Apuleius), according to Plato, is that, whereby the purposes and designs of God are accomplished. Hence the Platonics considered providence under a threefold distinction: (1) The providentia prima, or that which gave birth to all effects, and is defined, by them, to be the intention or will of the supreme God. (2) The providentia secunda, or actual agency of the secondary or inferior beings, who were supposed to pervade the heavens, and from thence, by their influence, to regulate and dispose of all sublunary things, and especially to prevent the extinction of any one species below. (3) The providentia tertia, supposed to be exerted by the genii, whose office it was to…
