33. Beginning of Christian Missions

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: RHC 14 Send Out Thy Light and Thy Truth 462 We’ve a Story to Tell 367 There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

Acts 13:1-12

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to theirminister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord isupon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Beginning of Christian Missions

OUTLINE

  • The Men (v1)
  • The Mandate (v2-3)
  • The Mission (v4-12)

INTRODUCTION
Beginning of Christian Missions – Acts 13:1-12. Christian mission work is the work of soul winning in a Spirit-led, church-based setting fulfilling the Great Commission that Christ gave to the church before His ascension that extends beyond the geography of the local church.

A work that Christ Himself inaugurated during His earthly ministry as best recorded by Matthew in Matthew 9:35-8.

Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

It is a Holy Spirit-led systematic spiritual endeavour to rescue souls that are fainted and scattered, as sheep having no shepherd that result in the planting of new churches when souls are won into God’s kingdom.

A victorious spiritual endeavour which the Apostle Paul described:

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

One late pastor said well, “Thanks be to God who always causes to triumph in Christ! And when we are enjoying this victory, we will be sending off a sweet, pervasive perfume of His glory.

Do you know what incense is made? It is by cutting or breaking herbs, then crushing them into a fine powder. Then water is added to this powder to create a clay to form into sticks or cones.

What is the purpose of incense? To burn and create a fragrant aroma. When we are praising God in the midst of trials. Singing songs of glory in the midst of persecution, claiming His victory when a problem arises, then we are emitting a sweet aroma that is unmistakable to the nostrils of God. This is the sweet smell of victory!”

The principal activities were preaching and praying. He was spreading the good news of the gospel. He preached the word to all who are willing to listen. Jesus also taught. He showed to them the true sense of the laws of God in Matthew 5-7. How do we live our lives in the light of God’s Word that will bring God’s blessings! 

He also healed the sick. We see this in Matthew 8-9. These mighty works authenticated Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah King. Today, we do not possess such supernatural power of miracle healing but we can pray for the needs of those we meet, acknowledging that power comes from God, and we submit ourselves to His sovereign power and will to heal.

Our Lord went about all the cities and villages and He was among the people. We can see imagine the picture of weariness and toil in the work of the gospel. It required physical, mental and spiritual endurance. Our Lord demonstrated to us this commitment by His excellent example for our emulation.

In fact we catch a glimpse of Jesus in the work of soul winning in Matthew 8-9. You will notice that it is a greatly sacrificial work. He said this to the scribe who wanted to be His disciple – “20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) And yet it is highly rewarding for it is the souls of men and women snatched from the clutches of hell and transported to the glory of heaven. 

You see the string of ceaseless activities that our Lord was doing. It is truly an encouragement and great privilege for us to be a part of this good work. 

However, in the immediate context of verse 34, the Pharisees accused our Lord that “He casts out devils through the prince of the devils”, in other words, Jesus’ work is evil because He is energized by Satan. What great blasphemy! All this work put in will avail to nothing. It destroys lives. In fact, from Matthew 9 onwards we observe that the work becomes more difficult because of opposition. 

Chapter 9 began with Jesus’ healing the man sick with palsy (paralysis of the muscles as a result of some disorder in the nervous system) and forgiving him of his sins. The scribes observing, said to him, “This man blasphemeth.” Indeed, as Jesus said, these scribes taught evil in their hearts. The work of Jesus in saving the man spiritually and physically was of God, it is a good work, a work of love. 

Jesus’ was fulfilling the mission that God the Father sent Him to do. He had to endure much ridicule and scorning for the good work. In the midst of toil, our Lord endured mockings and scornings that can cause much discouragement, like pouring cold water to cool down the momentum of the work started. This was the lot for our Saviour. It will be the lot for us His disciples too. May the Lord grant to us His comfort and encouragement so that we may press on despite rejection, resistance and setback! 

  • Hard Work (v35)
    • Preach (v35a)
    • Pray (v35b)
  • Heart Work (v36)
    • Compassion (v36a)
    • Care (v37b)
  • Holy Spirit-Led Work (v37-38)
    • Call (v37-38a)
    • Commission (v38b)

We saw earlier in the sermon “A New Beginning – Acts 11:1-18” – Before Jesus’ ascension, He said to the 120 disciples waiting for the promise God’s power through the Holy Spirit to energize them to be God’s witnesses, Jesus said in Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus gives the marching orders to all His disciples without exception to bring the gospel to all nations and to make them disciples of them and identify them through baptism and to teach them all things teach them so that they become like you that they in turn may make others disciples. This was Christ’s Commission to the infant church.

And geographically, Jesus delineated that they should move as the Holy Spirit would lead them from Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The unsaid portion of this commission is that God’s plan is not only to save the Jews this group assembled were all Jews but His plan includes saving the half-Jews and half-Gentiles in Samaria and even more so, His plan includes saving all men from every nation that is living even in the uttermost part of the earth.

  • The Salvation Plan of God Rehearsed (v1-10)
  • The Salvific Proof of God’s Plan Recounted (v11-16)
  • The Settled Purpose of God Reinforced (v17-18)

Here in Acts 13, we see a transition from the work of Peter to the work of Paul. Acts 1-12 Peter was the main instrument for God, Acts 13-28 Paul will be the main instrument for God.

Three thoughts:

  • The Men (v1)
  • The Mandate (v2-3)
  • The Mission (v4-12)
  • The Men (v1)

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

It was 17 years after Jesus’ ascension in A.D. 30 that the church at Antioch sent its first missionaries in A.D. 47. Paul was actively at the church in Antioch since A.D. 44. He served as a teacher at the church in Antioch, preaching the Word of God until the call came when the church sent him and Barnabas as their first missionaries (Acts 13:2).

The call to the missionary task begins with the men. The call to the missionary task was given to Saul and Barnabas in the first missionary journey lasted 2½ years from A.D. 47-49 from Acts 13:1- Acts 14:28. 

This was God’s assessment of their work they fulfilled the task which was assigned unto them. At Antioch, they showed accountability to the sending Church in Acts 14:27. 

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

There were 5 leaders in Antioch with diverse racial, cultural and social background. Two from northern Africa (Simeon the Niger [the word means “black” his complexion was darker than the Syrians and Lucius), one from Cyprus, the other from Cilicia (Tarsus) in modern day Turkey and only one, Manaen, is from the Holy Land and not one is from Antioch or Syria – Although Luke does not tell us where Manaen is from, he refers to his high social status. 

IN MANY WAYS, THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH IS A “MODEL church”—the kind of example our churches should strive to emulate. It is a church with a plurality of gifted leaders who zealously and selflessly serve the Lord. It is a multi-ethnic church reflecting the fact that the gospel is not for just one particular group. And it is a church of people who worship the Lord with sincere hearts, sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, and obedient to the Lord’s directives.

Morris MacDonald aptly said, “This word “missions” does not appear in the Bible, but we consider Paul to have been a missionary. When Paul said, “Do the work of an evangelist” in 2 Timothy 4:5, he was referring to his missionary work. 

An ordained missionary is one who is called as an evangelist. 

Harold Cook suggests, ‘The New Testament pictures for us a faith which is by its nature missionary (An Introduction to the Study of Missions, Moody Press, 1954, p. 20).”

George Peters gave a clear biblical definition of missions gleaned from the Acts of the Apostles. He wrote, “…“Missions” is not a happening; it is a movement. It is not an enthusiastic leap and haphazard beat; it is an orderly enterprise. ‘

It is the progressive realization of the plan and purpose of God for our age. It is warfare against the powers of darkness and the kingdom of the Evil One. It is salvation movement designed to be as broad as mankind and as deep as man’s need.

Its ultimate goal is the glory of God in the welfare of mankind; its foundation is the finished work of Christ accomplished on Calvary’s cross and His triumphant resurrection; its dynamic and Superintendent is the Holy Spirit; its means is the gospel, which unfolds the free gift of God for all who believe in Jesus as Saviuor and Lord; its instrument is the church of Jesus Christ, the body of Christ, the bride of the Lamb, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, the pillar and ground of truth.”

  • The Mandate (v2-3)

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Matthew 6:16: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” 

Fasting is a valuable aspect of Christian living in forging a closer walk with God. It is the laying aside of the common necessity of food and drink for a short season for the purpose of spending more uninterrupted time of communion with God in prayer and study of His Word. There are divine blessings from fasting. Daniel fasted that he may obtain wisdom to understanding God’s will for His people, “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Dan 9:3). It is an earnest and sincere humbling of self to let God be pre-eminent in our hearts. 

Hear this testimony of a pious minister of God, “A day of fasting is of great assistance to the soul, for the better performing of holy duties, such as meditations, reading, and hearing the word, prayer, examining, judging, and reforming a person’s self; both because his spirits are better disposed, when he is fasting, to serious devotion; and the mind being so long taken wholly off from the thoughts, cares and pleasures of this life, he may be more intent and earnest in seeking of God.” 

However, we must not have the mistaken notion that we can become more spiritual by punishing our bodies through abstaining from food and drink. This religious exercise must not be used to judge whether a Christian is more spiritual. This is the third religious duty highlighted in this chapter after works of charity and prayer. This third duty is often abused by the scribes and Pharisees. 

The hypocrites fasted for the wrong reason of wanting to appear to be more religious than others! They would look sad and neglect their usual dressing to depict feelings that are not in their hearts. They are like the “professional” mourners that can be hired to give an appearance of great mourning. They do so to win the praise of men and not of God. It shows forth a very shallow and earth bound religiosity. Our Lord Jesus stresses emphatically that true spirituality must live in the heart. It cannot just take on an external form. 

The first principle that can be gleaned from the first missionary journey is that the missionary is church-based. Saul served as a teacher at the church in Antioch, preaching the Word of God until the call came when he ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit, the director of missions, said “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Paul described his calling thus in Romans 1:1-5 

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake.

The word “separate” (Acts 13:2) is in the Greek imperative which is a command by the Holy Spirit, not an option, yet a privilege to be God’s chosen vessel to carry His promises to the lost world. 

It is in the Aorist tense signifying a particular one time event, a unique instance in Saul’s life. For in Romans 1:1, the Apostle Paul used the same word translated this time as “set apart” (KJV) to describe that event, as a Greek passive participle literally translated “having been set apart” to describe a past event and he was a passive party in this act of separation, it was God who decreed his call, making his mandate a divine one, carrying with it divine seal and authority. The phase “grace and apostleship” (Romans 1:5) is a Hebrew hendiadys.[1]

This is explained in Romans 15:15-16  

Romans 15:15-16 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Truly, the Apostle Paul has nothing to boast of himself, because it is by the grace of God that he was given the apostolic office, nothing he could have worked or strived for and nothing he could giving an inkling of credit for himself. This separation was a confirmation of what the Lord Jesus promised Saul when he prayed in the temple, in Acts 22:21 “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.” 

Again in the Epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul wrote of his calling by Jesus Himself, in Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead).” 

The role of the Apostle Paul was to show forth “for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name.” 

Hendricksen aptly observed “the purpose for which Paul was appointed was to bring about obedience of faith. Such obedience is based on faith and springs from faith”[2] (Romans 1:5). 

The step of faith is also a daily guidance as Paul yields daily to the leading of the Holy Spirit, he is led in the Spirit-led missionary journey to preach the gospel beyond the boundaries of Judea and Samaria going to the uttermost part of the earth. The revelation of the Holy Spirit is piecemeal, daily process, a daily waiting on the Lord was necessary. The Apostle did not know where he would finally be at the end of each day, he did not have the entire map but took a step at a time as the Holy Spirit directs him. 

The distance travelled in the first missionary journey was well researched by Scroggie, and divided into the outward journey[3] of 636 miles (1023.54km) and inward journey[4] of 601 miles (967km) – Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh   Sun – 1096 km (681 miles)

The call to the missionary task was given to Saul and Barnabas in the first missionary journey lasted 2½ years from A.D. 47-49 from Acts 13:1- Acts 14:28. This was God’s assessment of their work, they fulfilled the task which was assigned unto them. At Antioch, they showed accountability to the sending Church in Acts 14:27 

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

It was a glorious statement for God to “open a door of faith to the nations” for the preaching of the gospel to the conversion of souls in Cyprus and Asia Minor. 

Truly, missions is a work of faith by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, this is the principle taught here. Calvin aptly defined faith in relation to the Holy Spirit based on 2 Timothy 1:14 in Paul’s last epistle to Timothy, 

Faith is far superior to human intelligence. It comes from the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Faith, thus given by God, has a twofold aspect. It enlightens the mid to understand the truth of God, and establishes the heart in it. And the Holy Spirit not only originates faith, but increases it by degrees, till He conducts us by it all the way to heaven…Faith, which is possessed not by nature, but which is given us by the Spirit, is called by Paul, the “spirit of faith” (2 Cor. 4:13).[5]

This is a door opened by Christ, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and accomplished by the missionary taking the step of faith. This is the principle of trusting God in fulfilling the plan however adverse the circumstance might be as it is many times with Paul. He used the same phrase “open a door” in 1 Corinthians 16:9 “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 

In 2 Corinthians 2:12 “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord.” 

And also, Colossians 4:3 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.”  It is a door of faith, Jesus said in John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” This door of salvation comes only in Christ Jesus (Acts 4:12) and only by faith. 

The Apostle John aptly completed the understanding of the “open door” in Revelation 3:8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” 

This door is kept opened for those (1) with a little strength (2) faithfully kept Jesus’ Word (3) denied not His name. The principle of the open door for missionaries has the above three criteria. Firstly, the willingness of the person called of God, having a little strength. And holding on to God’s inerrant and preserved Word as his only guide for doctrine and practice and in action does not deny the name of Christ. 

Paul and Barnabas were not independent missionaries but were church based missionaries. After they have completed the work that God has entrusted to them, they returned to the church at Antioch in Syria and abode there a long time (Acts 14:28). In this first missionary, by the preaching of the gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, men were turned to God and organised into local churches throughout Cyprus and Asia Minor where they have visited.

God’s Call to Christian Missions – Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven to open the gospel door in progression, first to the Jews (Acts 2), then to the Samaritans who were half-Jew and half-gentile (Acts 8) and finally to Cornelius, an Italian Gentile (Acts 10).

With the opening of the gospel door to the Gentiles and the scattering of the Jews throughout the Roman Empire, the scene was set for the enactment of God’s redemption plan by His chosen vessels, Paul and his companions.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9-11 wrote thus of his life story as a missionary for Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:9-11 “For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Since the Apostle Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus in A.D. 37, his life was energized with a dynamite power that burst forth in the incessant preaching of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, unparalleled in biblical history.

The Apostle Paul’s preaching were recorded in a large portion of the Acts of the Apostles (chapters 9, 11, 12:25, 13-28) and in the Pauline Epistles (chronologically 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus and 2 Timothy) and possibly the Epistle to the Hebrews, 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament Scriptures.

There were the Apostle Paul’s seemingly tireless missionary journeys and the fruitful captivities for gospel advancement from A.D. 47 to A.D. 63, a period of 16 years before his martyrdom in A.D. 68. The term “Missions” is derived through the Latin, misso or mitto, meaning “to send.” The Christian missionary is sent forth with the Gospel message as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to evangelize and gather believers into churches in obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:44-48, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:8). A missionary, from the same root word, is one who is sent as a spiritual ambassador to those who have not heard the gospel.

  • The Mission (v4-12)

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

God wants His people to have the victory. The devil does not have a stronghold that we cannot pull down of we use God’s weapons. The problem is that we may be using spiritual weapons but in our own strength.

Ephesians 6:17 …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

CONCLUSION

  • The Men (v1)
  • The Mandate (v2-3)
  • The Mission (v4-12)

[1] Hendiays is defined as a single concept expressed by two words linked by the conjunction. For example, bread and butter is used to make breakfast, God spoke in different parts and different modes (dreams, visions, direct revelation of God) to give the Old Testament Scriptures. Ronald J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax – An Outline, (Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1992), 16. 

[2] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary – Romans, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2002), 45.

[3] Antioch S. to Seleucia 16 miles, Seleucia to Salamis (Sea) 100 miles, Paphos to Perga (Sea) 175 miles, Perga to Antioch Pisidia 100 miles, Antioch Pisidia to Iconium 85 miles, Iconium to Lystra 30 miles, Lystra to Derbe 30 miles. W. Graham Scroggie, The Unfolding Drama of Redemption, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1998), 317.

[4] Derbe to Lystra 30 miles, Lystra to Iconium 30 miles, Iconium to Antioch Pisidia 85 miles, Antioch Pisida to Perga 100 miles, Perga to Attalia 20 miles, Attalia to Seleucia (Sea) 320 miles, Seleucia to Antioch S. 16 miles. W. Graham Scroggie, The Unfolding Drama of Redemption, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1998), 317.

[5] Timothy Tow, Calvin’s Institute of the Christian Religion Book I-IV, (Singapore: Far Eastern Bible College Press, 1997), 212-213.