Magnificent Mystery (13)
Series: Ephesians
Stephen Whitney
Ephesians 3:1-6
War was raging between Spain and France in 1536 and had closed the road to Strassburg, Germany so the young scholar from France, hoping to continue his studies, was forced to go through Geneva, Switzerland. He planned to only stay one night and, in the morning, to continue his journey.
That night he met the Protestant reformer William Farel who had been preaching there for four years. He convinced the young John Calvin to stay and help reform the troubled city which had been left in shambles because of deep factions between the Protestants living there.
The city counsel offered Calvin the position of "Professor of Sacred Scriptures." He prepared a confession of faith to be accepted by everyone who wished to be a citizen and he planned an educational program for everyone. He insisted on excommunication, particularly expulsion from the Lord's Supper, for those whose lives did not conform to the spiritual standards which were set up for the people to follow.
He also made the city an important refugee center for persecuted Protestants who were forced to flee from their homelands because of the Catholic Church. In the 1550'sthe population of Geneva literally doubled as Protestants came seeking acceptance from around Europe.
One of those refugees who came was an Englishman named John Bale. He wrote, "Geneva seems to me to be the wonderful miracle of the whole world. For so many from all countries come here, as it were, to a sanctuary. Is it not wonderful that Spaniards, Italians, Scots, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, disagreeing in manner of speech, and apparel, should live so lovingly and friendly, and dwell together like a . . . Christian congregation?"
God desires unity and harmony between those who trust him as their Savior. Satan seeks to destroy the unity believers share in Christ because of differences of opinion, differences in culture and differences in p ...
Series: Ephesians
Stephen Whitney
Ephesians 3:1-6
War was raging between Spain and France in 1536 and had closed the road to Strassburg, Germany so the young scholar from France, hoping to continue his studies, was forced to go through Geneva, Switzerland. He planned to only stay one night and, in the morning, to continue his journey.
That night he met the Protestant reformer William Farel who had been preaching there for four years. He convinced the young John Calvin to stay and help reform the troubled city which had been left in shambles because of deep factions between the Protestants living there.
The city counsel offered Calvin the position of "Professor of Sacred Scriptures." He prepared a confession of faith to be accepted by everyone who wished to be a citizen and he planned an educational program for everyone. He insisted on excommunication, particularly expulsion from the Lord's Supper, for those whose lives did not conform to the spiritual standards which were set up for the people to follow.
He also made the city an important refugee center for persecuted Protestants who were forced to flee from their homelands because of the Catholic Church. In the 1550'sthe population of Geneva literally doubled as Protestants came seeking acceptance from around Europe.
One of those refugees who came was an Englishman named John Bale. He wrote, "Geneva seems to me to be the wonderful miracle of the whole world. For so many from all countries come here, as it were, to a sanctuary. Is it not wonderful that Spaniards, Italians, Scots, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, disagreeing in manner of speech, and apparel, should live so lovingly and friendly, and dwell together like a . . . Christian congregation?"
God desires unity and harmony between those who trust him as their Savior. Satan seeks to destroy the unity believers share in Christ because of differences of opinion, differences in culture and differences in p ...
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