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IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT: Sermons from Matthew, Mark & Luke
JOHN CALVIN, translated from the French by Robert White
‘We cannot cleanse ourselves; God must work in us with power. That is why the Holy Spirit is fire. We must go back into the oven when God chooses to make us new.’
— John Calvin
Of the many sermons which Calvin preached on the Synoptic Gospels, only the first sixty-five were recorded and published, under the title Sermons on the Harmony or Concordance of the Three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke (1562). Eighteen of these sermons appear here, for the first time in English translation. They focus on the events of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee: his baptism, his testing by Satan, the calling of his first disciples, his teaching and his works of healing.
In consecutive sermons the preacher traces the drama of Jesus’ confrontation with the forces of darkness and unbelief, which make him a prophet without honour in his own country. For the time being, his identity as Messiah remains hidden. Already, however, he is filled with the Spirit of God who empowers and directs him; already Satan must contend with one stronger than he; already the poor have good news preached to them; already God’s kingdom is present in Jesus’ gracious words and mighty works.
These sermons, the last Calvin was to preach on a New Testament text, reveal the Reformer at his best: a lucid interpreter of Scripture, an engaging preacher, and a pastor passionate to present every soul in his care mature in Christ.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction by the Translator
Prayer Before the Sermon
1. GOD'S KINGDOM PROCLAIMED (Matt. 3:1-3; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 3:1,2)
2. JOHN THE BAPTIZER (Matt. 3:4-6; Mark 1:4-6; Luke 3:3-6)
3. ONE MIGHTIER THAN I (Matt. 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:12-16)
4. WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE (Matt. 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-18)
5. MY SON, MY BELOVED (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23)
6. LED BY THE SPIRIT (Matt. 3:17 - 4:1; Mark 1:11-13; Luke 3:22; 4:1-2)
7. STONES INTO BREAD (Matt. 4:2-4; Luke 4:2-4)
8. THE PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE (Matt. 4:5-7; Luke 4:9-12)
9. THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD (Matt. 4:8-11; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:5-8,13)
10. THE GOSPEL OF GOD (Matt. 4:12,17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 3:19-20; 4:14,15)
11. GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR (Luke 4:16-19)
12. SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED (Luke 4:18-22)
13. CLOSING THE DOOR TO GOD (Luke 4:23-27)
14. LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS (Matt. 4:13-16; Luke 4:28-30)
15. FISHERS OF MEN (Matt. 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)
16. A TEACHER WITH AUTHORITY (Matt. 4:23-25; Mark 1:21-22; Luke 4:31-32)
17. THE HOLY ONE OF GOD (Mark 1:23-27; Luke 4:33-36)
18. BEARER OF OUR INFIRMITIES (Matt. 8:14-18; Mark 1:29-39; Luke 4:38-43)
Index of Scripture References
Index of Subjects
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