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Presbyterianism



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"Presbyterian Church" redirects here. For other uses, see Presbyterian Church (disambiguation).




John Calvin

Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures, and the necessity of grace through faith in Christ. Presbyterianism originated primarily in Scotland and was confirmed as the means of Church Government in Scotland by the Acts of Union in 1707. Most Presbyterians found in England can trace a Scottish connection and the denomination was taken to North America by Scots and Scots-Irish immigrants. The Presbyterian denominations in Scotland hold to the theology of Calvin and his immediate successors, although there is a range of theological views within contemporary Presbyterianism.


Modern Presbyterianism traces its institutional roots back to the Scottish Reformation. Local congregations are governed by Sessions made up of representatives of the congregation, a conciliar approach which is found at other levels of decision-making (Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly). Theoretically, there are no bishops in Presbyterianism; however, some groups in Eastern Europe, and in ecumenical groups, do have bishops. The office of elder is another distinctive mark of Presbyterianism: these are specially ordained non-clergy who take part in local pastoral care and decision-making at all levels. The office of deacon is geared toward the care of members, their families, and the surrounding community. In some congregations active elders and deacons serve a three-year term and then rotate off for at least a year. The offices of pastor, elder, and deacon all commence with ordination; once a person is ordained, he holds that title for the rest of his life. An individual may serve as both an elder and a deacon.


The roots of Presbyterianism lie in the European Reformation of the 16th century, with the example of John Calvin's Geneva being particularly influential. Most Reformed churches who trace their history back to Scotland are either Presbyterian or Congregationalist in government. In the twentieth century, some Presbyterians played an important role in the Ecumenical Movement, including the World Council of Churches. Many Presbyterian denominations have found ways of working together with other Reformed denominations and Christians of other traditions, especially in the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Some Presbyterian churches have entered into unions with other churches, such as Congregationalists, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists.


 








The Spiritual Eyes





Scripture：《 John 9 》


1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.











The Spiritual Eyes







Scripture：《 John 9 》


1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.





 

















 



In the scripture we read today, we see works done by Jesus. Jesus says, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(John 9:4-5) Jesus Himself worked hard for this. In the last section of John chapter 8, when Jesus talked to the Jews about Abraham, they threw stones at Jesus. Jesus avoided the attack and left the temple. Following that, Jesus saw a man blind from birth and he seemed to forget that he was in danger of being attacked by Jews with stones. He forgot to think about his own safety and only thought about this blind man in need of help.

As we see Jesus was always thinking about God’s work in every situation. When the people in the temple refused to receive his teaching, he had to leave and find a new mission. Through what Jesus has done for God’s work, we need to think about whether our spiritual eyes are open and bright.

Who is qualified to receive salvation？
The number of Jews in the temple who wanted to attack Jesus with stones must have been large. Jesus turned and left without doing anything for them. Jesus’s leaving shows that the salvation is not connected with those Jews. This remains true for us today. Even though we do not attack Jesus with stones, there are still many people trying to shut Jesus out of their lives. This means that when a person has a heart resistant to Jesus, the saviour will walk away and turn to those who are willing to receive His salvation. In other words, no matter who we are, as long as we stop fighting Jesus and his message, he is always willing to find us and reveal his salvation to us.

In Jewish tradition, it was believed that a person who was born blind must be either evil or bearing the penalty for the sins of this family so there was no surprise that the disciples of Jesus thought like this. However, Jesus had a different opinion about the blind man. Jesus’s heart was full of mercy and empathy and he walked close by him. The blind man had never seen light since birth and his life was full of darkness and fear. However, he did not refuse Jesus and so Jesus revealed His mercy to him. Jesus opened the blind man’s eyes and let him see the light for the first time.

In the same way, no matter how small we are, how great our pain is and whether we are worthy to receive help from others, as long as we are willing to seek the Lord, Jesus will find us and open our eyes as he did for the blind man. He will help us, forgive us and give us the opportunity to receive a whole new life with joy. For those who are willing to accept Jesus as their saviour, they will receive salvation.

Jesus is the salvation
In the tradition belief of Seji (Sediq／Seediq), an aboriginal tribe in Taiwan, salvation is to pass the test of “rainbow bridge” (Hakaw Utux) and arrive at the wonderland where ancestors live. To pass the test of Hakaw Utux and gather with the ancestors, Seji people must obey taboos and rules (waya and gaya ), and fulfil their duties on earth.

It is similar in the traditional belief of Jews. Salvation is through obeying "the Law of Moses". Anyone who breaks the Law of Moses will be treated as a sinner and be excluded, rejected and excluded from salvation. As described in John, the Pharisees were investigating the healing the blind man. They questioned the blind man and his parents to check whether he was born blind. The Pharisees used many people and resources in this investigation in order to try to convict Jesus and the people involved in this event of being guilty of not keeping the Sabbath and thus to throw Jesus out of the synagogue.

For the Pharisees who did not believe in Jesus, the healing of blindness was an unacceptable and unforgivable event. However, for Jesus it was God’s purpose to heal as it was related to God’s salvation and pleased God. Jesus is the salvation but the Law of Moses is not. In other words, even if we follow the law cautiously, we are still living in the darkness with sin if we do not believe in Jesus. The unbelief makes us blind. We need Jesus. We should not simply rely on our own knowledge to obey the law.

The Blindness of Faith
We are all like the blind man in the scripture in that we need Jesus to make us see clearly. None of us can be called righteous people in God’s eyes without Jesus as without Him we have blindness of faith.

In verse 39, Jesus claimed clearly, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” This sentence is not well understood by the Pharisees or by us today. Perhaps some of us would ask the same question as the Pharisees did, “What？ Are we blind too？” or even ask, “Does he (Jesus) compare us with the poor blind man？”When the Pharisees asked such a question it was because they did not believe that Jesus was Christ. In contrast, the man blind from birth believed that Jesus was the Lord. There are many people who do not believe in Jesus Christ today. Jesus is only a person in the history book to them. They do not consider Jesus is the master of all lives, God's only son, and the saviour who was resurrected from the dead.

Thus, belief in Jesus relates to whether we have blindness in faith. If we believe in Jesus, we will be free from the darkness. We will no longer be blind. On the other hand, if we are not willing to believe in Jesus, we are spiritually blind and live in deep darkness.

Have you opened your eyes？ Or are you still living in the darkness？ Jesus can forgive all of our sins, to cleanse people from all unrighteousness, to set people free from the darkness and let them see the light again. May we willingly believe and accept Jesus is the Lord!



 



 



 



 



 



For discussion：


1.Do you really believe Jesus is the son of God and the saviour who was resurrected from the dead？

2.Please share your thought of the Laws of Moses and the thoughts of Jesus. What is the correlation between these two？

3.Please share your current situation in life circumstances and beliefs.


Please pray for：


1.Pray for the disadvantaged groups, the poor and people suffering from pain.

2.Pray for missions and work in the church. May God bless what we do and help us not to be a stumbling block to His salvation.


Prayer：


Heavenly Father, please give us faith in believing in the salvation of Jesus Christ with our whole hearts. Please give us bright eyes to distinguish right from wrong and to please you. Please give us more strength to witness your love and your righteousness. Oh Lord! We may sometimes have blindness in faith. Please be close to us and have mercy on us. Set us free from the darkness to honour you and serve people. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.


Something you can do：


1.Please plan your own Bible study schedule. Read the Bible every day, at least one or two chapters. Make notes of your thoughts.

2.Please plan your prayer schedule for the church, your family, community and country. We recommend you to spend at least 30 minutes a day to pray for this.



 



 


Quoted from:


http://english.pct.org.tw/enWeeklyNewEyes.aspx?WID=W20110814001















In the scripture we read today, we see works done by Jesus. Jesus says, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(John 9:4-5) Jesus Himself worked hard for this. In the last section of John chapter 8, when Jesus talked to the Jews about Abraham, they threw stones at Jesus. Jesus avoided the attack and left the temple. Following that, Jesus saw a man blind from birth and he seemed to forget that he was in danger of being attacked by Jews with stones. He forgot to think about his own safety and only thought about this blind man in need of help.

As we see Jesus was always thinking about God’s work in every situation. When the people in the temple refused to receive his teaching, he had to leave and find a new mission. Through what Jesus has done for God’s work, we need to think about whether our spiritual eyes are open and bright.

Who is qualified to receive salvation？
The number of Jews in the temple who wanted to attack Jesus with stones must have been large. Jesus turned and left without doing anything for them. Jesus’s leaving shows that the salvation is not connected with those Jews. This remains true for us today. Even though we do not attack Jesus with stones, there are still many people trying to shut Jesus out of their lives. This means that when a person has a heart resistant to Jesus, the saviour will walk away and turn to those who are willing to receive His salvation. In other words, no matter who we are, as long as we stop fighting Jesus and his message, he is always willing to find us and reveal his salvation to us.

In Jewish tradition, it was believed that a person who was born blind must be either evil or bearing the penalty for the sins of this family so there was no surprise that the disciples of Jesus thought like this. However, Jesus had a different opinion about the blind man. Jesus’s heart was full of mercy and empathy and he walked close by him. The blind man had never seen light since birth and his life was full of darkness and fear. However, he did not refuse Jesus and so Jesus revealed His mercy to him. Jesus opened the blind man’s eyes and let him see the light for the first time.

In the same way, no matter how small we are, how great our pain is and whether we are worthy to receive help from others, as long as we are willing to seek the Lord, Jesus will find us and open our eyes as he did for the blind man. He will help us, forgive us and give us the opportunity to receive a whole new life with joy. For those who are willing to accept Jesus as their saviour, they will receive salvation.

Jesus is the salvation
In the tradition belief of Seji (Sediq／Seediq), an aboriginal tribe in Taiwan, salvation is to pass the test of “rainbow bridge” (Hakaw Utux) and arrive at the wonderland where ancestors live. To pass the test of Hakaw Utux and gather with the ancestors, Seji people must obey taboos and rules (waya and gaya), and fulfil their duties on earth.

It is similar in the traditional belief of Jews. Salvation is through obeying "the Law of Moses". Anyone who breaks the Law of Moses will be treated as a sinner and be excluded, rejected and excluded from salvation. As described in John, the Pharisees were investigating the healing the blind man. They questioned the blind man and his parents to check whether he was born blind. The Pharisees used many people and resources in this investigation in order to try to convict Jesus and the people involved in this event of being guilty of not keeping the Sabbath and thus to throw Jesus out of the synagogue.

For the Pharisees who did not believe in Jesus, the healing of blindness was an unacceptable and unforgivable event. However, for Jesus it was God’s purpose to heal as it was related to God’s salvation and pleased God. Jesus is the salvation but the Law of Moses is not. In other words, even if we follow the law cautiously, we are still living in the darkness with sin if we do not believe in Jesus. The unbelief makes us blind. We need Jesus. We should not simply rely on our own knowledge to obey the law.

The Blindness of Faith
We are all like the blind man in the scripture in that we need Jesus to make us see clearly. None of us can be called righteous people in God’s eyes without Jesus as without Him we have blindness of faith.

In verse 39, Jesus claimed clearly, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” This sentence is not well understood by the Pharisees or by us today. Perhaps some of us would ask the same question as the Pharisees did, “What？ Are we blind too？” or even ask, “Does he (Jesus) compare us with the poor blind man？”When the Pharisees asked such a question it was because they did not believe that Jesus was Christ. In contrast, the man blind from birth believed that Jesus was the Lord. There are many people who do not believe in Jesus Christ today. Jesus is only a person in the history book to them. They do not consider Jesus is the master of all lives, God's only son, and the saviour who was resurrected from the dead.

Thus, belief in Jesus relates to whether we have blindness in faith. If we believe in Jesus, we will be free from the darkness. We will no longer be blind. On the other hand, if we are not willing to believe in Jesus, we are spiritually blind and live in deep darkness.

Have you opened your eyes？ Or are you still living in the darkness？ Jesus can forgive all of our sins, to cleanse people from all unrighteousness, to set people free from the darkness and let them see the light again. May we willingly believe and accept Jesus is the Lord!





For discussion：


1.Do you really believe Jesus is the son of God and the saviour who was resurrected from the dead？

2.Please share your thought of the Laws of Moses and the thoughts of Jesus. What is the correlation between these two？

3.Please share your current situation in life circumstances and beliefs.


Please pray for：

1.Pray for the disadvantaged groups, the poor and people suffering from pain.

2.Pray for missions and work in the church. May God bless what we do and help us not to be a stumbling block to His salvation.


Prayer：


Heavenly Father, please give us faith in believing in the salvation of Jesus Christ with our whole hearts. Please give us bright eyes to distinguish right from wrong and to please you. Please give us more strength to witness your love and your righteousness. Oh Lord! We may sometimes have blindness in faith. Please be close to us and have mercy on us. Set us free from the darkness to honour you and serve people. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.


Something you can do：


1.Please plan your own Bible study schedule. Read the Bible every day, at least one or two chapters. Make notes of your thoughts.

2.Please plan your prayer schedule for the church, your family, community and country. We recommend you to spend at least 30 minutes a day to pray for this.



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