Finally Calvin

Oh, what a blessed and humbling thing it is for me to declare that, though I have not read a single page of Calvin's venerable tomes these many years, yet my theology doth, by God's own wondrous grace, align with his. And now, a new volume, a fresh supply of heavenly wisdom, is mercifully added to the already growing list of those sacred books I must prayerfully ingest for the nourishment of my soul.

God indeed perpetually amazes me in the slow, sweet, and sure unfolding of my own doctrine! I look back and see how it began in the thin soil of mere personal opinion, then was sadly swayed by the fleeting, worldly whims of humanistic influence. Yet, in His perfect time, by reading Scripture alone, His gracious Providence led me to the firmer, tried ground of Reformed study, and now, finally, to the deep and boundless ocean of Covenantal Thought. What a monumental change! God has sovereignly guided what was once so pitifully man-centered in its focus, to become altogether theocentric—with Him, and Him alone, at the center of my gaze! Now, by His rich grace, my faith is becoming truly experiential and experimental, aligning my heart, as I have so joyfully learned in these latter years, with the very spirit of the Puritan Fathers.

But ah, the truly pivotal and glorious revelation, the great and eternal cornerstone of all this saving knowledge, was the breathtaking vision of the Intra-Trinitarian Covenant—a most wondrous, humbling glimpse into the very heart and counsel of the Lord God Himself!

How terrifying, yet how common, is that former state, where one beheld a concept of Christianity constructed loosely by ambiguous and seemingly disconnected truths! But praise be to God! To peer back into Eternity Past and see Him working His Sovereign Plan in a linear and consistent fashion, all to fulfill that grand and solemn Covenant—what profound solace that offers the trembling soul! What unspeakable glory it is to behold God’s unchanging purpose and consistent hand! That the Father would choose and draw unto Himself a peculiar people; that His Son would accomplish the full and final Redemption of those chosen ones; and that His Blessed Spirit would apply that perfect work—this is the glorious economy of salvation!

Truly, a Covenant God secures and assures the saints of their promised inheritance through the finished work of the Son by the sealing power of the Spirit. This is why our precious Christ can declare with such Divine Power and absolute certainty: "No one that the Father has put in My hand shall ever be lost, for I have come to do His will." Upon this rock, beloved soul, we rest our hope for time and for eternity!

Institutes Of The Christian Religion

At the age of twenty-six, Calvin published several revisions of his Institutes of the Christian Religion, a seminal work in Christian theology that altered the course of Western history and that is still read by theological students today. It was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541, with the definitive editions appearing in 1559 (Latin) and in 1560 (French). The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some learning already and covered a broad range of theological topics from the doctrines of church and sacraments to justification by faith alone. It vigorously attacked the teachings of those Calvin considered unorthodox, particularly Roman Catholicism, to which Calvin says he had been “strongly devoted” before his conversion to Protestantism. The over-arching theme of the book—and Calvin’s greatest theological legacy—is the idea of God’s total sovereignty, particularly in salvation and election.

John Calvin (/ˈkælvɪn/; French: Jean Calvin, pronounced: [ʒɑ̃ kalvɛ̃]; born Jehan Cauvin: 10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was an influential French theologian, pastor and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism, aspects of which include the doctrines of predestination and of the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation, in which doctrines Calvin was influenced by and elaborated upon the Augustinian and other early Christian traditions. Various Congregational, Reformed, and Presbyterian churches, which look to Calvin as the chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world.

Calvin was a tireless polemic and apologetic writer who generated much controversy. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition to his seminal Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible, confessional documents, and various other theological treatises.

Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions erupted in widespread deadly violence against Protestant Christians in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where in 1536 he published the first edition of the Institutes. In that same year, Calvin was recruited by Frenchman William Farel to help reform the church in Geneva, where he regularly preached sermons throughout the week; but the governing council of the city resisted the implementation of their ideas, and both men were expelled.

At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg, where he became the minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and in 1541 he was invited back to lead the church of the city.

Following his return, Calvin introduced new forms of church government and liturgy, despite opposition from several powerful families in the city who tried to curb his authority. During this period, Michael Servetus, a Spaniard regarded by both Roman Catholics and Protestants as having a heretical view of the Trinity, arrived in Geneva. He was denounced by Calvin and burned at the stake for heresy by the city council. Following an influx of supportive refugees and new elections to the city council, Calvin's opponents were forced out. Calvin spent his final years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe.

In March 1536, Calvin published the first edition of his Institutio Christianae Religionis or Institutes of the Christian Religion.[15] The work was an apologia or defense of his faith and a statement of the doctrinal position of the reformers. He also intended it to serve as an elementary instruction book for anyone interested in the Christian faith. The book was the first expression of his theology. Calvin updated the work and published new editions throughout his life.

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