7/14- I John 1:8-10 the universality of sin

(Roman Catholic confessional- Calvin said we confess directly to God through Christ removing some of the power of the priest)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (TNIV)

Calvin abridged: 1:8- “If we claim to be without sin”- Because no one is free from sin, he infers that we are all lost and undone unless the Lord comes to help us with his forgiveness. Thus he is commending grace as a necessity for us. “Sin” here refers not only to our corrupt and viscious inclination but the fault or sinful act which really makes us guilty before God. Because this applies to everyone none of the saints have been or shall be exempt from sin. Augustine wisely used this passage against the Pelagians [who said we’re not tainted by original sin] saying that the confession of guilt is not just for humility’s sake but so we would not deceive ourselves. “and the truth is not in us.” This is a repetition but it adds the idea that they are deceived who glory in falsehood.
1:9- “If we confess” Here he promises to the faithful that God will forgive them if they acknowledge themselves to be sinners, and there is reconciliation with God ready and prepared for us. Otherwise, we shall always carry a hell around within us. When there is no peace with God then hell reigns through our doubting conscience. “he is faithful and just”- This means that God keeps his promises out of his truth and justice. The writer is not talking here about God’s justifying us freely as much as his justice in forgiving us because he has promised- binding himself to his Word. Any true confession must be made out of our new life in Christ, and must be sincere. Thus in any confession repentance is involved, otherwise God’s mercy becomes and enticement to sin. “and to cleanse us”- This cleansing is different from when he said we are cleansed by the blood of Christ (which implies our sins are imputed or laid upon Christ). There are two fruits that come from our confession- we are forgiven and he renews us and reforms us. Some may object and say that as long as we travel in this world we will never be completely cleansed from sin. That is true, but John doesn’t refer to what God is doing now in us. This is not talking about this life today or tomorrow; as long as we are living on earth we ought to be in a continual state of progress; but what he has once begun, he goes on daily to do, until he completes it. So Paul says we are chosen that we may appear without blame before God (Col. 1:22) and that the Church is cleansed that it might be without spot or wrinkle ( Eph. 5:27).
1:10- “We make him a liar” This means that those who claim purity apart from God blaspheme God. The whole human race is guilty of sin. Whoever tries to escape this accusation carries on war with God accusing God of falsehood- like God condemned the undeserving. To confirm this he adds “and his word is not in us” We learn here that we make progress in the knowledge of the word of the Lord when we become really humbled, so as to groan under the burden of our sins and learn to run into the arms of the mercy of God.


Calvin here acknowledges the universality and deep-rooted nature of sin. This passage speaks specifically against the idea that we can pull ourselves up to God by trying to be good (which is a Pelagian idea). We need God’s forgiveness and cleansing. It is interesting in how Calvin uses the word “hell.” Here hell is clearly lack of peace with God that we carry around with us. Calvin certainly believed in a physical hell, but he also believed that we can taste a bit of hell by our guilt here and now. We must confess, but mix our confession with repentance. Basically, this section teaches us that we cannot find purity or peace apart from God.

Prayer: We need you, O Lord. We need your grace to forgive us, cleanse us, and give us your peace. Help us to draw closer to you today.

7/13 Walking in the Light

(xray image of the sun)

3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (I John 1:3-7)

Calvin’s commentary abridged: 1:3: The writer now repeats a third time “seen and heard” so that we understand how certain his doctrine is. Christ’s preachers were willing and faithful witnesses to their good. We are ungrateful if we are not willing to listen to such a witness to their happiness. He also tells us that the fruit of the gospel is the unity with Christ and he wishes all who believe to be one in him. The ungodly have a fellowship too in which they alienate themselves from God- which is the worst of all evils.
1:4: “That your joy may be full” our real happiness is found in the Gospel. Our affections are to be fixed on fellowship with God (“where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”- Mt. 6:21), and does not burn with desire for other things.
1:5: “This then is the message” A good translation would be “this is the annunciation” ejpaggeli>a means promise.
He calls God light and says that he is in the light. This is to be taken metaphorically. Satan is the prince of darkness. God is pure, bright, unalloyed. He has no spots of filth, no hypocrisy or fraud. As long as we walk in darkness we are separated from God. No darkness belongs to God. He therefore hates an evil conscience, pollution, and wickedness and all darkness.
1:6: God sanctifies all who are his and dissipates darkness, kindling in us the light of God. The power of this fellowship with God shines in our life. “and do not the truth” means “do not do what is true and right.”
1:7: The proof of our union with God is made evident when his purity shines through us. Whenever God comes and his holiness effects all things, all filth and sin is washed away. Without him we have nothing but filth and darkness.
“we have fellowship with one another” this is not just talking about fellowship among believers, but also fellowship with God. How can we who are impure have fellowship with the pure God? God accommodates himself to our capacities here so that he is said to be like God who aspires to his likeness and is ruled by the fear of God- however distant from it he may yet be. The integrity of the conscience is alone what distinguishes light from darkness.
“and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin”- means that when we do what is right and just – turning to Christ we are forgiven. If we do not turn away from our sin, there is no forgiveness. Remission of sins can’t be separated from repentance. Nor can the peace of God be in those hearts where the fear of God does not prevail. This forgiveness is not a one-time event, but a perpetual blessing in the Church that is daily offered to the faithful. “from all sin” means no sin can prevent God’s favor. Because of Christ’s blood we are made clean. The faithful know they are accepted by God because of the death of Christ. His sacrifice includes cleansing and satisfaction.

Calvin is saying here that our great joy is fellowship with God and with other believers. This happens because Jesus has sacrificed himself for our sins. We must in response, turn away from our sins, and turn toward fellowship with God.

Prayer: Thank you for the fellowship that is ours, O Lord because of the blood of Jesus. Give us strength to walk in your light today.

I John 1:2

(Witness stand)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

NIV- “For the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”
Calvin’s translation: (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.) (I John 1:2)

CALVIN: “The life appeared” The sense of this may be twofold, that Christ who is life and the beginning of all life, has appeared; Or that life has been openly offered to us in Christ. The two interpretations are related as cause (former) and effect (latter). When the writer says “shew” (or “proclaim it”) he speaks of the effect. So we see that when Christ is preached the kingdom of heaven is opened to us so that having been raised from the dead we may live to God.
“Which was with the Father” Eternal life has always been with God- for he has always existed and is the fountain of life and has the power to give (vivify) life in his eternal wisdom. The power of God is now spread throughout all created things. In the Old Testament believers depended on the hope of revelation. But we have already had it revealed to us, like it was in our hands. Jesus has been with the Father. This is not a new idea, for He was always with the Father.

Calvin does not downplay experience, and neither should we. If we have experienced God in our lives, we need to pass that experience on. For Calvin, God glorifies Himself in the world and experience. But the revelation of Christ to us is more specific. When we have experienced Christ in our lives, we need to pass that on to another out of love for our fellow human being.

Prayer: Thank you that you did not leave us blind and alone, Lord. You have appeared to us. Help us to testify to your appearance and the difference you make in our lives.

7/11- I John 1:1

(Calvin in stained glass)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

The great historian Philip Schaff said Calvin’s commentaries ranked “among the very best of ancient and modern times.” Calvin’s commentaries are in 45 volumes, and are rather lengthy. Rather than jus typing Calvin’s commentaries in my blog, or re-translating them (which some time should be done), I hope to abridge what Calvin says. This will involve some summary, and some quoting from Calvin’s own words- revised a bit from the translations into English from the 19th century, and some paraphrasing so we may understand. This work is not meant to be academic, but practical so that the average Christian may easily use it. So I have purposefully left off some of the historical references in Calvin’s work. I chose I John as a beginning point, because I believe besides Ephesians it fits in well with Calvin’s ideas. Below I have written my abridgement compared to the 1855 English translation by John Owen.

I John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Abridgement of Calvin: This letter exhibits the spirit of John who was loved by Christ that we might also be Christ’s friend. This letter speaks of the doctrines of the eternal deity of Christ, the grace of Christ, and adoption. There are also practical teachings to be holy and to love. The doctrinal and practical are mixed together. He also touches on many other ideas including watching out for imposters.

1845 Translation: THIS Epistle is altogether worthy of the spirit of that disciple who, above others, was loved by Christ, that he might exhibit him as a friend to us. But it contains doctrines mixed with exhortations; for he speaks of the eternal Deity of Christ, and at the same time of the incomparable grace which he brought with him when he appeared in the world, and generally of all his blessings; and he especially commends and extols the inestimable grace of divine adoption. On these truths he grounds his exhortations; and at one time he admonishes us in general to lead a pious and holy life, and at another time he expressly enjoins love. But he does none of these things in a regular order; for he everywhere mixes teaching with exhortation. But he particularly urges brotherly love: he also briefly touches on other things, such as to beware of impostors, and similar things. But each particular shall be noticed in its own place.

Abridgement of Calvin: The writer is trying to get us to think about God and eternal things, but to help us have faith in the gospel he says, “what we have seen what we have heard and what we have looked on” To believe doesn’t mean we just form an opinion or intellectually assent to what is said, but it involves a firm, undoubting conviction.

1845 Translation: Then the Apostle’s object, in setting before us the vast good, yea, the chief and only true happiness which God has conferred on us, in his own Son, is to raise our thoughts above; but as the greatness of the subject requires that the truth should be certain, and fully proved, this is what is here much dwelt upon. For these words, What we have seen, what we have heard, what we have looked on, serve to strengthen our faith in the gospel. Nor does he, indeed, without reason, make so many asseverations; for since our salvation depends on the gospel, its certainty is in the highest degree necessary; and how difficult it is for us to believe, every one of us knows too well by his own experience. To believe is not lightly to form an opinion, or to assent only to what is said, but a firm, undoubting conviction, so that we may dare to subscribe to the truth as fully proved. It is for this reason that the Apostle heaps together so many things in confirmation of the gospel.

[From here on, I will not compare the abridgement to the 1845 translation to save space and time on your part]
1. That which was from the beginning. The “that” refers to the divinity of Christ for God in the flesh was not from the beginning. But the next sentence speaks to Christ’s human nature- “what we have seen and heard.” In this sense, John is declaring that Christ is one person in two natures (divine and human). Thus the invisible became visible. Here Christ was acknowledged to be God’s invisible Word. John was saying that he taught nothing but what had been really made known to him (what he had seen, heard, and touched). Some may think that what the writer is talking about has little to do with the power of Christ. For Christ’s glory is not known in the body of Christ. Yet Christ gave proof when he was in the body of his Divine power. The “we” here applies to all the apostles.
“Of the Word of life” The first chapter of John’s Gospel reminds us that “in him was life.” This belongs to the Son of God because
1) he has infused life into all creatures, and 2) he restores the life in us that was extinguished in our sin. “Word” may refer to Christ or to the doctrine of the Gospel for both bring salvation. But as the substance is Christ, the first view appears more likely.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you have become flesh accommodating yourself to us that we might understand you better. Help us to grow in our trust of you and of your gospel truth.

7/10/09- 500th birthday of Calvin

(Calvin by Titian)

1 Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" 8 "Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, [a] saying, "I drew him out of the water."
(Exodus 2:1-10)

Calvin (from his will): In the first place, I render thanks to God, not only because he has had compassion on me, his poor creature, to draw me out of the abyss… make me a partaker of the doctrine of salvation, of which I was altogether unworthy, and continuing his mercy he has supported me amid so many sins and short-comings, which were such that I well deserved to be rejected by him a hundred thousand times — but what is more, he has so far extended his mercy towards me as to make use of me and of my labor, to convey and announce the truth of his gospel; having no other hope nor refuge except in his gratuitous adoption, upon which all my salvation is founded; embracing the grace which he has given me in our Lord Jesus Christ, and accepting the merits of his death and passion, in order that by this means all my sins may be buried; and praying him so to wash and cleanse me by the blood of this great Redeemer, which has been shed for us poor sinners, that I may appear before his face, bearing as it were his image.

W. Stacy Johnson points out Calvin was born while Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel and died when Shakespeare was born, thus he was a product of the Renaissance. Calvin considered himself a Christian humanist. Calvin was born in Noyon, Picardy France 7/10/1509 (500 years ago today). He was the son of Gerard Calvin (lawyer and secretary to the bishop; a son of coopers) and Jeanne LeFranc Calvin (a daughter of an innkeeper). Calvin was one of seven children. The oldest, Charles, became a priest and was later excommunicated. Antoine had been a chaplain as well. He went with Calvin to Geneva ran a bookstore, became a city council member and was on the hospital’s board. Two younger brothers died in infancy. Marie, his step-sister followed him to Geneva. Another step-sister may have become a nun in Noyon. Calvin’s mother died when he was three, but was said to be very pious and beautiful.
Calvin was a seminal figure of the Reformation. Luther said, he “perused Calvin’s books with singular pleasure” (1539). Melanchthon called Calvin simply “the theologian.” Bucer said “Calvin is a truly learned and singularly eloquent man, an illustrious restorer of a purer Christianity.” Calvin had many friends and admirers, but also many detractors and enemies. As Piper said, this was “uncannily like Jesus- either you followed him or you turn against his teaching.”
From a secular point of view, Calvin is one of two to form the classical French language (along with Rabelais). He was influential (according to Max Weber) in helping the move from feudalism to capitalism and the forming of the western middle class. He was influential in a revival of republican democracy with checks and balances. Some say American governmental philosophy was heavily influenced by Calvin’s ideas of checks and balances.
In Calvin’s adopted city of Geneva Switzerland Calvin was known for his social work. John Knox who was in exile in Geneva said, Geneva "is the most perfect school of Christ that ever was in the earth since the days of the apostles. In other places I confess Christ to be truly preached; but manners and religion so sincerely reformed, I have not yet seen in any other place..." Calvin started a hospital, a public school and university (girls were included), sanitized the sewers, and helped decrease crime in general. As a churchman, Calvin organized presbyterian polity giving an equal place for elders and ministers. Over 20 million today would call themselves Presbyterian or Reformed and might consider Calvin a Moses-like figure for them. But far more in the church have been affected by Calvin’s work and thought.
Theologically, Calvin is well known for his emphasis on the glory and majesty of God. He fine-tuned Augustine’s doctrine of predestination, and creatively spoke of how sanctification and justification work together. He is often called the “Theologian of the Holy Spirit” because he emphasized that the Holy Spirit makes the Bible real to us, and the sacraments real to us as well. The Holy Spirit unites us to Christ- and the idea of union or adoption played a key part in his theology. It is important to remember his 500th birthday for it effects us in many ways. In the March 12, 2009 issue of Time magazine Calvinism was named as the third top idea sweeping the world today (along with a deeper awareness of the environment and the need to cut down on gas guzzling cars). Calvin’s ideas not only still live, but they thrive.


Prayer: Thank you Lord that you drew Moses up out of the water, and you drew a Calvin up to lead you people. Draw good leaders for your people in the future.

7/9/09- The French Connection

(Calvin's home in Noyon, Picardy, France- not a museum)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/9/09- Calvin- The French Connection

Calvin’s background and affects.

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia , but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. (ACTS 22:3)

Calvin: we are unjustly charged, too, with intentions of such a sort that we have never given the least suspicion of hem. We are, I suppose, contriving the overthrow of kingdoms — we, from whom not one seditious word was
ever heard; we, whose life when we lived under you was always acknowledged to be quiet and simple; we, who do not cease to pray for the full prosperity of yourself and your kingdom, although we are now fugitives from home! (Preface to 1560 edition on Institutes written for Frances I, King of France).

I am at a Calvin conference in Montreat. When people meet me (especially if they are from the South) they say, “Where are you from?” Where you are “from” tells a good deal about who you are. Calvin was born in France, which had some leading avante garde (cutting edge/creative) thinkers. Erasmus had studied at the same college Calvin had studied in. LeFevre translated the Bible into French, criticized the church (without ever becoming Protestant). Farel, Calvin’s good friend, studied under him. There are many who believed that Calvin met with LeFevre D’Etaples (who was from the same region in France-Picardy) right before he decided to become a Protestant. There is good evidence that Bernard of Clairvaux of France had a tremendous influence on Calvin’s idea of the union we have with Christ. France was well established in its basic Christian beliefs. We should not take this for granted when we think about Calvin’s influences. Calvin read and wrote Latin and French well. He was not very fluent in English or German. This meant when he fled, he was most comfortable fleeing to Geneva which was French speaking (his sojourn in Strasbourg was short and among the French exiles, as was his time in northern Italy). Calvin wrote to many French speaking individuals. Philip Schaff said that Calvin and Rabelais were primary formers of classical French because of their mastery of French as well as so many publications read.
We should never downplay our background. The idea that someone can be totally neutral and objective instead of subjective is an illusion. Calvin spoke a great deal about this- that our hearts deceive ourselves. Sometimes we react negatively to our environment or background- but even in doing this our environment affects us. Rather than totally fight who we are, we should recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and try to recognize how they may affect us. A vacuumed, totally-neutral background is not necessarily better than a strong, healthy, loved background. The idea that we are born with a blank slate (Locke) has some merits, but it is for the most part untrue. Our slate is full and we cannot erase it. We are blind to some things and very aware and sensitive to others. Just as some fish live in a cave all of their lives (like the Mexican blind cave tetra) and are blind to light but are able to navigate because they are extra sensitive to water movement and pressure. There are old tales of missionaries bringing a native to the USA and they could not see depth in pictures. Pictures were like ink blots to them. We are insensitive to some of our own sins today because we are so used to them. In many parts of the world a sleeveless dress is seen as provocative. We can’t see that because we grew up around sleeveless dresses. A PG-13 movie in our day and culture may be the equivalent of an x rated movie (think Midnight Rider which was x when I was a boy and now PG-13). We must think of our background, and it is important to understand Calvin that we think of his.

Prayer: Lord, you know the exact times and places of our lives. Use our backgrounds to shape us and direct our service of you toward your glory.

7/8- Murder in Gaffney

(Cain and Abel- Titian 1542-44 during Calvin's life)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.


7/8- Murder in Gaffney (posted on Tuesday for Wednesday)

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, [a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister [b] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca, [c]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:21-24)

Calvin: Scripture notes that this commandment rests upon a twofold basis: man is both the image of God, and our flesh.He who has merely refrained from shedding blood has not therefore avoided the crime of murder. If you perpetrate anything by deed, if you plot anything by attempt, if you wish or plan anything contrary to the safety of a neighbor, you are considered guilty of murder. Again, unless you endeavor to look out for his safety according to your ability and opportunity, you are violating the law with a like heinousness. But if there is so much concern for the safety of his body, from this we may infer how much zeal and effort we owe the safety of the soul, which far excels the body in the Lord’s sight. (II.8.40)

For Calvin two things ruled supreme. People are valuable because they are made in the image of God. This image may be tarnished, but it is nonetheless there. God made us- with eternal souls, and therefore we have value. Second humans should not kill their own kind- their own “flesh.” It is similar, in Calvin’s mind to the evil of cannibalism. The third value he speaks of later is that we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. People are valuable because God loves them and commands us to do the same. The prime example of that value is that Christ came down to the world for us. He calls all people to be saved (though not all respond). For Calvin (and for Jesus- Mt. 5), of course, not physically killing someone is not all there is to this idea of forbidding murder. We must, on the positive side, take it upon ourselves to care for the safety of others, and their welfare. We also are called to forgive our neighbor which is a stay against bitterness and hate.
It is clear to me that we have somehow lost these values today in our culture. In the former communist USSR and China many were killed if they disagreed with the government. It is an estimate of about 100 million between both countries. The same could be said for Cambodia’s Pol Pot. This is because there was adamant belief against God, and in God’s place became society and country. When people spoke against the state or the leader it was not only treason but blasphemy. The gang murders in our country are there in part because they have lost the idea that people are valuable- the gang alone is valuable. In Gaffney this past week- (Gaffney, South Carolina of all places!) there was a serial killer. No area is immune from sin. I do not doubt that this killer's faith had little value to him as well. Somehow we need to get back to the idea that human beings are valuable in and of themselves. Another sign of this lack of value in our society are those who are saying that other animals or plants are more valuable to human beings. I have heard things like “human beings are the parasites of society who destroy everything.” God calls us to be good stewards of the earth and care for it. He placed us in the garden and told us to care for it. We have failed. But the opposite extreme is to value plants or animals more than human beings.

Prayer: This day, Lord, help me to love my neighbor as myself. Open my eyes that I might make use of an opportunity to show concern for another. At the same time, Lord, protect our world from the evil of murder.

7/7- Calvin on his boyhood

(Cathedral in Noyon, in Picardy, France- Calvin grew up under this shadow)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/7- Calvin on his Boyhood

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of
heart; with skillful hands he led them. (Psalm 78:70-72)


Calvin: As David was taken from the sheepfold and elevated to the rank of supreme authority; sp God having taken me from my originally obscure and humble condition, has reckoned me worthy of being invested with the honorable office of a preacher and minister of the gospel. When I was a very little boy my father had destined me for the study of theology. But afterwards, when he considered that the legal profession commonly raised those who follow it, to wealth, this prospect induced him to suddenly change his purpose. (Preface to the Commentary on the Psalms)

If you look at the history of the family of the Protestant leaders, Calvin was among the most blest. Luther’s father was a miner. Zwingli grew up in a farming community and his father was the local small town magistrate. Bucer was an orphan. Calvin’s father was the lawyer of the local bishop and had enough influence to get jobs for his sons and send his son to college. Calvin had a job at 14 as a chaplain in the cathedral in Noyons. The same cathedral in which Charlemagne was crowned. He also had a small chapel in the country. He didn't actually have to show up much if at all in these jobs (this was part of the corruption of the church that Calvin campaigned against). Calvin would preach a couple of times a year but could not serve the sacraments since he was not ordained then. One of the signs of his conversion to Protestantism was his resigning of his "benefices" or jobs. Calvin could see God’s hand upon him early on. He recognized that God lifts up people and honors them. Even though many despised Calvin- even making up monstrous stories about him, he was admired by many and became not only a preacher, but a community leader, and even the leading theologian of the Reformation, and one of the founders of the Reformed movement. We would do well to imitate his humility and recognize God’s hand leading us and lifting us up.

Prayer: You have told us to trust in you with all our heart and to lean not on our own understanding. You have said if we acknowledge you in all our ways you will direct our paths. Help us to trust in you and rely on you.

7/6- Setting the Stage for Calvin

(Erasmus- a pre-Reformer)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/6- Calvin’s Birthday Week- Setting the stage
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:5-7)

Calvin: First, then, the question is not whether the Church suffers from many and grievous diseases, for this is admitted even by all moderate judges; but whether the diseases are of a kind whose cure admits of no longer delay…We maintain to start with that, when God raised up Luther and others, who held forth a torch to light us into the way of salvation and in whose ministry our churches are founded and built…the use of the sacraments was polluted, and the government of the church was tyrannical (Necessity of Reforming the Church).

There were many things that were going on in Calvin’s day that set the stage for his coming.
1) The world was changing- feudalism was ending and nations were emerging, money economies were beginning, there were tremendous changes in medicine, mathematics, and physics, a new world (America) was discovered at the end of the 15th century.
2) The church was corrupt. The Papacy and upper clergy had become political and greed-filled. Simony (selling of church offices) was common. The pope had resorted to indulgences sales to fund the building of St. Peter’s in Rome. The church as an ostentatious and greedy place contrasted with Jesus of Nazareth’s simple lifestyle.
3)People were becoming literate- and wanted to read the scriptures. The printing press was in over 200 cities by the end of the 15th century, and half of the six million books printed were religious.
4) Pre-reformers, and early reformers had paved the way- Wycliffe in England sought to translate the Bible into English (1320-1384), Hus (1369-1415), Savanarola in Italy (1452-98) then-LeFevre (France 1435-1536) , Erasmus (Netherlands 1466-1536) (who refused to join the Lutherans or affirm the Catholics- Calvin did not criticize him as Luther did) then Luther (Germany 1483-1546), Zwingli (Zurich 1484-1531). The Albigenses (12th and 13th cent France) and Waldenses (who eventually joined the Reformed movement).
5) The fall of Constantinople brought scholars who reminded the westerners to get back to the original sources, and this also spurred the Rennaissance.
All these things and more were the right environmental soup for a John Calvin to be used of God. The stage was set for the actor to come on the scene.
Today we could be on the brink of a New Reformation- if the right humble, brilliant, godly person were to be used by God. The fields are white with harvest. The time is ripe- with the internet, facebook, email, and western society crumbling in its own decay and greed.

Prayer: Today, Lord, we need a new Reformation. In your providence, revive us again that your people may rejoicein you.

7/5- Freedom

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature [a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Calvin: But we must carefully note that Christian freedom is, in all its parts, a spiritual thing. Its whole force consists in quieting frightened consciences before God—that are perhaps disturbed and troubled over forgiveness of sins, or anxious whether unfinished works, corrupted by the faults of our flesh, are pleasing to God, or tormented about the use of things indifferent. Accordingly, it is perversely interpreted both by those who allege it as an excuse for their desires that they may abuse God’s good gifts to their own lust and by those who think that freedom does not exist unless it is used before men, and consequently, in using it have no regard for weaker brethren…
Ivory and gold and riches are good creations of God, permitted, indeed appointed, for men’s use by God’s providence. And we have never been forbidden to laugh, or to be filled, or to join new possessions to old
or ancestral ones, or to delight in musical harmony, or to drink wine. True indeed. But where there is plenty, to wallow in delights, to gorge oneself, to intoxicate mind and heart with present pleasures and be always panting
after new ones—such are very far removed from a lawful use of God’s gifts. Away, then, with uncontrolled desire, away with immoderate prodigality, away with vanity and arrogance—in order that men may with a clean
conscience cleanly use God’s gifts. Where the heart is tempered to this soberness they will have a rule for lawful use of such blessings. But should this moderation be lacking, even base and common pleasures are too much. It is a true saying that under coarse and rude attire there often dwells a heart of purple, while sometimes under silk and purple is hid a simple humility. Thus let every man live in his station, whether slenderly, or moderately, or plentifully, so that all may remember God nourishes them to live, not to luxuriate. And let them regard this as the law of Christian freedom; to have learned with Paul, in whatever state they are, to be content; to know how to be humble and exalted; to have been taught, in any and all circumstances, to be filled and to hunger, to abound and to suffer need.

Calvin wrote much about Christian freedom. As I am writing this, fireworks are going off everywhere, and the Boston Pops are playing on my TV. God gives us great gifts and freedom. But we can abuse our freedom with greed with over-indulgence. We are called to “live in our station” that is, be satisfied with what we have and not always be coveting more. A great part of spirituality is to be happy with what we have. We are not free if we are slaves to fashion, or slaves to desire. We are set free if we have peace with God and peace within ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, may my heart be set free by your peace today. Grant our land your peace as well.

7/4- Love of God and Country

(Washington- Prayer at Valley Forge)

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as his heritage!” (Psalm 33:12)
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

Calvin: “Human beings exist under a twofold government (inner=spiritual- instituted by the church; and outer= moral- instituted by the state)…although this topic seems alien to the spiritual doctrine of faith, it is right to join them, in fact necessity compels me to do so…The civil government has as its appointed end to cherish and protect the outward worship of God, to defend sound doctrine of piety and the position of the church, to adjust our life to the human society, to form our social behavior to civil righteousness, to reconcile us with one another and to promote general peace and tranquility.” (IV.20.2)

On July 3, Bill Moyers asked the question on ETV of professor Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary, New York, to “channel the good Calvin” who was able to listen to the changes going on in the world. Dr. Jones spoke of a possible “New Reformation” recognizing the economic and spiritual changes going on as Calvin recognized them 500 years ago. Our weak economy can give rise to churches reaching out to the hungry and ministering to those in need. It may be important to note that after the Great Depression and WWII there was a tremendous, quiet revival in our country. My hopes are that this will happen again and that we may once again reform the church, by God’s grace.
On July 4th it is important to remember a few things. It is important to remember the freedom that we have- freedom to worship, freedom to speak, freedom to own property and to give to others. For Calvin, there was no government no power that is not derived from the ultimate power- God. Human government was for the common good (and under God), and so was faith. Laws in Geneva requiring church attendance and education of children combined with laws for public sanitation, family health practice and the founding of new industry. McNeill pointed out that Geneva’s revival under Calvin also included latrines, balcony railing for their houses, better home-heating systems, licensed dentists, new hospitals, their first textile factory, along with public education, and a new college. In contrast to this are the countries without faith- most notably Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union whose lack of faith led to the destruction of even basic human services. Cuba is another example. I remember going to Cuba ten years ago this month. I found the church persecuted (the pastor of First Presbyterian Havana was brought in for questioning for his sermon the day I arrived), oranges were rotting in railway cars while the people were starving for food.
There was a time when many in American thought we were the chosen nation. The early Calvinists (like the Puritans and Pilgrims) were hoping for a nation that would be a city on a hill- a light for the world to see. There are not many who believe that any more. Yet, the people of God can continue to influence our country by the way we live, and also by multiplying the gospel in our country. Much of the freedom we have is there because people seek to follow Him and reject evil. McNeill described Calvinism as fostering ideals of “human freedom, public justice, and representative and responsible government. While many of us exceed Calvin’s tolerance, we lack his consecration to the aid of others and the betterment of society.” We are called to pray for the place where God has placed us, and work for its prosperity. We not only are called to pray, but to live, vote, and care about our nation. Some are called to serve in the military, some are called to run for office. My hopes are that this great nation will come closer to God as Christians really live and share their faith.
There has always been a bit of tension in Calvinism between those who seek to love country over God (and the state becomes too powerful and autocratic), and those who neglect their country out of misguided love of God. To some, any kind of patriotism is a sin. There were some Calvinists who wouldn't say the pledge of allegiance. There are some who refuse to put an American flag in the sanctuary. There are others who want us to sing "God Bless America" every week along with saying the pledge of allegiance. Perhaps a better way is to worship God only, but also recognize that in God's sovereignty He has placed us in our land. We are to pray for it, make it as good as it can be-- also for the glory of God. There is a place for primary love for God and secondary love for country.

Prayer: Thank you for our country Lord. Bless our leaders with wisdom and direction. Draw us back to yourself, Lord, that we might be a blessing to you.

7/3- Predestination and Human Responsibility

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/3- Predestination and Human Responsibility

Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.” Job 42:1,2
The Lord of hosts has sworn: As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand…For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”

Calvin: [Against the Libertines who held a pantheistic determinism that made God the author of sin]: [they are saying] that man has no free will, any more than if he were a stone…The first of these three wretched consequences is that there would no longer be an difference between God and the devil, for indeed the God which they made for us would be an idol, worse than the devil in hell. The second is that men would no longer have any conscience to avoid evil, but as beasts would follow their sensual appetites without any discretion. The third is that everything would have to be judged as good, whether it be lechery, murder, or larceny; and the most wicked crimes that one can imagine would have to be considered praiseworthy works.

For Calvin how human responsibility and divine sovereignty interact is a great mystery. The human will is in bondage to sin. It is a free will, but we always choose to sin. Yet our will is free in that it is not coerced or made to do what it does not wish to do. Luther and Augustine said the same basic thing.
There is a sense in which God’s plan cannot be thwarted, and yet we are responsible for our actions. For example, it was prophesied that the Son of Man would be betrayed, yet Judas was surely held responsible for his actions. Caesar Augustus issued a decree thousands of miles away from Jerusalem to have people return to their hometowns. He did this freely. Yet, God used this to allow Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Moody used the illustration of a boat going to England. The passengers on the boat can do anything on the boat- play shuffle board, dance, sing, but they still end up in England. Yet this illustration, while illustrating our will and God’s will are done at the same time, and God’s plan will be achieved falls short of reality. God’s will is done with us, through us, and sometimes despite us.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the truth of your purpose and our responsibility at the same time.

7/2- Election and Perseverance

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/2-
37 All whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:29)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide: so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. (John 15:16)

Calvin: Since the church consists of the people elected by God, it is not possible for those who are truly its members to perish finally, or be destroyed by evil forces. For their salvation depends on so sure and solid a foundation that, even though the whole world be thrown out of its orbit, it cannot fail or fall to pieces. They may waver and fluctuate and even fall down, but they will not be bruised, because the Father supports them…Hence, those whom the Father elects he surrenders into the protection and care of his son Christ that none of them should perish, but that they might be all restored on the final day. Under such good protection they can both wander and totter, but they surely cannot be lost. (OS 1:87)

Those who are given to God cannot be snatched (plucked) out of His hand. He will not cast them out either. Those who are elected, are elected for life, not just for a term. God chooses us forever, and He chooses us to bear eternal (abiding) fruit. Calvin was saying election has to do with perseverance, and assurance- or peace within. We do not have to worry about earning our salvation, nor do we have to worry about losing our salvation. It all is of God, whom we can trust and believe. It is clear, that Calvin does not follow predestination because it is a theory or philosophy, but because of its practical implications.

Prayer: Thank you God, that we can rest in your promises and love.

7/1- Foreknowledge and Election

[Image of God's all-seeing eye found on the Great Seal of the United States and the dollar bill-caricatured as only an illuminati symbol]
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/1- Foreknowledge and Election

7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. 10 But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him. (Deuteronomy 7:7).
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)

Calvin: When we attribute foreknowledge to God, we mean that all things always were, and perpetually remain, under his eyes, so that to his knowledge there is nothing future or past, but all things are present. And they are
present in such a way that he not only conceives them through ideas, as we have before us those things which our minds remember, but he truly looks upon them and discerns them as things placed before him. And this
foreknowledge is extended throughout the universe to every creature. We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in
equal condition. III.21.5

Acts 13:48 makes it clear “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Election is not on account of our believing, but our believing is on account of our election (“ordained to eternal life”= election). If God foresaw we would have faith and therefore elected us, where did we get that faith? The scriptures say it is the gift of God. The question of whether election precedes foreknowledge or foreknowledge precedes election is an unanswerable question- they both come at the same time. Time is not an issue for God (as Calvin says above)- He transcends time, partially because of where He is. Einstein said that if we had a telescope strong enough and we moved 200 light years away, we could see what happened on earth 200 years ago. God sees everything all the time- past, present, and future. He is before time, and yet intersects with time. I remember one person saying, if we knew every variable about every factor we could predict the future. We do this a little bit with the weather- windstreams, temperatures, stage of the moon, sun spots, are some of the variable the weather forecasters can plug into their computer programs to forecast the weather. But God knows every variable. He created everything, and knows each thing well. I know some things and some people, but my little brain is limited. I do not know everyone well, and cannot see into their thoughts (as Jesus did those around him). The foreknowledge of God is really a segment of His knowledge. It is amazing to think of God’s great knowledge. The Psalmist said, “such thoughts are too wonderful for me.” But it is not out of knowledge of what we do or believe that God chose us. It is out of sheer love and grace. No one deserves to be chosen. We deserve hell. Some of us appear to even choose our hells (Governor Mark Sanford’s continual meltdown is a public example of that). Election is that God comes to us and saves us from our personal hells and also the eternal one- not because He knew us. In some ways it is despite His foreknowledge that He chooses. Yet it is also with His foreknowledge that the choice is made (Those he foreknew he also predestined- Romans 8:29). The Message version gives Romans 8:29 as “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning.” We must trust in God’s amazing knowledge. But we also must be in awe that God knew us and chose us anyway. I have thought that many times about my wife- she knew me and chose me anyway. God knew Israel and chose Israel anyway- out of grave and love. If you believe, you can rejoice and have peace that this has been done for you too.

Prayer: Lord, it is hard for us to go deep in your Word thinking of your foreknowledge and election. Thank you for giving us faith. Thank you that though you knew our sins ahead of time, you still chose us. Help us to live grateful and holy lives, trusting in you.

6/30- Unconditional Election

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/30- Unconditional Election

16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (II Peter 1:16,17)

Calvin: For we shall know that the moment we exceed the bounds of the Word, our course is outside the pathway and in darkness, and that there we must repeatedly wander, slip, and stumble. Let this, therefore, first of all be before our eyes: to seek any other knowledge of predestination than what the Word of God discloses is not less insane than if one should purpose to walk in a pathless waste [cf. Job 12:24], or to see in darkness. And let us not be ashamed to be ignorant of something in this matter, wherein there is a certain learned ignorance. Rather, let us willingly refrain from inquiring into a kind of knowledge, the ardent desire for which is both foolish and dangerous, nay, even deadly. (III. 21: 2)

There appeared to be three things that drove Calvin’s curiosity and writings about predestination. One we have already discussed- it clearly takes away from human ability to earn salvation and gives the glory to God; Second, Calvin saw that some had faith and others did not even though they were exposed to the same sermon and environment. How could one explain how one person’s heart was hard and another’s heart was responsive to the same message? Predestination seemed to answer that. The third reason, and really the over-arching reason for Calvin was that the Bible taught it. The Bible is God’s Word to Calvin. The Bible was not separated from the Word of God, the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, and makes the scriptures real to us through His illumination of the words to us. In the end, it is not some apologetic or some easy doctrine that should drive our theology- but God’s Word. A “cleverly invented story” (see II Peter above) will not do.

Prayer: Lord, help us to hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on your Word. Open our eyes to what you have to say about our own salvation and your plan that are there.

6/29- Reasons to Think about Predestination

(Lifeguard training to pull helpless person from the water]
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/29- Reasons to think about Predestination

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28,29)

Calvin: They who shut the gates that no one may dare seek a taste of this doctrine [of election] wrong men no less than God. For neither will anything else suffice to make us humble as we ought to be nor shall we otherwise sincerely feel how much we are obliged to God. And as Christ teaches, here is our only ground for firmness and confidence: in order to free us of all fear and render us victorious amid so many dangers, snares, and mortal struggles, he promises that whatever the Father has entrusted into his keeping will be safe [John 10:28-29].(III.21.1)

Calvin thinks more about predestination and election than any other major theologian of the Reformation. Here he tells us why in part. Predestination brings humility- for more than any other aspect of salvation this doctrine tells us that we did not earn our salvation, but God chose us before we had a chance to earn it (as if we could). This doctrine therefore brings with it gratitude to God. Gratitude is a basic ingredient to the Christian life for Calvin. The third reason to think about predestination or election is that it brings about assurance of faith that we will survive the spiritual struggles of life. There are so many temptations and problems, without a doctrine that emphasizes God’s powerful grace leading us safely home, we might be caught up in fear. I am one who always likes to plan ahead. Predestination is the ultimate planning ahead by the ultimate Being. About three months ago I made a reservation at my hotel (where I am now- in Clemson) via the internet. I am always amazed that when I get there they actually are expecting me! Predestination gives us the assurance (confirmation) that our reservation has been made and paid for. No matter how many problems I may have along the way, no matter what my situation is, my reservation has been made and paid for- and is waiting on me. Now a hotel reservation made is just one less thing to worry about. But our eternal home-beyond the grave is really important. Calvin is right, there is some comfort in thinking about this.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that before I was thinking about my future, you were. Thank you that we can rest in your love and your plan.

6/28- Saying Goodbye

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/28- Farewells

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (II Timothy 4:6-8)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.” (Gal. 6:18)

Calvin: Farewell, most excellent and respected brother. We have a new subject for sorrow in the death of Peter Martyr. Our brother Beza is still in the camp. Ribitte went to Orleans about six months ago, being called thither to discharge the functions of a teacher. May the Lord preserve you in safety, and enrich you more and more with his gifts. My colleagues very respectfully salute you. — Yours, John Calvin.(1562 letter)

I guess this is a personal blog today. Today my last child, my son, goes off to college. He leaves after church. Kay and I have had 24 years of children, and this is a big gear shift (they call it the “empty nest”). We have loved all of our kids, and God has been really good to us giving us great children. John Calvin had a son who died in infancy and a few other miscarriages. He wrote his famous statement, “I had a son…but I have many children.”
So today I thought about farewells. Calvin’s formula in his letters for saying goodbye is similar to what is above: “farewell most excellent…then he says a word about those they mutually know- usually first the people Calvin knows there, and then the people known by the recipient of the letter. Paul was usually beginning and ending his letters with a blessing commonly involving “grace and peace” and commending their faith. Saying goodbye to friends or loved ones is an important act. I have sometimes heard people grieve saying, “I never had a chance to say goodbye.” Frankly, because of my wife’s leukemia, I am relieved that Kay and I are both alive to see this day. Also because my son is deathly allergic to peanuts, has had asthma, and has been to the doctor’s office or hospital 14 times with broken bones, I am glad he is alive too. Whenever Paul and Calvin wrote anyone, they always were concerned about their faith. So I am always concerned about the faith of my children and the folks in my church and community (and world). My son will be in my prayers today especially. We all should pray for our families, and cherish the opportunity to say goodbye- saying it with grace, peace, and faith.

Prayer: Lord, saying goodbye is a hard but necessary thing to do. Thank you for human love, and for your great mercy. We commend those we love to you, and ask your blessing upon them.

6/27- Total Depravity II

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/27-
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9)

Calvin: Therefore let us hold this as an undoubted truth which no siege engines can shake: the mind of man has been so completely estranged from God’s righteousness that it conceives, desires, and undertakes, only that which is impious, perverted, foul, impure, and infamous. The heart is so steeped in the poison of sin, that it can breathe out nothing but a loathsome stench. But if some men occasionally make a show of good, their minds
nevertheless ever remain enveloped in hypocrisy and deceitful craft, and their hearts bound by inner perversity
(II.5.19)

Bernie Madoff deceived people of between 65 to 170 billion dollars. Stars such as Steven Spielberg and Barbara Streisand were duped. Madoff was chairman of Nasdaq at one time, and the sixth biggest trader on Wallstreet at one point. Human trust is an interesting thing. Sometimes we think we can trust because other people are trusting too. But we should even be wary of ourselves. We all have a tendency towards denial and self-deception. We may think too highly or even too lowly of ourselves. Luther said we sin in our best as well as our worst deeds. Because even the best things we do have some flaw- maybe a pride-motivated flaw- we need to look at our accomplishments with humility and gratitude to God for anything good that comes out of them. The glory and credit and honor belongs ultimately to God.
Another sign of our depravity is the tendency to mess things up over and over. It is almost like we are addicted to sin in some way. I remember the pop song, "Woops I Did It Again" that mentioned that the girl knew she was doing wrong, but she kept doing it. Paul said, "The things I know I shouldn't do, those are things I end up doing." God can help us recognize our addiction to sin, which is always the first step of recovery- "Hi I'm ____ and I'm an alcholic."
It really is important that we recognize our tendency to mess things up, to bring problems on ourselves, and that the world around us- including even the best people- can fail us. As Calvin said it is only when we recognize we are sick that we need a remedy for that sickness. The past two weeks I have struggled with allergies and laryngitis. I kept thinking it would go away, but it got progressively worse. It was only when I realized there was nothing my body could do on its own about this that I went to the doctor and got a prescription. In a similar way, we must recognize that apart from God we have no hope. We need to call on Him to help us, guide us, strengthen us in this life.



Calvin’s Prayer at the end of Jeremiah 17 commentary: Grant, Almighty God, that as we are wholly nothing and less than nothing, we may know our nothingness, and having cast away all confidence in the world as well as in ourselves, we may learn to flee to thee as suppliants, and so put our trust in thee for our present life and for eternal salvation, that thou alone mayest be glorified:

6/26- Total Depravity

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/26- Total Depravity (Picture adam and eve Rubens)

“This is the evil that happens in everything under the sun: the same destiny overtakes all: the hearts of people, moreover are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live.” (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.: (Romans 3:23)
“All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6)

Calvin: If we do not perceive our wretchedness and poverty, we shall never know how desirable is that remedy which Christ has brought to us, or approach him with due ardor of affection. As soon as we know that we are ruined, then, aware of our wretchedness, we eagerly run to avail ourselves of the remedy, which otherwise would be held by us in no estimation. In order, therefore, that Christ may be appreciated by us, let every one consider and examine himself, so as to acknowledge that he is ruined till he is redeemed by Christ. (Commentary on Isaiah 53:6)

The idea of total depravity is the first of the five points of Calvinism. Basically it means there is nothing we can do to save ourselves because sin has polluted us and our actions. Luther used to say we sin in our best deeds and our worst deeds.
Total depravity plays itself out in different ways:
1) None of us escapes- The most powerful, most educated and intelligent, the best of us still sins. Also the least powerful, poorest, uneducated and unintelligent among us sins as well. The Mark Sanfords, Bill Clintons, and the homeless person on the street all are capable of evil. We cannot condemn someone too loudly, for we fall under the same condemnation. Only God has the ultimate right to judge.
2) No action of ours is totally pure. The poison of sin effects even the best things we do. No one has absolutely pure motives, though we often deceive ourselves into thinking so. Yet, we should not despair (as Reinhold Neibuhr said so eloquently) of doing the best we can with what we have by God’s grace. The fact that our actions are not totally pure, does not mean that our actions cannot still glorify God.
3) It is not that we are good and some outside force makes us sin. No outside force is needed. We sin on the inside before we can even sin on the outside. Outside forces do influence us to sin, but there is an innate nature in us that draws us to wrongness. We are not born naturally good. We are born crying- demanding that the world meet our needs.
4) No one country, area, culture is totally good. All sin corporately and individually. Churches sin. We should not be surprised when evil raises its ugly head. In the end we all stand in need of God’s grace and human loyalties can only be temporary (not eternal) and therefore proximate not ultimate. The only God we can have is God Himself. One of the best action is to say, “Lord have mercy on me a sinner” (Or “us sinners”).
5) Our sinfulness allows us to see how great the grace and mercy of God is.

Prayer: Lord, take away our love of sinning. Forgive us, heal us, and make us new.

6/25- Grieving Celebrities

(Job Grieving-uncomforted by his three friends)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

6/25-

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13)

Calvin (Letter to a friend upon the death of his sister): because I was not certain whether they had as yet informed you of the death of Madame your sister, I did not venture to mention it. Now I have rejoiced, and have thanked God with my whole heart, perceiving by the letter of Madame that you had at once taken your stand upon the point whereon I would have founded my principal argument, if I had wished to console you. And, indeed, you have such occasion for gratitude on account of the grace which God has vouchsafed to her, and to you also. For seeing that her husband had waxed so cold, the good lady would have been in an unhappy captivity had she remained longer in the world, and would only have languished her life away. On your part, you would not have had it in your power to lend her a helping hand, nor to solace her sorrows; and so you never could have thought of her without regret and vexation. God, therefore, has had pity upon you and her, in thus providing, and above all, in preventing the dangers into which she might have fallen in a long career, by reason of the frailty which is in us. And we have yet a better ground of further consolation, that it will not be long ere we find ourselves together again. Meanwhile, let us think of preparing ourselves to follow her, for the time will soon come. But I like much better to congratulate you, seeing that our Lord has already put these things in your heart, than to labor in Recalling them to your memory. The other news which Camus has told me about you, has also cheered me to await the time when God will bring to pass what he has put into so good a train. Monseigneur, after humble commendations to your kind favor, and having presented the humble remembrances of my wife, I pray our good Lord to have you ever in his safeguard, to strengthen you in body and in spirit, so as always to make you more abound in his service. (Letter to Falais 1546)

1546 was the year Martin Luther died. There is no indication that Calvin mentioned it in his letters or sermons. However, that same year he wrote to his friend Falais whose sister died, and to his friend Viret whose wife died. He was concerned about their welfare and grief more than the death of the mighty Luther whom he called at one point “an apostle” of the Reformation. In our instant news society, we grieve over the loss of Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. I have not met either one. I have met Mark Sanford several times, have written him, and am saddened for him and his family. But our society is consumed with celebrity worship. Talented singers die. Even though their songs and influence live on, a more important question is did they help the world glorify God more or less? Farah Fawcett was beautiful, but beauty fades. The power of governors, even presidents can erode in a heartbeat with the fickleness of our morality. Don’t get me wrong, we should pray for the Jackson and Fawcett and Sanford family. But such falls and deaths affect us really less than the neighbor down the street who dies. We do not need to grieve like the heathens. They may think it is that much worse that a great singer and dancer is no longer singing or dancing. Or that a beautiful girl is now entombed with death. But Christians are well aware of the temporary and fickle even sinful nature of life. Beauty eventually fades, and songs eventually (today quickly) lose their popularity.

Prayer: Help us, Holy Spirit to grieve with hope, and to have our eyes fixed on what will last.