7-20; I John 2:18-21 False Christ and false Christians

(Antichrist selling indulgences lucas Cranach 1521)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

July 20- 2:18-19
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. (TNIV)


Calvin commentary abridged: 2:18- “it is the last hour” John is trying to strengthen the faithful against disturbing criticisms. Already many sects had risen up which brought disunity and disorder in the churches.
The apostle turns this problem into an opportunity by reminding them that the last time had already come, and so they should be more vigilant. It is as though he was saying, “while various errors come up, it makes sense for you to be awakened rather than overwhelmed; for Christ is not far away; so let us attentively look for him, so that he doesn’t surprise us.” In the same way we should comfort ourselves and see by faith the nearness of the second coming of Christ. Satan’s causing confusion and disturbing the Church is a sign of the last times.
But so many ages have passed away since John died; But what John was trying to say was that nothing more remained of the necessary signs except that Christ should appear to redeem the world. But because he doesn’t assign a time to Christ’s coming, he did not give them a false hope, nor did he intend to say the succession of the years of the Church was unnecessary. Doubtless, if we think on the eternity of God’s kingdom, so long a time will seem to be a moment to us. The last days or times are those in which all things are so completed that nothing remains except the last revelation of Christ.
“as you have heard the antichrist is coming”- John speaks of the antichrist’s coming as something well known and taught regarding the future disorder of the Church. He reminded them of this so that they may be careful to keep themselves in the faith, and instruct their posterity to be watchful as well. Yet many say nothing about the antichrist today. Some (namely the Romans) claim that the antichrist will harass the church for only three and a half years. “Even now are there many antichrists” Those who say there is only one man are greatly mistaken. Paul predicts a defection that would prevail throughout the Church. He then makes the head of the apostasy the adversary of Christ who would sit in the temple claiming divinity and honors. Paul seems to point to an Antichrist and John saying that there were already many antichrists. John only meant to say that many particular sects had already risen which were forerunners of a future Antichrist (like Cerinthus, Basilides, Marcion, Velentinus, Ebion, Arris and others who were in opposition of Christ). Though the Antichrist was not yet in existence, John was using the name that he might effectively stimulate the godly to repel frauds. If the Spirit of God even then commanded the faithful to stand watch, now is the time not to sleep when he holds the Church under his cruel and oppressive tyranny and openly dishonors Christ.
2:19- “They went out from us”- He anticipates another objection, that the Church seemed to have produced these pests, and to have cherished them for a time in its bosom. When anyone of us professes the true faith, fall away, the weak are disturbed. But John denies that they were ever really of the Church. The Church is always exposed to this evil, so that it is burdened with many hypocrites who don’t know Christ, no matter how much they may profess his name in their mouth. “They went out from us”- they had previously occupied a place in the Church, and were counted among the number of the godly- as chaff though mixed with wheat on the same floor cannot be labeled wheat.
“For if they had been one of us”- the ones who fell away were never members of the Church. The seal of God remains sure (II Tim. 2:19). A difficulty appears that many who embraced Christ often fall away. But there are three sorts of those who profess the faith; those who feign piety while a bad conscience reproves them within; the hypocrisy of others is more deceptive, who not only seek to disguise themselves before others, but also dazzle their own eyes so that they seem to themselves to worship God aright; the third are those who have the living root of faith and carry a testimony of their own adoption firmly fixed in their hearts. The first two have no stability, but the last is the group of which John says it is impossible that they should be separated from the Church because the seal which God’s Spirit engraves on their hearts cannot be obliterated. The incorruptible seed, which has struck roots, cannot be pulled up or destroyed. It is not the faithfulness of people that the writer has in mind here, but God. So where the calling of God is effectual perseverance is certain. Those who fall away never had the full knowledge of Christ, but only a light and transient taste of it.
“That they may be made manifest” – trials are useful and necessary for the Church. Since the Church is like a threshing floor, the chaff must be blown away that the pure may remain. This is what God does when he casts out hypocrites from the Church for He then cleanses it from refuse and filth.

Not much is really known of Calvin’s view of the last things. Here he hints at some parts of his view. The end of the world and the second coming of Christ appear to occur simultaneously to Calvin. He believed that he and all the Church were in the last times in which nothing else needed to be fulfilled before the Lord came back. He also was convinced that before Christ came back there would be a common falling away in the Church. He also believed strongly (against Donatism and all those who want to find a pure church in this life) that God alone purifies the Church, and the Church is made up of good and bad (wheat and chaff). If Calvin could speak today, he would note how far the Church in the West has fallen still, and point out that we need to be ready for Christ’s coming. Yesterday on CNN the newspeople were speaking of republicans who had gone to a certain house in Washington D.C. for Bible study, but whose political careers were now in shambles because of immorality. It is easy to be discouraged in our day when so many fall prey to temptation. We should learn from this passage in John.

Prayer: Help us, O Lord, to live with the impure here without becoming corrupted by them. Help us not to be discouraged by those who profess faith yet fall away. Come Lord Jesus.

7-19 I John 2:17-19 Lusts vs Love

(Jacob Gheyn II "Lusts of the Flesh" 16-17th cent)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

7/19- The Lord’s Day I John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father [a] is not in you. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.(TNIV)

Calvin commentary abridged: 2:15- “Love not the world”- The writer has said before that the only rule for living the Christian life is to love God. When we are preoccupied with the prideful temporary love of the world, we turn all our thoughts and affections in another direction. This vanity must be torn away from us so that the love of God may reign in us. Until our minds are cleansed, the former doctrine may be said a hundred times, but without our hearing. It would be like pouring water on a ball. No drop can be gathered on the ball because there is no empty place to retain the water. By the word “world”- understand everything connected with the present life apart from the kingdom of God and the hope of eternal life. So John includes in “the world” corruptions of every kind, and the abyss of all evils. In the world are pleasures, delights, and all those allurements by which people are captivated, so as to draw us away from God. The love of the world is severely condemned, because when we value earthly things so much, we forget God and our own good and are possessed by a beastly stupidity. “If anyone loves the world”- How necessary it is to cast away the love of the world if we wish to please God. What belongs to the world is wholly at variance with God. A corrupt mode of life is here talked about which has nothing in common with the kingdom of God. When people become so degenerated that they are satisfied with the present life, and think no more of immortal life than mute animals, they make themselves a slave to earthly lusts.
2:16- “The Lust of the flesh” John inserted these three particulars as examples of ways people live for the world. Paul in Romans 13:14 says to make no provision for the flesh and its lusts. The flesh is the body and all that belongs to it. Another way to look at it is when worldly people seek to live softly and delicately and are intent only on their own advantage. Well known from Cicero are the threefold division of Epicurus: he made the difference between lusts; he made some natural and necessary; some natural and not necessary; and some neither natural and necessary. But John, knowing the rebellion of the human heart unhestitantly condemns all lusts of the flesh because it always flows out without restraint.
“the lust of the eyes”- He includes sexual lusts as well as the pride which delights in pomp and splendor.
“Pride” or haughtiness; with which is connected ambition, boasting, contempt of others, blind love of self, headstrong self-confidence. As soon as the world presents itself, our lusts or desires, when our heart is corrupt, are captivated by it, like unbridled wild beasts;
2:17- “and the world passes away” As nothing in the world lasts, and as it all fades away in a moment, John concludes that those who seek happiness from the world do not provide well for themselves. The true happiness which God offers his children is eternal. Therefore it is shameful to be entangled with the world which with all its benefits will soon vanish away. “Lust” or “desires” is what is is coveted or what captivates the desires of people. What is most desirable in the world is but a shadowy phantom. By saying those who do the will of God lives forever he means that those who seek God shall be perpetually blessed. If anyone says “but no one does what God commands” the answer is that he is not speaking of keeping the law perfectly, but the obedience of faith, which however imperfect it may be, is yet approved by God. The will of God is first made known in the law, but as no one satisfies the law, no happiness can be found from the law. But Christ comes to meet the despairing with new help. Christ not only regenerates us by his Spirit that he may obey God, but he also allows that our endeavor (our striving) should obtain the praise of perfect righteousness.

John Calvin summed up the Christian life (sanctification) as dying to self and living to God (mortification and vivification). This fits in nicely with this passage. We are to die to our lusts, our comforts, our temporary pleasures that tend to lure our hearts away from the eternal, good will of Christ. Hollywood holds up the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. But what loses in Hollywood’s idea of lust is true love. A previous generation had people who were often having 50th wedding anniversaries. Today, the standard is feeling more than commitment. The common person in American today may say, “I don’t care if it lasts or not.” There is a long string of broken hearts and torn up lives because of this. Children without parents, parents who cannot depend on working together for their children’s mutual benefit; the lack of discipline. Lust is a mean master. In contrast to lust is true love. In contrast to the temporary are the lasting benefits of Christ. Christian growth is not done perfectly here, and it is done by the Holy Spirit. Yet it is not to be despised because it is not perfect. The very striving or endeavoring after God is a work of the Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, change our hearts and the hearts of those we know and love to you. Help us to give ourselves for what will last, not for what fades away.

I John 2:12- 14- Christ of different ages

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

7/18 I John 2:12-14

12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.


Calvin abridged: 2:12- “Little children” By this John means children of all ages, and this applies to all uses in this chapter. When John speaks of little children he calls them "paida" (Grk.), a word that expresses age; but here, as a spiritual father, he calls the old as well as the young, "teknia" (Grk.). Here the writer affirms the forgiveness of sins, which uniquely belongs to those who have faith. In order to make sure this promise of forgiveness is certain, he lays salvation up for us in Christ alone (for his names sake). Holiness of life ought to be urged, the fear of God ought to be carefully encouraged, people ought to be sharply pressed to repentance, newness of life, together with its fruits, ought to be commended; but still we ought to always remember lest the doctrine of faith be smothered, that Christ is the only author of salvation and of all blessings; This moderation of good works should be presented so that faith will retain its primacy. This rule is given to us by John: having spoken of good works, he carefully calls us back to contemplate the grace of Christ. “Your sins are forgiven”- Without this assurance, religion would not be anything but fading and shadowy; The ones who forget the free remission of sins, and dwell on other things, build without a foundation. John teaches that nothing is more suitable to stimulate the fear of God than when we are taught the blessings Christ has brought us (cf. Phil. 2:1). The ground of what John is saying is that God is so benevolent to us so that our sins are not imputed to us.
“For his name’s sake” It would not be sufficient to know that God forgives us our sins, except that we come directly to Christ seeing the price he paid on the cross for us. Foolish people try to pacify God by various satisfactions, and devise numerous kinds of expiations for the purpose of redeeming ourselves. We are prevented from approaching God by the many means we try to come up with to earn our own pardon. So John adds that God is forgiving toward us out of a regard for Christ, in order that he might exclude all other reasons for pardon. We who enjoy his blessings, should pass by and forget all other names, and rely only on the name of Christ.
2:13- “I write to you fathers”- John now comes to enumerate different ages that he might show that what he taught is suitable to everyone. Our sinfulness is so deep that few think that what is addressed to all belongs to them. The old often excuse themselves, because they have exceeded the age of learning; children refuse to learn, because they are not yet old enough; the middle aged do not listen, because they are occupied with other pursuits. So John accommodates and applies the Gospel to all, mentioning three ages- the most common divisions of life (cf. Lacedemonian chorus). He begins with the old, and says that the Gospel applies to them because they learned from it to know the eternal Son of God. The elderly become unteachable because they measure wisdom by the number of years. Horace (Art of Poetry) says that they praise the time of their youth and reject whatever is done or said differently. But the Gospel contains not only ancient knowledge but also leads us to the eternity of God. He says Christ was “from the beginning”- which refers to the Divine presence as being co-eternal and co-powerful with the Father, so that what he was yesterday he is today (cf. Hebrews). It is as though he says, “If antiquity delights you, you have Christ, who is superior to all antiquity; therefore the disciples ought not to be ashamed of him who includes all ages in himself (Heb. 13:8)
“I write to you young men”- though it be a demeaning word, "neaniskoi" yet he directs it to those who are in the full bloom of their age. Those of this age tend to be so addicted to the vain cares of the world, that they think very little of the kingdom of God. The rigor of their minds and the strength of their bodies inebriate them. So the Apostle reminds theme where their true strength lies, that they may not exult in their own flesh.
“You are strong because you have overcome Satan” That strength is what we ought to seek, for it is a spiritual strength that is not obtained except from Christ. He says that those still engaged in the contest had conquered. While in human war the end is in doubt, there is no doubt that Christ has conquered for us the whole world.
2:13- “I write to you, young children”- the gospel is well adapted for young children because they find the Father in it. But this really applies to all of us as there is nothing in us except what is frail and fading, except the power of Christ dwelling inside us. We are all like orphans until we attain the grace of adoption by the Gospel.
2:14- “I have written to you fathers”- these repetitions are superfluous and probably the result of copyists.

Calvin takes a view that each age has a particular reason for denying Christ. He could have taken the view that each age has a reason to accept Him, but he emphasizes our blindness. On the other hand, he in this passage as in many others typically (unlike many others in his day including Luther) downplays Satan’s role (vs. 13) leaving out any mention of “the wicked one.” What is so helpful is that he helps us see that each age makes up excuses for denying our faith. We ought to ask ourselves, where our own temptations lie in making up excuses to deny God in our lives.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that you are God yesterday, today and forever. From generation to generation you are God. Forgive us when we continually think our generation is superior to the previous one.

I John 2:7-11 Love- Human and Divine

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

7/17/09- I John 2:7- 11
7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Those who claim to be in the light but hate a fellow believer are still in the darkness. 10 Those who love their fellow believers live in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But those who hate a fellow believer are in the darkness and walk around in the darkness; they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Calvin abridged: 2:7- This is more explanation about the idea that loving God means keeping His commandments. John reminds us that he taught nothing about love except what had been heard by the faithful from the beginning and had been used so much in the past it had become old. There are three reasons for this: First, novelty is disliked; Second, we don’t do things we do not like; Third, when we believe a doctrine we don’t want anything changed about it. Some explain this idea of “old commandment” differently. They say that Christ is not saying anything differently than what is in the Old Testament. This is true. But I think that he means that these commands were the first elements of the gospel, that they had been taught this way from the beginning, and that they should not think such commandments that they had the opportunity to keep long ago should surprise them. He calls it old not because it was taught many years ago to our ancestors, but because it had been taught them on their new entrance to the faith. This applied to them because it came from Christ himself. “the word which you have heard from the beginning is the old commandment”- the gospel is not new, but it has come from God and is eternal truth- as if God said, “You should not measure the antiquity of the gospel by time because in it is the eternal will of God. Something is only old and deserves faith and reverence when it has its origins in God. The fictions of humans cannot gain so much authority as to overrule the truth of God. 2:8- “A new commandment”- new implies that God renews it daily by suggesting it, so that the faithful may practice it through their whole life for nothing more excellent can be searched for by them. The things which children learn are replaced by what is higher and solid. Love for brothers and sisters is not something that grows old with time, but it is perpetually in force, so that its requirements do not fade with time.
People are naturally curious and always seek something new, having grown weary of the truth, and gaping for new mysteries. It is a steady constant course that counts as true, and love is this way.
“Which is true”- the whole truth of Christ is found in the union of human love. Truth means completion or a perfect state. The church’s union with Christ is also a true state in which the head is joined to the body. If the church had this continual love it would really be united to Christ and have this state of perfection.
“Because the darkness is past”- this means as soon as Christ brings light we will have the full brightness of his knowledge. Not that everyone becomes wise on the first day that they believe (Phil. 3:12- Paul still is striving); but that the knowledge of Christ alone is good enough to eliminate the darkness. So daily progress is important for us. The faith of everyone has its dawn before it reaches its noon day sun. The knowledge of the Gospel is the true light, when Christ the sun or righteousness shines.
2:9- He that says he is in the light but hates his brother is in the darkness now. He concludes that all are bline and walk in darkness who are strangers to love. The love of God and of others are so connected together that they cannot be separated. In the third chapter John says we falsely boast of love for God unless we love our neighbor; But he now takes love to our brothers and sisters as a testimony to prove that we love God. Love refers to both God and people. The whole perfection of life consists in the love of God. Paul teaches that all of the law Is fulfilled when we love our neighbor (Rom. 13:8). It remains certain that love is the rule of life. We should be wary of this because everyone chooses almost anything else than this one commandment of God. “There is no stumbling”- The one who acts in love will never stumble.
“But he that hates his brother” No matter how things may look, there is nothing but sinfulness when love is absent (cf. I Cor. 13). But most of the world is dazzled by all sorts of masks or disguises. Thus fictitious sanctity dazzles the eyes of almost all people, while love is neglected or at least driven into the farthest corner.

Calvin’s great emphases came out in this passage. He emphasizes love for God, love for neighbor and union with Christ. The three interconnect and elicit each other. The more we love our neighbor the closer we get to God, and the more we love God the closer we get to our neighbor. Union with Christ brings us into union with others. Perhaps Bernard of Clairvaux and Thomas a Kempis show their influence on Calvin here. Our day shows a deep longing for human love, but not in the purest sense. So many in our day have tried to substitute human sexuality outside of marriage for human love, and it ends up breaking them instead of uniting and fulfilling them. Human sexuality is a strong motive (as Freud would attest), but it is only a part of human love, not the essence of it. I would contend that human love given the chance is a stronger, more lasting, though slow-burning motive than even sexuality. Those who cohabit are four times more likely to have an affair than those who commit to marriage, and fifteen times more likely to break up in the first five years. Commitment and love go together like light and love. But the real test is not the result from an earthly standpoint. All our human relationships should ideally be within God’s will. When they are holy and loving there is a double union to hold us together. The way we love other people is not separated from the way we love God. One love affects the other love.


Prayer: May your love O God constrain us to love our neighbor. May our union with you unite us to your church and to others.

I John 2:3-6 Knowing God vs Knowing about God

(Crucifixion Lucas Cranach 15th cent- on the cover of Thoma a Kempis Imitation of Christ)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

I John 2:3-6 (TNIV)
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Those who say, "I know him," but do not do what he commands are liars, and the truth is not in them. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Calvin abridged: Having treated the doctrine of remission of sins, he comes to the reasons that belong to that doctrine and that depend on the doctrine. First he reminds us that the knowledge of God, derived from God’s Word, is not without effect, but obedience is elicited from it. He then shows what God requires from us, which is the chief thing of life which is to love God. It is common to make the knowledge of God into frigid speculations so that the heart of the faith is gone and people proudly show off their speculations. John concludes that those who don’t keep his commandments don’t know him. Plato denied that “the beautiful” which he imagined could be known. So Plato asks how is it possible to know God and not be moved by feeling? Nor is it in God’s nature that to know God is to immediately love Him. Rather the Spirit illuminates our minds, and inspires our hearts with a feeling that goes along with our knowledge. The true knowledge of God leads us to fear him and to love him. The doctrine of the gospel is a lively mirror in which we contemplate the image of God, and are transformed into his image (cf. II Cor. 3:18). Where there is no pure conscience, the knowledge of God is an empty phantom knowledge. “If we keep his commandments”- Some say that since no one keeps all of the commandments purely, there can thus be no knowledge of God in the world. But John consistently has pointed out that all are guilty before God, but he means that we strive to form their life around the will of God. For whenever Scripture speaks of the righteousness of the faithful, it does not exclude the remission of sins, but on the contrary begins with it. Faith is not dependent on works even though good works is an evidence of faith. Having certainty of faith depends on Christ’s grace alone. But piety and holiness distinguish true from theft-like knowledge of God which is imagined and dead. For Paul said those who are in Christ has put off the old man (Col. 3:9). 2:4-“He that says, I know him but keeps not his commandments is a liar” God is not known by plain imagination, since he reveals himself to our hearts by the Spirit. Hypocrites boast of a faith they do not have. What he says would be a waste if there were no false and proud professions of Christianity made by people. 2:5- “if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them” John defines here what a true keeping of God’s law involves, namely to love God. The meaning of the passage is “to love God in sincerity of heart is to keep his commandments.” Moses said the same thing in Deut. 10:12: “Now, O Israel, what does the Lord require of you, but to fear and love Him and to walk according to his commandments” (also cf. Deut. 30;19,20). The law which is spiritual, does not command only external works, but especially asks us to love God with our whole heart. Brotherly love flows immediately from the love of God (as we shall soon see). Whoever wants to be approved by God must have all his doings directed to this end [loving God]. If anyone objects saying no one has loved God perfectly; I would reply it is sufficient to aspire to the measure of grace given to us. The definition of the perfect love of God is the complete keeping of the law. To make progress in this, as in knowledge is what we are called to do. We know we are in him by God’s love. No communion with God can be without love for God. 2:6- “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” He doesn’t simply command us to imitate Christ, but calls us to be united with him. A likeness in life and deeds with Christ will prove we abide in Christ.

There is a famous statement in Zwingli that says that the fate of Socrates, Plato and Seneca was better than the popes. He also inferred that all truth is from God and therefore those who found truth are also given that from God and must be close to God. So every good and holy man and faithful soul from the beginning of the world to the end may be in heaven (this would jive with our common post-modern viewpoint). Calvin agreed that there is something good about striving for good according to what we know. But for Calvin the main thing is not striving or being good as much as loving God. He notes here that even Plato felt that he could not know God. For Calvin it is not just externally living like Jesus as much as being in union with Him by faith. Knowledge of God is not just knowing about God, but knowing God in an intimate sense. The Pharisees, scholastics and medieval theologians knew about God, but they were missing the intimacy with God- the communion with Him. This also was a key difference between Zwingli and Calvin- Calvin left a lot of room for the Holy Spirit to unite us to Christ, while Zwingli recognized a common union we have as human beings. Calvin begins his Institutes speaking of the knowledge of God, and his key thought is that it is possible despite our sin to know God. The knowledge of Socrates and Plato I would contend is but shallow knowledge about God compared to a deeper union that Calvin inferred. It is too easy to read about God but not be in relationship with Him. We are called to seek Him, not just seek things (or knowledge) about Him. There is a difference say between knowing about the president by reading about him and actually knowing him.

Prayer: Lord, help us to not just talk about you, but to live like you. Help us not just to be good, but to be in communion with your person.

7/15- I John 2:1,2- Christ our Advocate

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

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Calvin abridged: 2:1- “So that you will not sin”- To not sin is not only the basic teaching of the preceding passage, but the meaning of the whole gospel. Our sin always exposes us to God’s judgment, yet Christ’s sacrificial death intercedes for us so that our Father is forgiving toward us. Christ does not give us a license to sin because of God’s mercy. The Apostle testifies first that the design of his doctrine was to keep people from sinning. Christ is not silent about the gracious remission of our sins, for though the heavens should fall and all things be unanswered, yet this part of truth should never be left out; The person of Christ should be preached clearly and distinctly (which is what we should do now). Though people misunderstand us, we still should boldly proclaim the grace of Christ which brings salvation to us. These challenges are like barking dogs, and should be disregarded because the disciples were also facing these challenges. In order to show how we return into favor with God, he says that Christ is our advocate. He appears to God in order to exercise toward us the power and work of his sacrifice. The intercession of Christ (as our advocate) is a continual application of his death for our salvation. That God does not punish us for our sins is because Christ is our intercessor.
Here John calls Christ two things: “Just” and our “propitiation.” An advocate must have both qualities. An unjust sinner cannot reconcile God to us. We are excluded from access to God because of our impurities. No one can be a high priest except the innocent man (Heb. 7:26 describes Christ as innocent). Likewise no one can be a high priest without a sacrifice, a propitiation. A priest enters the sanctuary with a sacrifice and prayers. All saints have need of an advocate, and Christ is our true advocate. Because Christ died for us and prays for us, our own prayers can be heard in his name. We should also be careful that his honor not go toward another. The Papacy gives the special saints the ability to intercede for us. But the intercessor or advocate must also be a priest. Only Christ is our great high priest. People err when they think that Christ falls to his knees before the Father to pray for us. These thoughts detract from Christ’s own heavenly glory. He makes his requests and our prayers holy by his continual sacrifice on the cross.
“and not only for our sins” Christ’s love does not just cover one individual sins, but the sins of all those who would believe. How have the sins of the whole world been forgiven? It is not that everyone is saved- even Satan himself. Such a monstrous thing deserves no refutation. Commonly people say that Christ suffered sufficiently for the whole world, but efficiently only for the elect. But this does not fit this passage. John is not talking about those who have faith and those who don’t but different parts of the world geographically. The grace of Christ is for those in every land.

For Calvin, Christ is our ultimate advocate. This was very meaningful for Calvin who was trained as an advocate, a lawyer. Calvin studied at the best law school in the world at the time (Orleans), and rose as a prominent student. The Pope asked the law school for an opinion on Henry VIII’s divorce, and Calvin was asked to sit on the panel that made the decision (he voted against the divorce). A lawyer was supposed to speak for the client, and intercede for them. Calvin appreciated (and we should too) that Christ speaks to the Father on our behalf, and more than that, he also sacrifices for us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that you care about the whole world, and you intercede for the world and for us.

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.