Jeff Davis
One of the distinct doctrines of Calvin that separates him from other theologians is the doctrine of eternal election. As the America is restless with it’s own election many within the church become restless with the thought of God electing those who would be saved. Calvin calls this “God’s mere generosity.” (3:21:1 pg 921) Calvin lays the groundwork that eternal election is a display of God’s grace. To say that there is something humanity does in the salvation process undermines the grace of God. Calvin dives head first into the scripture when laying the foundation for the doctrine of Predestination is all about God’s grace and love. “At the present time, he says, a remnant has been saved according to the election of grace but if it is by grace, it's no more of works; otherwise grace would be more be grace. But if it is of works, it is no more of grace; otherwise work would not be work. “ Romans 11:5-6. God sought out Abraham and put eternal election into effect from the beginning. Separating a certain people group to draw close to and the manifest of love and grace which was on display through the nation of Israel. It was in the fullness of God’s plan that through Jesus the rest of humanity was able to partake into God’s grace and mercy. All gentiles have been grafted into the vine of Israel. When it comes to salvation no man would choose God first, God first draws near towards us. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life we are capable of understanding scripture, hearing and perceiving God’s voice in our life and coming to a relationship with Jesus Christ. “Surely the grace of God deserves alone to be proclaimed in our election only if it is freely given. Now it will not be freely given by God, in choosing his own, considers what the works of each shall be. We therefore find Christ’s statement to his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you,” (John 15:16) generally valid among all believers.” (3.21.3 pg 935)
The doctrine of predestination was not “created” by Calvin, but Jesus. Throughout Jesus ministry. Jesus indicates that God has given to him those who believe. And Jesus won’t lose them. “No one, he says, can come to me unless the Father draws him. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” John 6:44-45. When it comes to evangelism a believer's heart can be strengthened because when we understand the significant role that predestination has to a believers message. Too often Christians are worried about not knowing what to say, or how to approach conversations or what is a right or wrong way to do evangelism. With the lens of predestination doctrine the “responsibility” isn’t on the believer to save another’s soul. It is totally in the hands of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in that person’s life. Also, as the people in our lives rise and fall throughout life and we start asking ourselves questions like, “what could I have done differently, or could I have said something that would have changed that.” We can have confidence that God is still working, through our successes and failures. Jesus’ blood covers those who are elected. God will draw the elect with the Holy Spirit through all circumstances. Which is another comforting fact that no matter what life throws at us, God is able to use it for the very best and if something horrific happens but through that situation God uses those moments to turn a heart then we as believers can take comfort in the work of God through tragedy and triumph.
In light of scriptures like Roman 9:18, “God has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” I leave you with the final thoughts of Calvin. “Do you see how Paul attributes both to God’s decision alone? If, then, we cannot determine a reason why he vouchsafes mercy to his own, except that it is so please him, neither shall we have any reason for rejecting others, other than his will.” (3.21.11, page 947)
How does the doctrine of predestination sit with you?
Jeff, I appreciate your summary of the reading. Thank you. One of the tenets of the Reformed faith is our claim to the authority of Scripture. Calvin writes, “Hence the Scriptures obtain full authority among believers only when men regard them as having sprung from heaven, as if there the living word of God were heard.” (Institutes, p. 74) Yet it is not the church nor the pastor who gives Scripture its authority. Rather, the “secret testimony of the Spirit” gives Scripture its authority. Relying on the Spirit to infuse one’s heart causes a transformation in one’s hands. Rather than a closed fist pounding the table, we should have our hands relaxed, palms up; open to the Spirit’s prompting and leading. We can’t prove the Word, but we can be open to receive it.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the inspiring post, I appreciate the shared quotes from Lane, there at the end. "The Spirit without the Word is dangerous, and the Word without the Spirit is deadly.."
ReplyDeleteI did not see a question, but thought I would mention a snippet from Calvin's Chapter VII from Book I, Calvin is speaking (writing) of the nature of Scripture, stating that since there are no daily responses from heaven, and this is the only writings cosigned by God as true... He asks 'who guarantees that they [Scripture] have come down safe and unimpaired to our times... When asked to prove the Scripture, I fail, when asked to prove anything of the Spiritual Movements within me, I cannot. Faith, is Trusting in God without demanding proof, the 'proof' is my experience, it is in the Word of God and community of Christian Believers who stand together and proclaim the Gospel.
Claire, my mind went to the same place in these writings. From your quote in Chapter 7 and moving on into Chapter 8, it is as if Calvin acknowledges the circular reasoning of the authority of Scripture. The Scripture is the Word of God because God says so in the Scripture. Therefore Calvin says "Scripture is superior to all human wisdom. Unless this certainty, higher and stronger than any human judgment, be present, it will be vain to fortify the authority of Scripture by arguments" (p. 81). Faith in the superiority of Scripture must be inserted in that circle to open the Scripture to us. To those who are not quite sure that Scripture is authoritative through the Holy Spirit, Calvin might tell them to just keep reading and it will become clear. Reminds me of exercise - everybody says it is good for me, but it feels terrible. Rather than explain every mechanism by which it will do me good, they say, "Just keep exercising, you'll figure it out."
DeleteJeff, Thank you for this excellent summary of the purpose of the Holy Spirit. As you state: "The Holy Spirit also keeps believers firm in their faith so that the Word of God continues to draw us towards God." I would also like to add that it is the Holy Spirit which prompts us with questions as we read and digest the Scriptures calling us to a deeper understanding and even investigation of scripture. We might also note that the Holy spirit often connects circumstances of our lives with scripture. Did you find anything in your Calvin readings which address the issue of connecting the Holy Spirit with life events as well as with the ideas of rational logic?
ReplyDeleteWow, thorough summary of the chapters in Lane's section 4. There was a lot of ground to cover. Calvin points out that understanding and accepting that the scriptures are, indeed, the word of God is very important for us to get salvation right, but I also think it is important because it gives us a common basis upon which we can agree. A nation that has two sets of laws spelled out for two different sets of people will soon be divided. It is the same way for God's people, when we cannot agree on the truth of scripture, we become fractured and separated. This is why, I think, having a common lectionary, etc. are important issues in the church. It is also why I don't think we can rely completely or only on the Spirit speaking to us through the Bible. I think the church having culled the early writings and affirming what was scriptural was important. But I also think the work was the sum total of the Holy spirit working through the individuals who were responsible for writing and selecting the scriptures that created the end result.
ReplyDeleteI agree and this is the Holy Spirit continuing to work in those who gathered the canon of scripture together through prayer and discernment. Calvin eludes to the many groups - radicals-- or in German "Schwaermer"-- who deny scripture relying on their interpretation of the Holy spirit in their lives. Sixteenth century magistrates and reformers considered them dangerous, as they denied the continuity of God's work within humanity. Today, I think it is likewise worrisome when 1. people deny scripture claiming that they only need the God they see in nature (discussed above), 2. people only get a snippet of scripture and use it to support their idea without the entirety of the text.
DeleteI love the illustration of the "God sized hole" in each of us. Today, even as in Calvin's time, we so often try to fill that hole with other things.
ReplyDeleteDuring this reading, I became aware of Calvin's use of "elect." He uses it twice in this reading (pgs 70 & 81). (If he used it before this, I didn't notice.) I think this election holds us to a higher standard. I thought Lane's quote that you referenced speaks to us as the elect. But if the Word through the Spirit "is really branded upon our hearts, if it shows forth Christ, it is the word of life....converting souls....giving wisdom to the little ones, etc." (pg 95). We need both Scripture and the Holy Spirit to faithfully represent Christ to the world.
Thanks Jeff! I can add such a personal experience here. To make it short, I had a disconnect between God and scripture until I learned to pray and experienced God through the images of scripture. From this experience, I think Calvin is right on when he claims that "the testimony of the Spirit is more excellent than all reason. For as God alone is a fit witness to himself in his Word...sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit."
ReplyDeleteThis is a great summary Jeff. It sure was a lot of ground to cover in a short place. I thought it was interesting that Calvin did reference and support some of Augustine’s work. When early church leaders agree on some points, it takes some of the questions from my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is always very calming to know that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide conversations. Claire already quoted one of my favorite parts of this weeks reading, "The Spirit without the Word is dangerous, and the Word without the Spirit is deadly.."
It has a very real feel to it. I like the way you inserted the links into the blog to point us to further reading. Thanks again Jeff.
Thank you Jeff. You have summarized it so well. But I want to add that human can easily fall into forgetting who God is by error, by our concerns for the environment that keeps changing, and also by other religions. In this situation, the scripture plays a major role that we should not forget that God is not in error. This assistance provided by God in scripture is helpful in God's own eyes because other forms of reminders may not be sufficient.
ReplyDeleteCalvin advise that, we must come to scripture as God describes his works to us in scripture by the eternal truth. Getting off the scripture may be a recipe for not reaching our goal.