Calvin's Institutes: June 11

Calvin's Institutes: June 11

Podcast Summary In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 7–11, Calvin develops the third aspect of Christian liberty: freedom in matters that God has neither commanded nor forbidden. He argues that consciences must not be bound by human regulations concerning food, clothing, holidays, or other indifferent things (adiaphora), since such bondage inevitably leads to superstition, fear, and endless uncertainty. At the same time, Christian liberty is not a license for self-indulgence. Calvin warns against using freedom as a cloak for luxury, pride, or the pursuit of pleasure, insisting that God’s gifts are to be enjoyed with gratitude, moderation, and contentment. He further explains that liberty is primarily a spiritual blessing meant to give peace to the conscience before God, not an opportunity to parade one’s freedom before others. Finally, he distinguishes between “offense given” and “offense taken,” teaching that believers must gladly limit their liberty for the sake of weak brothers while refusing to surrender the truth to the unreasonable demands of Pharisaical critics. Throughout these sections, Calvin presents Christian liberty as a gift that frees the conscience, promotes gratitude, encourages moderation, and serves the good of the church through love. Today's Reading John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 7–11 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com [https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com] Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton [https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton] Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com [https://www.credocourses.com] Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org [https://www.credoministries.org] #JohnCalvin #InstitutesOfTheChristianReligion #ChristianLiberty #Adiaphora #LibertyOfConscience #FaithAndFreedom #ReformedTheology #ChristianTheology #HistoricalTheology #ChurchHistory #ThroughTheChurchFathers #CredoMinistries #ChristianDiscipleship #Contentment #Moderation #ChristianLiving #Conscience #PaulineTheology #CalvinStudies #FreedomInChrist

Calvin's Institutes: June 10

Podcast Summary In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 1–6, Calvin introduces the doctrine of Christian liberty and argues that it is essential for understanding the gospel, justification, and the peace of the believer's conscience. He explains that Christian liberty first frees believers from seeking righteousness through the law, directing them instead to Christ alone as their righteousness before God. Second, it frees Christians from the terror of legal bondage so that they may obey God willingly as beloved children rather than fearful slaves. Calvin shows from Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews that the law continues to guide believers in holiness, but it can never serve as the foundation of their acceptance before God. Because believers are accepted by grace, they are able to serve God cheerfully, trusting that their heavenly Father receives their imperfect obedience with kindness and mercy. Throughout these sections, Calvin emphasizes that true Christian liberty does not encourage sin but produces grateful obedience, joyful service, and confidence before God through faith in Christ alone. Today's Reading John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 1–6 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com [https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com] Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton [https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton] Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com [https://www.credocourses.com] Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org [https://www.credoministries.org] #JohnCalvin #InstitutesOfTheChristianReligion #ChristianLiberty #JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #GraceAlone #LawAndGospel #LibertyInChrist #ReformedTheology #ChristianTheology #HistoricalTheology #ChurchHistory #ThroughTheChurchFathers #CredoMinistries #ChristianDiscipleship #SolaFide #SolaGratia #CalvinStudies #FreedomInChrist #GospelDoctrine

Calvin's Institutes: June 9

Podcast Summary In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 8–10, Calvin continues defending justification by faith alone against several common objections. He argues that although charity is greater than faith in certain respects, it does not therefore justify. Faith justifies not because it is a superior work, but because it is the instrument by which believers receive the mercy of God and the righteousness of Christ. Calvin then addresses Christ’s command to the rich young ruler to keep the commandments, explaining that Jesus was exposing the man's confidence in works and driving him toward the realization that he could not attain righteousness through the law. Finally, Calvin answers the claim that a good work can offset sin before God. He insists that righteousness by works would require perfect and uninterrupted obedience throughout one's entire life, while a single violation of God's law brings guilt. Thus the law shuts every person up to the need for Christ, and the only remedy for sinners is to flee from their own righteousness to the righteousness offered through faith in Him. Today's Reading John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 8–10 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com [https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com] Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton [https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton] Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com [https://www.credocourses.com] Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org [https://www.credoministries.org] #JohnCalvin #InstitutesOfTheChristianReligion #JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #GraceAlone #CharityAndFaith #RichYoungRuler #RighteousnessOfChrist #ReformedTheology #ChristianTheology #HistoricalTheology #ChurchHistory #ThroughTheChurchFathers #CredoMinistries #ChristianDiscipleship #SolaFide #SolaGratia #CalvinStudies #LawAndGospel #TheologyInDepth

Calvin's Institutes: June 8

Podcast Summary In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 4–7, Calvin continues answering the claim that rewards promised in Scripture prove that believers merit salvation through their works. He argues that God speaks of rewards, wages, and recompense not because our works deserve eternal life, but because He graciously encourages His people as they endure suffering, self-denial, and the discipline of the Christian life. Eternal life is a recompense in the sense that God exchanges the trials of this present age for the blessings of the age to come, not because He is paying a debt owed to human merit. Calvin further explains that even the righteousness of believers' works depends upon God's pardon, since every work remains imperfect and acceptable only because God graciously overlooks its defects. He then addresses passages about storing treasure in heaven, showing that acts of charity are remembered and rewarded by God without becoming meritorious. Finally, he explains that suffering for Christ makes believers worthy of the kingdom not by earning it, but by conforming them to their Savior. Throughout these sections, Calvin insists that God's rewards flow from His faithfulness to His promises and His covenant of mercy, not from any worthiness found in human works. Today's Reading John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 4–7 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com [https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com] Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton [https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton] Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com [https://www.credocourses.com] Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org [https://www.credoministries.org] #JohnCalvin #InstitutesOfTheChristianReligion #JustificationByFaith #GraceAlone #FaithAlone #GoodWorks #ChristianSuffering #Adoption #RewardAndMerit #ReformedTheology #HistoricalTheology #ChristianTheology #ThroughTheChurchFathers #ChurchHistory #CredoMinistries #ChristianDiscipleship #SolaFide #SolaGratia #CalvinStudies #TheologyInDepth

Calvin's Institutes: June 7

Podcast Summary In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 1–3, Calvin addresses the common objection that Scripture repeatedly teaches God will reward people according to their works. He argues that such passages describe the order by which God brings His people into the enjoyment of salvation, not the cause of their salvation. Good works are the path God ordains for His children, but they never become the basis of their acceptance before Him. Calvin then explains that eternal life is called a reward not because believers earn it, but because it is the inheritance of adopted sons. Using Abraham as an example, he shows that God often rewards obedience with blessings that He had already promised long before the obedience occurred, demonstrating that grace always comes first. Finally, Calvin explains that works help prepare believers for the full enjoyment of what God has promised, but they never establish merit before God. Throughout these sections, Calvin insists that salvation rests entirely upon God’s mercy and adoption, while good works serve as the ordained means by which believers advance toward the inheritance that has already been secured for them in Christ. Today's Reading John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 1–3 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com [https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com] Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton [https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton] Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com [https://www.credocourses.com] Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org [https://www.credoministries.org] #JohnCalvin #InstitutesOfTheChristianReligion #JustificationByFaith #GraceAlone #FaithAlone #GoodWorks #Adoption #Abraham #ReformedTheology #ChristianTheology #HistoricalTheology #Calvin #ThroughTheChurchFathers #CredoMinistries #ChristianDiscipleship #ChurchHistory #TheologyInDepth #SolaFide #SolaGratia