Calvin's Institutes: July 21

Calvin's Insititutes: July 22

In Book 4, Chapter 1 (Sections 6–10), John Calvin addresses the vital role of the ministry and the visible Church. He clarifies the true efficacy of preaching and sacraments—tools used by the Spirit of God—while warning against both overrating human ministers and undervaluing the ordinary means God has appointed. He then sets forth the marks of the true visible Church (the pure preaching of the word and right administration of the sacraments) and calls us to honor her authority, for to revolt from the Church is to revolt from Christ himself. Today’s Readings John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 4, Chapter 1 (Sections 6-10) --- 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] #VisibleChurch #MinistryOfTheWord #MarksOfTheChurch #JohnCalvin #InstitutesBook4 #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Calvin's Institutes: July 21

In Book 4 of the Institutes, John Calvin turns to the visible Church as our mother, the ordinary means by which God gathers, nourishes, and perfects his children. In Chapter 1 (Sections 4–5), he shows that there is no salvation outside the Church, that she is essential for our growth from infancy to maturity in faith, and that God has committed the ministry of the word to pastors and teachers so that we might be built up together in unity until we attain the full stature of Christ. Today’s Readings John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 4, Chapter 1 (Sections 4-5) --- 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] #TheChurchAsMother #VisibleChurch #MinistryOfTheWord #JohnCalvin #InstitutesBook4 #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Calvin's Institutes: July 20

In the opening of Book 4 of the Institutes, John Calvin turns from the inner work of the Trinity to the external means God uses to gather and nurture his people. He introduces the Holy Catholic Church as our mother, the Communion of Saints, and the ordinary helps—pastors, teachers, and sacraments—by which God brings us to Christ and keeps us in fellowship with him. This sets the stage for Calvin’s rich treatment of the true Church, her marks, government, power, and discipline. Today’s Readings John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 4, Chapter 1 (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] #TheChurch #CommunionOfSaints #JohnCalvin #InstitutesBook4 #MaternalChurch #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Calvin's Institutes: July 19

In the majestic conclusion to his chapter on the resurrection, John Calvin lifts our eyes beyond the renewal of the body to the true goal: eternal happiness in the fullness of God himself. In Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 3, Chapter 25 (Sections 10–12), he describes the inexpressible glory that awaits the saints, urges sobriety in our speculations about heaven, affirms the special rewards laid up for each believer, and paints the fearful reality of divine judgment on the reprobate—whose torments are figured in fire, darkness, and the worm that does not die—so that we might press on through tribulation until God is all in all. Today’s Readings John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 3, Chapter 25 (Sections 10-12) --- 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] #Resurrection #EternalGlory #FinalJudgment #JohnCalvin #ChristianHope #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Calvin's Institutes: July 18

In a time when many invent fictions to deny the resurrection of the flesh, John Calvin drives home the clear testimony of Scripture: the very bodies we now possess—temples of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ—will be raised, transformed from corruption to incorruption. In Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 3, Chapter 25 (Sections 8–9), he refutes those who imagine new bodies, explains the manner of the final change at the trumpet’s sound, and addresses how the ungodly too will rise, not to life but to judgment, rendering them without excuse before the tribunal of Christ. Today’s Readings John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 3, Chapter 25 (Sections 8-9) --- 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] #ResurrectionOfTheFlesh #BodilyResurrection #JohnCalvin #LastJudgment #ChristianHope #ThroughTheChurchFathers