Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin
Book 3 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ
Chapter 2 - Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, & Properties Explained
Sections 29-32 - Basis of faith the free promise in the Word of grace in Christ
Section 29 - God's promise is the foundation of faith
His promise doesn't depend on our works, but is outside ourselves in Christ.
Rom 10:8; 2 Cor 5:19-20.
His promise of mercy is the object of our faith - what we believe in.
Ps 86:5; 103:8; 145:9.
Section 30 - Why faith depends solely on the promise of grace
Faith has to believe God's promise of mercy, not just that He will judge.
Faith "does not reconcile us to God at all unless it joins us to Christ."
Section 31 - The significance of the Word for faith
Faith needs the Word like fruit needs the root of a plant.
We trust in God's power, first, to give us faith - Rom 4:21; 2 Tim 1:12.
God must illumine His Word to us, to bring about faith in us.
The patriarchs messed up, but still had faith, even in their errors - Gen 16:2, 5; 27:9.
"Errors are often mingled with faith."
Section 32 - The promise of faith fulfilled in Christ
All God's promises testify to His love for us.
They are fulfilled in Christ - 2 Cor 1:20.
"No one is love by God apart from Christ." See Eph 1:6; Rom 15:8.
The Jews knew of Christ only obscurely, sometimes with very little understanding - 2 Kings 5:1-19; Acts 10:31; 8:27-31.
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