Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A resurrection from death into life

Calvin's Institutes (1559)
Book 3 of 4 - How We Receive the Grace of Christ

Chapter 14 - The beginning and progress of justification
Sections 1-6 - Man is dead in sins and needs redemption
1. Man is one of four things:
a. a non-Christian - without knowledge of God and an idolater
b. a nominal Christian - baptized but with a corrupt heart
c. a hypocritical Christian - acting sincere but a corrupt heart
d. a true Christian - regenerate in heart
All men are corrup, without regeneration - Jer 17:9; Gen 8:21; 6:3; Ps 94:11; Ex 20:20; Ps 14:2; Gal 5:19-21.
2. When non-Christians have comparative moral virtue, it is God-given.
3. But true virtue requires faith.
4. True holiness is only found in faith in Christ - 1 John 5:12; Heb 11:6. Augustine says, it is better to limp on the path (faith) than to run fast and be off course (zealous works without faith).
5. We attain righteousness before God only by His grace, not our works. John 5:25; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 2:4-5; Rom 4:17; Job 41:11; Rom 11:35; Eph 2:8-10; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Rom 11:6; Matt 9:13.
6. Before God cleanses and unites us to Himself in mercy, we have no righteousness to commend ourselves before Him - Isa 59:15-16; Hos 2:19, 23; Rom 5:10; Col 1:21; 1 John 4:10; Hos 14:4; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Pet 1:2; Phil 1:29.

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