Using evil to do His will, remaining pure

Calvin's Institutes - I.18 - God uses the work of the ungodly, bending their minds to carry out His judgments, yet remains pure from every stain

Section 1 - No mere permission!

He decrees and "commands the execution" of what will happen.

Job 1:21; 1 Kings 22:22; Acts 4:28; 2:23; 3:18; 2 Sam 12:12; 16:22; Jer 7:14; 50:25; 2 Sam 16:10-11; 1 Kings 11:31; 1 Sam 2:34.

Section 2 - How does God's impulse come to pass in men?

He controls the hearts of men (Prov 21:1; Ezek 7:26; Lev 26:36; 1 Sam 26:12; Isa 29:14; Isa 29:10; Rom 1:20-24, 28; Ex 14:17; Ex 4:21; Josh 11:20; Ps 105:25; 1 Sam 16:14; 2 Cor 4:4; 2 Thess 2:11; Ezek 14:9).

Section 3 - God's will is a unity

It doesn't contradict itself.

Ps 50:6; Job 1:21; 1 Sam 2:25; Ps 115:3; Isa 45:7; Amos 3:6; Deut 19:5; Acts 4:28; Eph 3:9-10.

Section 4 - Even when God uses the deeds of the godless for His purposes, He does not suffer reproach.

"His will is different from His precept."

The determined that Jesus die on the cross, but Judas himself decided to betray Him. The sam event had two causes.

If this troubles you, consider that you are refusing clear Scriptural proof because you can't understand it by reason.

End of book one: knowledge of God the Creator

Does God "repent"?

Calvin's Institutes - I.17 - Applying Providence

Sections 12-14 - Answer to objections

Section 12 - On God's "repentance"

He appears to change His plan.

Gen 6:6; 1 Sam 15:11; Jer 18:8; Jon 3:4, 10; Isa 38:1, 5.

God's "change of mind is to be taken figuratively."

1 Sam 15:29; Num 23:19.

Section 13 - This makes allowance for our understanding

His anger doesn't mean He is emotional; He is exercising judgment.

His repentance doesn't mean change of His plan, but of His actions.

Section 14 - God firmly executes His plan

God's decree wasn't to destroy Nineveh, but to warn and change it.

He rebukes us with a warning He has not decreed, to spark our change.

Gen 20:3, 7; Isa 14:27.

Special care toward us

Calvin's Institutes - I.17 - Applying Providence

Sections 6-11 - the happiness of recognizing providence

Section 6 - Providence as solace for believers

Ps 55:2; 1 Pet 5:7; Ps 91:1; Zech 2:8; Gen 15:1; Jer 1:18; 15:20; Isa 49:15, 25; Ps 91:12.

God deliberates over every particular for each of us.

Matt 10:29-31.

"God has chosen the church to be His dwelling place."

Section 7 - God's providence in prosperity

God can frustrate the wicked to our advantage

Ex 3:21; 1 Kings 22:22; 12:10, 15; 2 Sam 17:7, 14; Job 1:12.

Only God's blessing can make something/one prosper.

So we can be grateful when things go well, patient in adversity, and free from worry.

Section 8 - Certainty of providence helps us in adversity

Joseph, Job and David were each comforted by looking to God in their trials.

Gen 45:5-8; 50:20; Job 1:21; 2 Sam 16:11; Ps 39:9.

"When we are unjustly wounded by men, let us overlook their wickedness... and learn... that whatever our enemy has wickedly committed against us was permitted and sent by God's just dispensation."

Eph 6:11-12; Deut 28:2, 15; Lev 26:23-24; Lam 3:38; Amos 3:6; Isa 45:7.

Section 9 - No disregard of intermediate causes!

The godly will thank the earthly minister of God's blessing for that blessing, besides thanking God from whom it ultimately came. When faced with a setback, the godly will impute any fault to himself and also take it as a lesson from the Lord.

Joab did this - 2 Sam 10:12: "We will stand fast for our people and the cities of our God; but let the Lord do what is good in His eyes."

Section 10 - without certainty of providence life would be unbearable

Our lives are in danger everywhere, all the time.

We would reproach God if we thought He left us open to all this by blind fortune.

Section 11 - certainty of providence brings joyous trust in God

We are relieved of every worry to know God holds all things in His power.

Ps 91:3-6; 118:6; 56:4; 27:1, 3; 22:4; 56:5; 71:14; 31:15; Isa 7:4; Ezek 29:4.

God restrains Satan from harming us.

Satan may hinder us (1 Thess 2:18), but only with God's permission (1 Cor 16:7).

"Ignorance of providence is the ultimate of all miseries;

the highest blessedness lies in the knowledge of it."

Using evil instruments to do good

Calvin's Institutes - I.17 - Applying Providence

Section 4 - God's providence does not excuse us from due prudence

If God provides earthly means to preserve and protect ourselves, we should use them.

God provides and orders events using means, which He also determines.

Section 5 - God's providence does not exculpate our wickedness

Some abuse this doctrine, saying the wicked shouldn't be punished when they sin, for they did what God ordained to happen. But they are not doing God's will.

They can't blame God for their sin, or call their sin "justice" just because it happened.

A corpse rots in the sun, but we don't blame the sun for the stench.

[Such vivid illustrations! Calvin's own!]

God was the instigator?

Calvin's Institutes

Book 1 - Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 17 - Applying Providence to our greatest benefit

Sections 1-5 - Providence in past and future

Section 1 - The meaning of God's ways

God's will is the cause of all things, for His glory, and for our good and sanctification.

Ps 40:5; John 9:3

Section 2 - God's rule will be observed with respect!

Some only grant God is just in what their reason can understand that He does.

God's will is a deep abyss (Ps 36:6), yet also close and familiar (Deut 30:11-14).

He has a will hidden from us, beyond what is in Scripture.

Rom 11:33-34; Job 20:3; Isa 11:2; Ps 119:105; Job 26:14; 28:21, 28.

Deut 29:29 sums this up: "The secret things belong to Yahweh our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever."

Section 3 - God's providence does not relieve us from responsibility

Pagans blamed their sins on God.

We cannot neglect the means God uses to bring about His will.

Sin is still sin.

The Height of God's Providence

Calvin's Institutes

Book 1 - Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 16 - God by His power nourishes and maintains the world created by Him, and rules its several parts by His providence

Section 8 - Providence is no Stoic belief in fate!

Talk of fate suppresses the truth that God wills all things.

Section 9 - The true causes of events are hidden to us

Future events appear uncertain to us, but aren't to God (Job 14:5).

We may speak of our uncertainty as "fate."

Ecc 2:14-15; 3:19; 9:2-3, 11; 1 Sam 6:9.

But remember everything is from the hand of God.

John 19:33, 36.

Specific providence

Calvin's Institutes

Book 1 - Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 16 - God by His power nourishes and maintains the world created by Him, and rules its several parts by His providence

Sections 5-7 - Doctrine of special providence supported by the evidence of Scripture

Section 5 - God's providence also directs the individual

If He if only a "First mover," there wouldn't be room for His "fatherly favor."

He shows favor or rebuke in prosperity or famine.

Lev 26:3-4, 19; Deut 11:13-14; 28:12, 22; Ps 147:9; 113:5-6.

Section 6 - God's providence especially relates to men

It's absurd to think we can act without God. He directs our steps and choices.

Jer 10:23; Prov 20:24; 16:1, 9.

Even accidental deaths are from God's hand - Ex 21:13.

So are dice, or lots, cast - Prov 16:33.

He lifts up and humbles - Prov 29:13; Ps 75:6-7.

Section 7 - God's providence also regulates "natural" occurrences

Like the wind that brought Israel birds in the desert (Ex 16:13; Num 11:31), puts Jonah in a storm (Jon 1:4). Ps 104:3-4; 107:25, 29; Amos 4:9.

Like giving life in the womb: Ps 127:3; Gen 30:2.

Like giving daily bread: Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4; Isa 3:1; Matt 6:11; Ps 136.25.

Ps 34:15-16.