October 6, 2006
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John Calvin Writes,
alone to be right faith, which leads us to repose in safety in the favor of God, with no wavering opinion, but with a firm and steadfast assurance.”
“Paul…. declares, that all are reprobates, who doubt whether they profess Christ and are a part of His body. Let us, therefore, reckon that
Calvin was commenting on 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Know this not of your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you indeed be reprobates.
Here is the context of Calvin’s quote:
serves to prove the assurance of faith, as to which the Sorbonnic sophists have made us stagger, nay more, have altogether rooted out from the minds of men. They charge with rashness all that are persuaded that they are the members of Christ, and have Him remaining in them, for they bid us be satisfied with a “moral conjecture,” 5 as they call it — that is, with a mere opinion 6 so that our consciences remain constantly in suspense, and in a state of perplexity. But what does Paul say here? He declares, that all are REPROBATES, WHO DOUBT WHETHER THEY PROFESS CHRIST AND ARE A PART OF HIS BODY. Let us, therefore, reckon that alone to be right faith, which leads us to repose in safety in the favor of God, with no wavering opinion, but with a firm and steadfast assurance.”
“[2 Corinthians 13:5]
By the way, Calvin was NOT a saved man (he thought Christ died for those in hell).
Nevertheless, I thought the above quote was IRONIC — because most Calvinist do doubt there salvation.
Yet Calvin says to them“[Paul] declares, that all are REPROBATES, WHO DOUBT WHETHER THEY PROFESS CHRIST AND ARE A PART OF HIS BODY. Let us, therefore, reckon that alone to be right faith, which leads us to repose in safety in the favor of God, with no wavering opinion, but with a firm and steadfast assurance.”
Talk about being condemned by their favorite theologian !!
How ironic![By the way, I agree that Christ died only for the elect. However, I think that all believers have full assurance too]
Comments (9)
Just curious…
Where do you find Calvin saying that Christ died for those in hell?
Jude 1:22
~Chance
…and where do you hear that Calvinists doubt their salvation? Perseverance of the Saints is a key Calvinist Doctrine and if you read the institutes you see it throughout. Also your judgment of Calvin as a non Christian is way off. What must one do to be saved in your estimation? Id suggest doing some more research before you make claims like these! May the lord bless you.
Andrew,
Allow me to remind you again that knowledge is limited to believing the propositions of the 66 books of Holy Scripture and the ones that are deduced from these by good and necessary consequence/inference.
All others do not/cannot amount to knowledge (in these last days), including any propositions about Calvin for example, but only to the level of opinion, since nothing about John Calvin is revealed in the Bible.
For an apparently intelligent bloke, you baffle me by seeming to continue to ignore these elementary rules when claiming knowledge of things that cannot be known this side of heaven!
Regards,
Reinhard
Andrew,
“By the way, Calvin was NOT a saved man (he thought Christ died for those in hell).”
You can’t just make assumptions that John Calvin was not saved. Calvin did not believe Christ died for everyone(meaning the non-saved). Where are you coming up with these conclusions. You really should get your hands on the institutes.
Also, I wouldn’t say doubting your salvation is wrong. I’ve doubted my salvation, and asked God for a test. Did I LOSE my salvation? No way! I will remain a Christian for eternity long.
Most calvinist will agree with me, Arminians will go to heaven even though they believe opposite of what I(calvinist) believe. Their doctrine if different then mine, but they still believe in Christ.
That’s all for now…Also, could you please reply to all of these comments?.?
In Prayers,
-AgapeTheologian
(http://www.agapejustin.blogspot.com)
Not to be rude or anything, but who are you? Why are you subscribed to me? I don’t even know you.
hey andrew!
i didnt get to read all the blog, but it sounds really good, and i like all the topics you chose. i was reading some of your responding comments, wow, some of them can be kind of rude. but i think what you are doing, and what you stand for is very encouraging. you seem like you add alot of people to msn/xanga…am i just another person you could add? lol anyway, i’ve decided you seem cool, and i wont block you…yet *horror movie music*
well, have fun in australia!! and in college,
-Suzanne
why did you subscribe to me? im pretty sure i dont know you
“He declares, that all are REPROBATES, WHO DOUBT WHETHER THEY PROFESS CHRIST AND ARE A PART OF HIS BODY.”
Couldn’t that mean, “Paul declares that all are reprobates who don’t think that they really do profess Christ and who don’t think they are a part of His body.”
Not speaking of doubt, but it’s speaking of a person who really has come to the realization that they don’t have Christ.
“I believe. Help thou mine unbelief.”
um…. guys, Christ did die for those in hell. If he didn’t, he didn’t offer them a shot to come to him, and he’s not good. This is wrong. I’m reformed and I totally believe that. I’m lost at why you all are arguing a point that seems clear in scripture. As far as I’ve been taught (granted, I was only at Westminster for a semester) – the general idea is the Christ died so that all could come to him, and ALL turned away from him. We ALL did. That’s why reformed christians believe that Jesus has to step in and pull us back – that’s where the whole election thing comes in. It’s not that we don’t believe that Christ died for all and wanted all, it’s just that we also believe that on our own, no one accepted him. That’s why it’s all God’s grace. That’s why election is acceptable with a compassionate and gracious God. Does this make sense? =) hope it helps – if not, feel free to disregard…