March 28, 2007

  • John Calvin’s Contradiction


    Calvin was certainly Biblical when he said…

    “We shall now have a full definition of faith if we say that it is a FIRM and SURE knowledge of the divine favor TOWARD US, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds, and sealed on our hearts, by the Holy Spirit.” {1}


    Indeed, that’s the “full” definition of faith (it’s how the Bible defines faith). The Bible says faith is understanding and certainty about the Gospel. It NEVER says that faith is certainty and *doubting* about the Gospel.

    Yet Calvin and his followers actually do define faith as certainty and doubting !

    He wrote,

    “But it will be said that this [the view that faith is certainty] differs widely from the experience of believers, who, in recognizing the grace of God toward them, not only feel disquietude, (this often happens,) but sometimes tremble, overcome with terror, so violent are the temptations which assail their minds. THIS SCARCELY SEEMS CONSISTENT WITH CERTAINTY OF FAITH. It is necessary to solve this difficulty, in order to maintain the doctrine above laid down. When we say that faith must be certain and secure, we certainly speak not of an assurance which is never affected by doubt, nor a security which anxiety never assails; we rather maintain that believers have a perpetual struggle with their own distrust, and are thus far from thinking that their consciences possess a placid quiet, uninterrupted by perturbation.” {2}


    Calvin admitted that “FIRM and SURE knowledge of the divine favor TOWARD US” is “scarcely consistent” with the experiences of most “believers”.

    Logically it follows that most “believers” are in fact, unbelievers. Because if the Bible defines faith as a “FIRM and SURE knowledge of the divine favor TOWARD US”, then people who doubt their salvation must be unbelievers. They do NOT have a firm and sure knowledge of divine favor, do they?

    Yet Calvin rejects logic and exhibits irrationalism.

    Instead of concluding that 1) since faith is certainty, people who doubt do not have faith, he concluded that 2) because “believers” have been known to doubt, therefore faith is both certainty and doubting.

    He wrote,

    “But if in the believer’s mind CERTAINTY IS MINGLED WITH DOUBT, must we not always be carried back to the conclusion, that faith consists not of a sure and clear, but only of an obscure and confused, understanding of the divine will in regard to us?” {3}


    What?! Certainty mingled with doubt ?! You can be certain about the Gospel, yet doubt it?

    Haha! Next thing they’ll tell us you can believe the Gospel and not believe it at the same time! But let’s hear the Scripture…

    “For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, being driven by wind and being tossed; for DO NOT let that man SUPPOSE HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in ALL his ways.” (Jam 1:6-8)

    James says that someone who doubts is unstable about everything! Certain about NOTHING! Yet Calvin says “certainty is mingled with doubt”. This is ridiculous. And what I cannot understand, is how Calvin could also write,

    “[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.” {4}


    He was commenting on 2 Corinthians 13:5, which says… “Know this not of your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you indeed be reprobates.” So Calvin said that all are reprobates who doubt their salvation. But wait a second  … “certainty is mingled with doubt”, right? So Paul must also condemn all those certain about their salvation (according to Calvin). Since, certainty always contains doubt, and Paul condemns doubters, then those with certainty about their salvation, must be condemned (according to Calvin).

    See where Calvin’s confusion ends! In more and more confusion. The Scripture, on the other hand, has eternally separated doubt and certainty as opposite (as opposite as light and darkness).

    For truly I say to you,
    If you have faith as a grain of mustard, you will say to this mountain,
    Move from here to there! And it will move. And nothing shall be
    impossible to you.” (Matt 17:20)

    Therefore, the believer with the least amount of understanding (the absolute minimum) still has no doubts about what he knows and understands about his salvation. I can offer you one final decisive proof. The Apostle Peter only wrote to those who had the same faith as himself. So all believers have the same confidence and assurance the apostles had. Peter wrote, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those that have obtained like precious faith with us” (2 Pet 1:1)

    So if you cannot confess the same assurance the Apostles had, you do not have the “like precious faith”. Ask yourself. Can you say…

    … I am not ashamed, for I KNOW whom I have believed, and I AM PERSUADED that He is able to guard MY DEPOSIT until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

    “For the rest, the crown of righteousness is laid up FOR ME, which the
    Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, and not only to
    me, but also to all the ones loving His appearance.” (2 Timothy 4:8)

    “For TO ME to live is Christ, and to die is gain. … For I am pressed together by the two: having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better … ” (Phil 1:21,23)

    “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He according to His great mercy having regenerated US to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead …” (1 Pet 1:3)

    “WE ARE OF GOD; the one knowing God hears us. Whoever is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6)

    References
    {1} Bk3, Ch2, Sec7 http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/calvin/bk3ch02.html#seven.htm

    {2} Bk3, Ch2, Sec17 http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/calvin/bk3ch02.html#seventeen.htm

    {3} Bk3, Ch2, Sec18 http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/calvin/bk3ch02.html#eighteen.htm

    {4} http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol40/htm/xix.ii.htm

Comments (2)

  • Caleb posted a comment, but I accidently deleted it!

    Sorry, Caleb! Please post it again if you can =) I think you asked, “can’t I believe I am saved in my heart, but doubt in my head?”

    My response: No way. Suppose you are standing in the sun. Can you believe you are in the light in your heart, but doubt it in your head?

    Also, I can’t remember your exactly wording but you asked if I think believers are perfect (because if believers never doubt, they must be perfect… seemed to be the line of your question)

    In response, I would say that believers also never doubt they are sinners. I’m sure you agree with this. That there is NEVER a point in time when a believer thinks they are perfect. Because you would have to deny the entire Bible to doubt you are a sinner. It says over and over again, “all have sinned”. So, in the same way, the Bible says “everyone believing is justified” means that a believer will never doubt they are saved. =)

  • I think if you are going to quote Calvin you should do more research into his thought first.

    17. But it will be said that this differs widely from the experience of believers, who, in recognizing the grace of God toward them, not only feel disquietude (this often happens), but sometimes tremble, overcome with terror,29 286286 92 292 As to the imperfection, strengthening, and increase of faith, see Book 4. chap. 4 sec. 7, 8.
    <!–
    initNote(“fnf_iv.iii.iii-p76.1″);
    //–>
    so violent are the temptations which assail their minds. This scarcely seems consistent with certainty of faith. It is necessary to solve this difficulty, in order to maintain the doctrine above laid down. When we say that faith must be certain and secure, we certainly speak not of an assurance which is never affected by doubt, nor a security which anxiety never assails; we rather maintain that believers have a perpetual struggle with their own distrust, and are thus far from thinking that their consciences possess a placid quiet, uninterrupted by perturbation. On the other hand, whatever be the mode in which they are assailed, we deny that they fall off and abandon that sure confidence which they have formed in the mercy of God. Scripture does not set before us a brighter or more memorable example of faith than in David, especially if regard be had to the constant tenor of his life. And yet how far his mind was from being always at peace is declared by innumerable complaints, of which it will be sufficient to select a few. When he rebukes the turbulent movements of his soul, what else is it but a censure of his unbelief? “Why art thou cast down, my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God,” (Psalm 42:6). His alarm was undoubtedly a manifest sign of distrust, as if he thought that the Lord had forsaken him. In another passage we have a fuller confession: “I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes,” (Psalm 31:22). In another passage, in anxious and wretched perplexity, he debates with himself, nay, raises a question as to the nature of God: “Has God forgotten to be gracious? has he in anger shut up his tender mercies?” (Psalm 77:9). What follows is still harsher: “I said this is my infirmity; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”29 287287 93 293 Calvin’s Latin translation of the passage is, “Atque dixi, occidere meum est; mutationes dexteræ excelsi.”—The French is, “J’ay dit, Il me faut mourir. Voicy un changement de la main de Dieu;”—I said I must die. Behold a change in the hand of God.
    <!–
    initNote(“fnf_iv.iii.iii-p77.4″);
    //–>
    As if desperate, he adjudges himself to destruction.29 288288 94 294 See Calv adv. Pighiium, near the commencement.
    <!–
    initNote(“fnf_iv.iii.iii-p78.1″);
    //–>
    He not only confesses that he is agitated by doubt, but as if he had fallen in the contest, leaves himself nothing in reserve,—God having deserted him, and made the hand which was wont to help him the instrument of his destruction. Wherefore, after having been tossed among tumultuous waves, it is not without reason he exhorts his soul to return to her quiet rest (Psalm 116:7). And yet (what is strange) amid those commotions, faith sustains the believer’s heart, and truly acts the part of the palm tree, which supports any weights laid upon it, and rises above them; thus David, when he seemed to be overwhelmed, ceased not by urging himself forward to ascend to God. But he who anxiously contending with his own infirmity has recourse to faith, is already in a great measure victorious. This we may infer from the following passage, and others similar to it: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord,” (Psalm 27:14). He accuses himself of timidity, and repeating the same thing twice, confesses that he is ever and anon exposed to agitation. Still he is not only dissatisfied with himself for so feeling, but earnestly labors to correct it. Were we to take a nearer view of his case, and compare it with that of Ahaz, we should find a great difference between them. Isaiah is sent to relieve the anxiety of an impious and hypocritical king, and addresses him in these terms: “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not,” &c. (Isaiah 7:4). How did Ahab act? As has already been said, his heart was shaken as a tree is shaken by the wind: though he heard the promise, he ceased not to tremble. This, therefore, is the proper hire and punishment of unbelief, so to tremble as in the day of trial to turn away from God, who gives access to himself only by faith. On the other hand, believers, though weighed down and almost overwhelmed with the burden of temptation, constantly rise up, though not without toil and difficulty; hence, feeling conscious of their own weakness, they pray with the Prophet, “Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouths” (Psalm 119:43). By these words, we are taught that they at times become dumb, as if their faith were overthrown, and yet that they do not withdraw or turn their backs, but persevere in the contest, and by prayer stimulate their sluggishness, so as not to fall into stupor by giving way to it. (See Calv. in Psalm 88:16).
    18. To make this intelligible, we must return to the distinction between flesh and spirit, to which we have already adverted, and which here becomes most apparent. The believer finds within himself two principles: the one filling him with delight in recognizing the divine goodness, the other filling him with bitterness under a sense of his fallen state; the one leading him to recline on the promise of the Gospel, the other alarming him by the conviction of his iniquity; the one making him exult with the anticipation of life, the other making him tremble with the fear of death. This diversity is owing to imperfection of faith, since we are never so well in the course of the present life as to be entirely cured of the disease of distrust, and completely replenished and engrossed by faith. Hence those conflicts: the distrust cleaving to the remains of the flesh rising up to assail the faith enlisting in our hearts. But if in the believer’s mind certainty is mingled with doubt, must we not always be carried back to the conclusion, that faith consists not of a sure and clear, but only of an obscure and confused, understanding of the divine will in regard to us? By no means. Though we are distracted by various thoughts, it does not follow that we are immediately divested of faith. Though we are agitated and carried to and fro by distrust, we are not immediately plunged into the abyss; though we are shaken, we are not therefore driven from our place. The invariable issue of the contest is, that faith in the long run surmounts the difficulties by which it was beset and seemed to be endangered.

Post a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories