Reading Through the Institutes of Christian Religion

2013 Calvin Reading Group

OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR

 "Our wisdom,..."

"...in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves." Calvin begins his opus  which to be sure is a monumental work that stands among the greatest works of Christian theology and Western literature. It ranks with works such as St. Augustine's Confessions and City of God in value, insight and significance. His institutes will be the focus of this and upcoming post that i and a group of others are reading. I'll be recording my thoughts and observations concerning this book so feel free to follow along as i take a journey into the Institutes of the Christian Religion.

OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD...

Knowledge-....no,TRUE KNOWLEDGE.. Knowledge of God the creator

A.W. Pink begins his book " the attributes of God" with his reflections Gods solitude prior to creation stating, "There was a time, if “time” it could be called, when God, in the unity of His nature(though subsisting equally in three divine persons), dwelt all alone. “In the beginning God.” There was no heaven, where His glory is now particularly manifested. There was no earth to engage His attention. There were no angels to hymn His praises; no universe to be upheld by the word of His power. There was nothing, no one, but God; and that, not for a day, a year, or an age, but “from everlasting.” In the area of science when we deal with impersonal objects we are active while they are passive. We take the first step in examining them and experimenting with them.When it comes to a spiritual, personal being like God this is different. For God to be known to what ever degree or extent  he will have to voluntary reveal himself to us which means such a being can only then be known only through revelation. God must revel himself to us before we can go to him or know anything about him. If this is the case when finite man deals and interacts with each other,  seeing that a man must reveal himself to others in appearance,word, and act in order to learn and to known him, how much more must it be between God and man.Gods self-knowledge and self-consciousness is the source (prinicipium esssendi)of our knowledge of him.God is the essential foundation or principle of existence for all that has been created. No knowledge of God is possible except  that which comes from and by God. Bavink sates this relation in simple terms,"What we need to understand about God must be taught by God himself, for this cannot be known except by the author himself" In his book "Biblical Theology" Geerhardus Vos explains this relation, "Originally God alone existed. He was known to himself alone, and had first to call into being a creature before any extraneous knowledge with regard to him became possible. Creation therefore was the First step in the production of extra-divine knowledge."The first five books of Calvin's institutes are a great eye opening commentary or discourse that relates to Rom 1:20-23 and Psalm's 19:1-2. This is where i will begin my quick summery of the first five sections  of book one in his institutes.

Psalms 19 :1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.² Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Romans 1 20"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Calvin in section five of book one expounds on psalms 104:2 concerning Gods revelation via the created order saying,"God for the first time was arrayed in visible attire when, in the creation of the world, he displayed those glorious banners, on which, to whatever side we turn, we behold his perfections visibly portrayed."Analogous to psalms 19 where the psalmist rejoicingly exclaims, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." 

The elegant structure and creation of the world Calvin explains acts, "..as a kind of mirror, in which we may behold God, though otherwise invisible.."Utterly incomprehensible, Gods essence transcends all human thought, but through the visible creation his perfections and existence are clearly revealed. \ the apostle Paul who in the book of Romans pens the verse, "That which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead," (Rom. 1:20). Similar to what Paul wrote,Calvin writes concerning God and his perfections, that they are clearly displayed, "....in the whole structure of the universe, and daily place himself in our view, that we cannot open our eyes without being compelled to behold him."

It is indeed clear, that as we gaze upon the world we see that no area however minute is void of beauty,glory, and evidence of Gods existence and power. This knowledge of Gods existence not only is visible outwardly in all that has been created but also within man who is as well a creation of God. In his Reformed Dogmatics, Bavinck expresses his view on the (sensus divinitatis) or sense of deity that Calvin is referring to saying, " there is a revelation of God in all his works, not only outside of, but especially within humans."To be sure, Calvin was aware of this sense of deity that resided in the bosom of men quite well and the effects that this inward testimony had on men when he expresses that,"All men of sound Judgment will therefore hold, that a sense of Deity is indelibly engraven on the human heart. And that this belief is naturally engendered in all, and thoroughly fixed as it were in our very bones..." It is true that much can be said about the topic of the "implanted" and "acquired" knowledge of God . Although the two  my not be opposites, one coming from the created world  through observation and reflection and the other which one is born with and arises from their own being expanded by the latter, they ultimately have their final reference point and foundation in God and his revelation which precedes both. Calvin weights in on the subject again quite nicely writing, "That there exists in the human minds and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all to a man being aware that there is a God, and that he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service." Unfortunately, this seed that is divinely sown in all is stifled. Calvin records this grim state of events saying, "... scarcely one in a hundred is found who cherishes it in his heart, and not one in whom it grows to maturity so far is it from yielding fruit in its season. Moreover, while some lose themselves in superstitious observances, and others, of set purpose, wickedly revolt from God, the result is that, in regard to the true knowledge of him, all are so degenerate, that in no part of the world can genuine godliness be found." Because of mans depravity the glorious display of creation, although shining clearly, and the inward testimony of God which is unable to be erased, washes away these manifestations before they can have any beneficial result. Man thus rushes headlong into error and folly willingly.

"Hence that immense flood of error with which the whole world is overflowed. Every individual mind being a kind of labyrinth, it is not wonderful, not only that each nation has adopted a variety of fictions, but that almost every man has had his own god. To the darkness of ignorance have been added presumption and wantonness, and hence there is scarcely an individual to be found without some idol or phantom as a substitute for Deity. Like water gushing forth from a large and copious spring, immense crowds of gods have issued from the human mind, every man giving himself full license, and devising some peculiar form of divinity, to meet his own views." -Calvin

A person can never truly know himself without first knowing God. Man so long as he is unaware of his deep depravity, misery, and rebellion against his creator, provider, and sustainer will rest at ease. Satisfied with an empty semblance of righteousness our innate pride convinces us we are wise, upright, and holy by our own standards. Man likens himself to seem less than only a demigod until the day he contemplates the face of God and his perfect standard and after such contemplation to look in himself. Calvin explains this sad situation stating that, "So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable impotence."

"Mingled vanity and pride appear in this, that when miserable men do seek after God, instead of ascending higher than themselves as they ought to do, they measure him by their own carnal stupidity, and, neglecting solid inquiry, fly off to indulge their curiosity in vain speculation. Hence, they do not conceive of him in the character in which he is manifested, but imagine him to be whatever their own rashness has devised. With such an idea of God, nothing which they may attempt to offer in the way of worship or obedience can have any value in his sight, because it is not him they worship, but, instead of him, the dream and figment of their own heart." - Calvin

Mans descent into error and folly is unprecedented. Having begun with the majestic glories of the created order and seed of religion attesting to Gods existence man quenches any profitable result willingly. Diving deep into the ocean of pride and self-righteousness he looks to his brother as the standard for wisdom,virtue, and righteousness unaware of his misery for the time being. Having turned his thoughts to the true standard of virtue and righteousness hes compelled to revere and honor God. "Our mind cannot conceive of God, without rendering some worship to him", Calvin states,but man can not take one step without falling into error."the human mind..",Calvin says is prone " to lapse into forgetfulness of God, how readily inclined to every kind of error, how bent every now and then on devising new and fictitious religions." Piety and worship suddenly become the main concern but instead of worshiping the true God man sinks into the ocean of idolatry. These idols are a fictions worship, in such an act Calvin states that they, "...merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their own childish conceits." And that,
"It makes little difference, at least in this respect, whether you hold the existence of one God, or a plurality of gods, since, in both cases alike, by departing from the true God, you have nothing left but an execrable idol." Man has made a fool of himself to say the least when according to Calvin when man is observed to be reluctant to "....lower himself, in order to set other creatures above him. Therefore, when he chooses to worship wood and stone rather than be thought to have no God, it is evident how very strong this impression of a Deity must be; since it is more difficult to obliterate it from the mind of man, than to break down the feelings of his nature,--these certainly being broken down, when, in opposition to his natural haughtiness, he spontaneously humbles himself before the meanest object as an act of reverence to God."


 I conclude these reflections with a quote from section 6 of book 1 and will pick up from there next time.

"Therefore, though the effulgence which is presented to every eye, both in the heavens and on the earth, leaves the ingratitude of man without excuse, since God, in order to bring the whole human race under the same condemnation, holds forth to all, without exception, a mirror of his Deity in his works, another and better help must be given to guide us properly to God as a Creator."

The Danger of Corrupt Forms of Christianity — B.B. Warfield

“…if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8

“It is not a matter of small importance whether we preserve the purity of the gospel. The chief dangers to Christianity do not come from the anti-Christian systems. Mohammedanism has never made inroads upon Christendom save by the sword. Nobody fears that Christianity will be swallowed up by Buddhism. It is corrupt forms of Christianity itself which menace from time to time the life of Christianity. Why make much of minor points of difference among those who serve the one Christ? Because a pure gospel is worth preserving; and is not only worth preserving, but is logically (and logic will always work itself ultimately out into history) the only saving gospel. Those who overlay the gospel with man-made additions, no less than those who subtract from it God-given elements, are not preaching “the gospel” in another form, but are offering a different kind of gospel, which is essentially no gospel at all. They are troublers of Israel, who are perverting the gospel of Christ. . .
. . .It is of the very gravest importance to keep clearly before our and others’ minds and hearts the great fact that in Christ alone is there salvation. In Christ alone; and that in both senses of the word “alone.” Not only can there be no salvation except in him; but in him is all that can be needed for salvation. Jesus only! Paul determined to know nothing in Corinth but Jesus Christ and him as crucified. The only saving gospel is to find in him all. There needs no supplement to his work. His work admits of no supplement. To depend on anything at all-anything at all, however small it may seem-along with him is as truly to lose him as to depend on anything else instead of him. The solemn words of Paul, “Behold I, Paul, say unto you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing,” have their multiform application in these modern times. And it behooves us so to live and so to preach, today, that we can say now, as he said then, that our only trust and our only glory is in the cross of Jesus Christ; and that we find in him and his work alone the beginning and the middle and the end of salvation. He is not only the author but also the finisher of our faith.
A Christless cross no refuge is for me;
A Crossless Christ my Savior may not be;
But, O Christ crucified! I rest in thee.”
- B.B. Warfield
taken from: The Dogmatic Spirit

Trial and Tribulation: God’s Way of Refining His People — J.C. Ryle

Mark well, beloved, this truth—the path to glory has been always filled with thorns; it is the experience of all those holy men who have left us an example that we should walk in their steps: Abraham, and Jacob, and Moses, and David, and Job, and Daniel, there was not one of them who was not perfected through sufferings.

We are all too much disposed to think a time may come when we shall have a season of repose and not be harassed with these vexations and disappointments. Almost everyone supposes he is tried more than his neighbors—but let us not be deceived—this earth is not our rest; it is a place for working, not for sleeping. Here is the reason that so many run well for a time, and seem to have the love of Christ in their hearts, and yet, when persecution or affliction arises for the word’s sake, they fall away. They had not counted the cost; they had reckoned on the reward without the labor; they had forgotten this most important point in the character of God’s saints, “they are men who have come out of great tribulation.”

This seems a hard saying—but I would have you know these heavy trials are laid on us for the most wise and merciful purposes. We live in such a fair and pleasant world, we are so surrounded with so much that is smiling and mirthful, that if we were not often obliged to taste of sickness and trial or disappointments, we would forget our heavenly home, and pitch our tents in this Sodom. This is why God’s people pass through great tribulations. This is why they are often called upon to suffer the sting of affliction and anxiety—or weep over the grave of those whom they have loved as their own soul. It is their Father’s hand which chastens them! It is thus He weans their affections from things below—and fixes them on Himself! It is thus He trains them for eternity, and cuts the threads one by one which bind their wavering hearts to earth.

No doubt such chastening is grievous for the time—but still it brings many a hidden grace to light, and cuts down many a secret seed of evil. We shall see those who have suffered most shining among the brightest stars in the assembly of heaven. The purest gold is that which has been longest in the refiner’s furnace. The brightest diamond is often that which has required the most grinding and polishing. “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory!”

The saints are men who have come out of great tribulation, they are never left to perish in it; the last night of weeping will soon be spent, the last wave of trouble will have rolled over us, and then we shall have a peace which passes all understanding; we shall be at home forever with the Lord.

taken from: The Blood of the Lamb, J.C. Ryle

Greg Bahnsen on the issue of “neutrality”

Those who wish to gain dignity in the eyes of the world’s intellectuals by wearing the badge of “neutrality” only do so at the expense of refusing to be set apart by God’s truth. In the intellectual realm they are absorbed into the world so that no one could tell the difference between their thinking and assumptions and apostate thinking and assumptions. The line between believer and unbeliever is obscured.

Bahnsen, Greg (2011-03-03). Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith (Kindle Locations 172-175)

By the law or by grace

There are only two ways of salvation: by the law or by grace. If salvation is to happen by the law, perfect obedience is necessary. There can be no blemishes or shortcomings, for the law will never show mercy. It knows nothing of grace or forgiveness. It demands perfection, because whoever transgresses in one tiny detail transgresses the whole of God’s law: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:10). Getting to heaven through obedience to the law requires perfection. Merely doing your best will prove insufficient; good intentions are not enough. It is vitally important to grasp exactly how much the law demands if we think we are going to be in a right relationship with God through law-keeping. Simply put, “By works of the law no one will be justified” (Gal. 2:16). -Derek Thomas

Reading Through Reformed Dogmatics:Prolegomena

"However, from the viewpoint of christian orthodoxy, dogmatics is the knowledge that God has revealed in this word to his church concerning himself and all creatures as they stand in relation to him. though objections to this definition in the name of faith often miss the mark, it must never be forgotten that the knowledge of God, which is the true object of dogmatic theology, is only obtained by faith. God cannot be known by us apart from revelation received in faith.Dogmatics seeks nothing other than to be true to the faith-knowledge given to this revelation. Dogmatics is thus not the science of faith or of religion but the science about God. The task of the dogmatician is to think God's thoughts after him and to trace their unity. This is a task that must be done in the confidence that god has spoken,in humble submission to the church's teaching tradition, and for communicating the gospel's message to the world."

Reformed Dogmatics:Prolegomena

The Intellectual Challenge of the Gospel

“Christians are in themselves no wiser than are other men. What they have, they have by grace. They must be ‘all things to all men.’ But it is not kindness to tell patients that need strong medicine that nothing serious is wrong with them. Christians are bound to tell men the truth about themselves; that is the only way of bringing them to recognize the mercy, the compassion, of Christ. For if men are told the truth about themselves, and if they are warned against the false remedies that establish men in their wickedness, then, by the power of the Spirit of God, they will flee to the Christ through whom alone they must be saved” (The Intellectual Challenge of the Gospel).