A Little Book on the Christian Life, Leaves

"I offer my heart to you, O Lord, promptly and sincerely" -- John Calvin (1509-1564)

This material is taken from the second edition (1539) of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion."

CHAPTER 1: SCRIPTURE'S CALL TO CHRISTIAN LIVING
The goal of God's work in us is to bring our lives into harmony and agreement with His own righteousness as His adopted children. Scripture tells us we should be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). He has no fellowship with sin and impurity. "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14). There will be a dwelling place in God's tabernacle for those who walk blamelessly and pursue righteousness. It's not right that the sanctuary resemble a filthy stable.

To prompt us toward righteousness, God the Father has reconciled us to Himself in His Anointed One, Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches us to contemplate our life in relation to God, our Author. Christ is set before us as a model whose form and beauty should be reflected in our lives. We have been adopted by the Lord as children that should mirror Christ, who is the bond of our adoption. What more is needed than this? "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children" (Ephesians 5:1).

Christ has cleansed us by washing us with His blood. It would be inappropriate for us to defile ourselves with fresh filthiness (1 Corinthians 6:11). Christ has engrafted us into His body. We must therefore be careful not to fling mud or filthiness on the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15). Christ our head has ascended into heaven. We must therefore set aside earthly affections and wholeheartedly long for that place (Colossians 3:1). The Holy Spirit has consecrated us as temples of God. We must therefore let the glory of God shine through us, and not pollute ourselves with sin. Our bodies and souls are destined to heavenly incorruption. We must therefore strive upward, keeping ourselves pure and incorruptible until the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

"But that is not the way you learned Christ! -- assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:20-24).

Doctrine is rightly received when it takes possession of the entire soul, finds a dwelling place in the most intimate affections of the heart, spreads into our daily routines and truly transforms us within. I'm not talking about perfection, but integrity.

"As for you, walk before me as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing all that I have commanded you, and keep My statutes and My rules. Then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever" (1 Kings 9:4-5).

Integrity means simplicity of heart, free from pretense and deceit. Most of us are so oppressed with weakness that we make little progress -- staggering, limping, and crawling on the ground. But let us keep trying so we might make some gains in the way of the Lord, and not despair over how small our successes are. Our efforts are not in vain when we are farther along today than yesterday. Let us neither foolishly congratulate ourselves, nor excuse our evil deeds.

CHAPTER 2: SELF-DENIAL IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of god, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1,2).

We are consecrated to God to the end that we might not think, speak, meditate or act unless it be to His glory. We are not our own. Rather, we are God's. Therefore, let His wisdom and His will govern all our actions, not our reason nor our will. Let us run to Him as our only proper end. Let our first step be to abandon ourselves in obedience to God. Let us not make for gratification of the flesh, for it is not us who lives, but Christ who lives and reigns within us (Galatians 2:20).

Let us forget ourselves and our own interests. Instead, let us work to promote God's glory. When Scripture orders us to disregard our own concerns, it eradicates from our souls the desire to possess things for ourselves, to love power, and to long for the praise of men. It uproots our appetite for ambition and all human glory. Submit all you are and do to God's judgment. Refer every intention of your mind to God. Learn to regard God in everything.

"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Self-denial crowds out the evils of pride, arrogance, and pretentiousness, as well as greed, lust, gluttony, cowardice, and seeking virtue for the sake of praise. God is not pleased with those who have puffed-up hearts. Prostitutes and tax collectors are nearer to the kingdom of heaven than such people (Matthew 21:31,32).

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

Every right action belongs to one of three categories: self-control, uprightness, and godliness. Self-control means purity and self-restraint, carefully using the things we have, and acting with patience when we lack anything. Uprightness means observing all the requirements of justice. Godliness separates us from the impurities of the world to pursue holiness. Our temptations can be subdued by waiting and hoping for the return of Christ.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). Our souls are incapable of fulfillment unless we are emptied of our natural inclinations to elevate ourselves or despise others. When others possess gifts that we wish we had, we ridicule and degrade them. When others possess vices, we wickedly exaggerate them. Thus our arrogance grows as we exalt ourselves above others. Scripture teaches us that good things in us come from God, not from ourselves. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). We are called to respect and commend whatever gifts of God we see in others. Let us return to humility, not boasting.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). To love our neighbor, we must lay aside concern for ourselves. All the gifts we have were given to us by God to use for the good of our neighbors. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" (I Peter 4:10)
No member of the body exists to serve itself. Our good works are compared to the holy sacrifices in the Old Testament which were required by law (Hebrews 13:16).

"Love is patient" and "is not irritable". The Lord instructs us to do good to all people, many of whom are unworthy of such good if judged by their own merit. But Scripture teaches us not to regard others according to their own merits, but to consider in them the image of God to which we owe both honor and love. "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). Suppose a person is a stranger. The Lord has stamped him with His own mark. For that reason God forbids you to despise him. Suppose he is contemptible and worthless. But he is decorated with God's image, and therefore God puts Himself, as it were, in his place. Suppose he has caused you injury or injustice. God orders you to forgive that man for these sins against you because God has forgiven you (Luke 17:3,4). "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). We must not dwell on the wickedness of men, but consider the image of God in them.

We must desire to prosper for no other reason than the Lord's blessing. One who rests on God's blessing won't employ wicked means in the frantic pursuit of things. If he prospers, he won't attribute this to himself, or his own diligence, industry, or luck. Rather, he will acknowledge God as the author of his good fortune. "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). If others prosper while he makes little progress or even regresses, he will endure with patience and moderation of spirit. "I do not occupy myself with things too great and marvelous for me. But I have ca,lmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother" (Psalms 131:1,2). The person thus composed in soul will neither judge himself to be miserable, nor will he spitefully complain against God for his lot in life, come what may.

If the believer should see his house made lonely by the loss of those dear to him, he must not stop praising the Lord. Rather, he must think: "The Lord's grace continues to dwell in my house and will not leave it desolate." If he sees his crop consumed by drought, disease, or frost, or trampled down by hail and famine threatens him, even then he must not despair nor become angry with God. Rather, he must say, "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to You forever" (Psalm 79:13). God, then, will provide for us, however barren the land. If the believer is afflicted by illness, he must not be so stung by the severity of his hardship that he erupts in impatience and demands from God an explanation. Rather, he should accept whatever comes with a gentle and thankful heart, because he knows it is ordained by the Lord. God's hand is the sole judge and governor of every fortune. It distributes to us both good and ill according to His orderly righteousness.

CHAPTER 3: BEARING OUR CROSS IS A PART OF SELF-DENIAL
"Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Those whom the Lord has welcomed into fellowship with Him should prepare themselves for a life that is hard, laborious, troubled, and full of many kinds of evil. It's the Father's will to test us and prove us by trials, as He did His only-begotten Son. Even though the Father was well-pleased with His Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5), Christ had little ease and comfort. Why? "He learned obedience through what He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). He certainly did not need to prove His own obedience to His Father. He was subjected to suffering for our sake to provide for us a pattern of patience. Our goal is to become like Him. "For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might become the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29).

Paul says that in sharing the sufferings of Christ, we will know the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). This comforts us because the more our afflictions, the more certain is our communion with Christ confirmed.

Why do we need to suffer so much? We are always brazenly exalting ourselves before God, acting as if our own abilities are sufficient without His grace. Therefore, he inflicts us with disgrace, poverty, childlessness, illness, and other troubles, to humble us so we call upon His strength. David admits that when he prospered, he neglected God's grace. "As for me, I said in my prosperity, 'I shall never be moved.' By Your favor, O Lord, You made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face; I was dismayed" (Psalms 30:6,7).

"Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produce character" (Romans 5:3,4). Believers are only able to endure suffering through the strength that God promises them in times of need. The cross strips us of self-confidence and instructs us to cast ourselves on God alone so that we won't be crushed or defeated. Having despaired of ourselves, we transfer our trust to God.

God uses suffering to train us in obedience. "But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am." He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me'" (Genesis 22:11,12). Through suffering God teaches us to live according to His will rather than our own. How prone our flesh is to cast off God's yoke as soon as we enjoy any period of relative peace and quiet. "But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation" (Deuteronomy 32:15). The Lord Himself providentially opposes, conquers, and restrains the ferocity of our flesh by the medicine of the cross. Each believer is subjected to a different kind of cross. Our Heavenly Doctor subjects some to a more lenient treatment; for others, a stronger remedy.

God calls us back to Himself by means of correction. "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11,12). "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Hebrews 12:8).

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10). When God's favor rests upon us, then exile, scorn, imprisonment, dishonor and even death need not threaten our happiness. Will we, like the Apostles, consider it worthy to suffer disgrace for His name (Acts 5:41)? "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (I Peter 4:14). We hope in the living God (1 Timothy 4:10) whether people slander us or praise us (2 Corinthians 6:8).

Our gladness in the midst of persecution does not destroy every feeling of anguish and sorrow. Nevertheless, the believer fights that feeling and in the end, perseveres. "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8,9). Our Lord groaned and wept, both for His own and others' circumstances. "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death" (Matthew 26:38). "The world will rejoice, but you will weep and lament" (John 16:20). "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). The promise of God's comfort should prevent us from giving up.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

CHAPTER 4: MEDITATION ON OUR FUTURE LIFE
Our entire soul seeks its happiness on earth. The Lord teaches His people about the emptiness of this present life through constant lessons in suffering. He often permits them to be troubled by wars, uprisings, and robberies so they don't promise themselves untroubled peace in this life. He reduces them to poverty through exile, barrenness of land, and fire so they don't gawk with greediness at riches. He lets them be offended by the offenses of their spouses, humbles them by the wickedness of their children, or afflicts them with the loss of a child so they aren't too much enticed by married life. "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes" (Psalms 119:71). We profit from the discipline of the cross when we learn that this life is troubled, turbulent, attended by many miseries, and never entirely happy, and that the good things are uncertain, passing, vain, and mixed with many evils. We should therefore set our eyes on heaven.

There's no middle ground. Either earth becomes worthless to us, or we must remain bound by chains of extravagant love to it. If heaven is our home, what is earth but our place of exile? If being liberated from the body means laying hold of real freedom, what is the body but a prison? If joy is being in the presence of God, is it not misery to be without it? Until we escape this world, "we are away from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6). However, the contempt for this present life that believers should cultivate shouldn't dismiss our gratitude to God for its blessings. Our hatred should be toward sin and not life itself.

Paul rightly teaches believers to approach death cheerfully (2 Corinthians 5:2-4) so that our bodies which are corruptible, dishonorable, weak, and perishable will be raised to be incorruptible, honorable, powerful, and imperishable spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Let us desire the Lord's coming with groans and sighs (Romans 8:19), "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-14). The entire body of believers must raise their heads above this earth. They must set their eyes on that day when the Lord will receive His faithful people into the peace of His kingdom, wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 21:4), cloth them in garments of glory and gladness, feed them with the indescribable sweetness of His own pleasures, raise them to fellowship in His own lofty heights, and grant them participation in His own happiness (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17). But He will cast the wicked into unquenchable fire. In summary, the cross of Christ finally triumphs in believers' hearts over the devil, the flesh, sin, and the wicked when their eyes are turned to the power of the resurrection.

CHAPTER 5: HOW THE PRESENT LIFE AND ITS COMFORTS SHOULD BE USED
We acknowledge that all good things are given to us in order that we might express gratefulness to their Author. But how can we give thanks if our minds are dazed from too much wine? Or if in the name of elegance and style our clothes open the door to sexual immorality? How can there be an acknowledgment of God if our minds are buried or enchanted by the splendor of His gifts? "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14).

The one who seeks to lightly hold on to the things of this world puts to death his own immoderate appetite for food and drink. With respect to his table, his buildings, and his clothes, he puts to death cowardice, ambition, pride, haughtiness, and dissatisfaction. Avoid extravagance and self-indulgence.
Conversely, the one who has little must patiently endure his humble circumstances, not excessively longing after things. "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need" (Philippians 4:12).

God has identified various stations in life as callings. Every individual's rank in life, therefore, is a kind of post assigned to him by the Lord, to keep him from rushing about rashly for the whole of his life. The one who directs himself toward the goal of observing God's calling will have a life well composed. Free from rash impulses, he won't attempt more than his calling warrants. He who lives in obscurity will live an ordinary life without complaint, so that he won't be found guilty of deserting his divinely appointed post. In the midst of troubles, hardships, and annoyances, he will find great relief when he remembers that God is his guide in all these matters. For every work performed in obedience to one's calling, no matter how ordinary and common, is radiant -- most valuable in the eyes of our Lord.

Calvin is probably the best wrighter of his time. Very easy to understand.