Holiness: the Key of Life

This excerpt is taken from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, ch.vi. I have edited this in modern English, and though it may not be the best rendition, I pray that the essence of its content (since it pertains to practical Christianity) will go forth to the heart of the reader. Enjoy. Be blessed. Be edified…

“It has numerous admirable methods of recommending righteousness.[ii] Many have been pointed out already in different parts of this work; but here, we shall also briefly turn our attention to some of them. What better foundation can it begin with than by reminding us that we must be holy, because “God is holy?” (Leviticus 19:1; 1 Peter 1:16).

“For when we were scattered abroad like lost sheep, wandering through the labyrinth of this world, He brought us back again to His own fold. When someone speaks of our union with God, let us remember that holiness must be the connection; not that holiness is a merit that allows us to attain communion with Him (rather, we ought to cling to Him first, in order that we, saturated with His holiness, may follow whenever and wherever He calls), but because it greatly concerns His glory not to have any fellowship with wickedness and impurity. This is why He tells us that this is the goal of our calling, the end to which we should always respect, if we are to answer the call of God.

“To what end were we rescued from the iniquity and pollution of the world into which we were plunged if we allow ourselves to wallow in them our whole lives? At the same time we admonished by God’s holiness to inhabit the holy city Jerusalem if we would be regarded as the Lord’s people.[iii] God has consecrated Jerusalem to Himself, and therefore, cannot be profaned by impure inhabitants; and thus, the Psalmist declares, “LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Psalms 15:1-2; cf. Psalms 24:3-4); for the sanctuary in which He dwells should certainly not to be like an unclean stall.

“The system of Scripture that we speak aims primarily at two objects: first, that the love of righteousness may be instilled and implanted into our minds, because by nature, we are not so inclined to do that; second,[i] to lay down a rule that will prevent us from going astray while we pursue the righteousness of God in Christian living.

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[i] The original has a parenthetical note to “(see chap. 7).” This portion being in Chapter 6, the point will be expanded and explained in Chapter 7. [my additional footnote]

[ii] The French begins the sentence thus, “Quant est du premier poinct;”—As to the former point. [original footnote]

[iii] The original has a parenthetical note: “(Isaiah rev. 8, et alibi). [my additional footnote]