Not Our Own, But His

This excerpt is taken from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, ch.vii. 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…

Although the Law of God contains a perfect rule of conduct admirably arranged, it seemed appropriate to our divine Teacher to train His people by a more accurate method with regard to the standard which is connected to the Law; and the key principle in the method is that it is the duty of believers to present their “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [their] spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

This key principal produces this exhortation: “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 12:2, ESV). Therefore, the great point for our consideration is that we are consecrated and dedicated unto God; and as a result, we should no longer think, speak, design, or act without a perspective of His glory or for His glory.

What God has made sacred cannot, without being monumentally insulting to Him, be used in an unholy or profane way. If we belong to the Lord and are not our own, then it is clear what error is to be shunned, and to what end the actions of our lives must be directed.

If we are not our own, then neither should our will and reason guide independently in our thoughts and actions. If we are not our own, then let us not make it our goal to seek those things that are profitable to the flesh. If we are not our own, then as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and things that are ours.

On the other hand, if we are God’s, then let us, therefore, live and die unto Him (Romans 14:8). If we are God’s, then let His wisdom and will control all our actions. If we are God’s, then let every area of our lives be directed unto Him as the only legitimate goal.

O what great advancement the believer has made who has been taught that he is not his own; who has withdrawn the reign and government of himself from his own reason so that he may give them to God! As the most certain source of men’s destruction is to obey themselves, their only save haven is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever He leads.

Let this, then, be the first step in abandoning ourselves unto God and devoting all the energy of our minds to the service of God. By service, I not only mean a verbal obedience, but also a willingness to set aside our carnal desires, and surrender completely to the leadership of the Spirit of God.

This transformation (which Paul calls the renewal of the mind, Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23), though it is the real beginning of life, was unknown to all the unbelieving philosophers. They believed that man was governed by reason alone, and that reason alone was to be listened to; in short, they believed that reason was the sole guide for life and conduct. Yet, Christian philosophy demands that we surrender and yield complete submission to the Holy Spirit, so that the man himself no longer lives, but Christ lives and reigns in him (Galatians 2:20).

Necessity of Spiritual Progress

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…

Although the very breath of the Christian life should be to desire the perfect Gospel, and though we should attempt to attain that life, I should never insist that others have absolute perfection. Neither should I insist that evangelical perfection be reached by a man before I were to call him a Christian. If that were so, everyone would be excluded from the Church, since no man [save Jesus Christ] is perfect. Many who have made very little progress in their Christian life would be undeservedly rejected. What then?

Let us set this before our eye as the end by which we should constantly aim. Let us regard it as the goal toward which we run. For you cannot divide the matter with God, undertaking part of what His Word commands, and omitting other parts as it pleases us.

For, in the first place, God uniformly recommends integrity as the principal part of His worship. What I mean by integrity is this: real singleness of mind, free from external show and creative pretense.

The double mind opposes the spiritual life. This implies a sincere devotion to God in the pursuit of holiness and justice. Yet, we understand that in this earthly prison of the body, no man has the strength sufficient to hasten his way on his spiritual journey with proper watchfulness. Still, there are so many others that are so oppressed with weakness, that hesitating, and stopping, and even crawling on the ground, they make little progress. Let every one of us go as far as his humble ability enables him; to pursue the journey with the goal in sight once begun.

No one will travel so poorly that he does not daily make at least some degree of progress. Therefore, let us never cease to do all we can so that we may advance daily in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the slender measure of success. However little that success may match our desire, our labor is not lost when today is better than yesterday.

Let us progress in our spiritual journey toward our goal having true singleness of mind, eagerly desiring the goal, not speaking flattering things to ourselves, nor indulging our vices, but making it our constant effort to become better, until we attain to goodness itself. If during the whole course of our life we seek and follow, we shall attain it at the end when we are relieved from the infirmity of the flesh and admitted into the full fellowship with God.