Calvin: death by Law

Friday, July 22, 2011
    Feast of Mary Magdalen, Apostle to the Apostles
Meditation:
    The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
    —1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The doctrine of the Law transcending our capacity, a man may indeed look from a distance at the promises held forth, but he cannot derive any benefit from them. The only thing, therefore, remaining for him is, from their excellence to form a better estimate of his own misery, while he considers that the hope of salvation is cut off, and he is threatened with certain death. On the other hand, those fearful denunciations which strike not at a few individuals, but at every individual without exceptions, rise up; rise up, I say, and, with inexorable severity, pursue us; so that nothing but instant death is presented by the Law.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, v. I [1559], tr. John Allen, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1921, II.vii.3, p. 316 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, without Your grace, I am lost. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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