Analysis Of John Calvin's 'Institutes Of The Christian Religion'

In his work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin reveals the character of God through the idea of predestination. Calvin first explains God’s character by emphasizing the authoritative nature of scripture. He also to points out that God’s mercy is the basis for the salvation of humanity. To receive salvation, we are at the mercy of God’s secret unconditional election, otherwise known as predestination. Calvin begins by declaring the authority of scripture. He states, “For the Scripture exhibits as clear evidence of its truth, as white and black things to of their colour, or sweet and bitter things of their taste” (31). In other words, scripture is God’s word and it is the truth. He furthers this theme of truth when he writes, “For, when it is admitted to be a declaration of the word of God, no man can be so deplorably presumptuous… as to dare to derogate from the credit due to the speaker” (29-30). In short, Calvin argues that no one can declare scripture as false. Calvin also points to scriptural authority by pointing out that “It depends, therefore, (say they) on the determination of the Church of the Church, to decide both what reverence is due to the Scripture, and what books are to be comprised in its canon” (30). This

He asserts that “we obtain salvation from no other source than the mere goodness of God” (33). Basically, the only two things keeping man from God is the mercy of God and the sin of man. Which is truth, because without God’s mercy through his son, Jesus Christ, there would be no chance for the salvation of humanity. Calvin goes on to argue that “Our salvation flows from the fountain of God’s free mercy, till we are acquainted with his eternal election” (33). What Calvin believes is that God chooses who he will bestow salvation upon, and this idea is known as unconditional