John Calvin

july 10, 1509

catholic home

mother died at age 4

went to university at age 14

nicknamed the “accusative case”

loved books

He had a sudden conversion to the faith in his late teens - he doesn’t write much about it

“by a sudden conversion God subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame”

1532 - first book published

1533 - on run for his life - wrote address that his friend gave - pro-lutheran

some of John Calvin’s friends were executed

he ran to Basel

while there worked on french translation of the Bible

completed his first edition of “The Institutes of the Christian religion” - most famous work at 26 or 27

God’s providence

Calvin decided to settle in Strasbourg, Germany

Road he would have taken was closed due to military exercises

Stopped over in Geneva

Geneva had just sided with the Reformation

political reasons mainly

basically they were forced to become a reformed city

Man that was there helping Geneva come to understanding of the Reformation, William Farel

William Farel decided he had to meet John Calvin

Asked him to stay and help lead the Reformation

Calvin was a self-proclaimed “bashful and shy” individual

Wanted privacy and security

So Calvin stayed and began preaching daily

“This I can truly testify, that not a day passed that I did not long for death ten times over.”

About Geneva “There is no place under Heaven that I am more afraid of. I would submit to death 100 times rather than to that cross which I had died daily a 1,000 deaths”

In 1538 he was kicked out of Geneva

1538-1541 - Lives and ministers in Strasbourg, where he wanted to be

Pastored a church

Close friendship with Martin Bucer

Wrote commentaries

Got married

In 1541, Farel again called him back to Geneva

Calvin writes this, “When I remember that I am not my own, I offer up my heart presented as a sacrifice to the Lord.”

Returned and goes up to the pulpit and turns to the very next text he had left off on when he was kicked out of Geneva.

1549 onward, twice on Sunday, ten sermons every two weeks

Usually with no notes or preparation

123 Genesis

107 1 Sam

174 Ezekiel

159 Job

200 Deut

342 Isaiah

Intensely protected the Lord’s Supper

may 27, 1564, almost 55, Calvin passed away from a lifetime of illnesses

buried in an unmarked grave so that none would idolize him

Calvin is most commonly known today for Calvinism

Explain

TULIP

Total depravity

Man is totally sinful…original sin

Unconditional Election

God decides to save us independent of anything we do

Limited Atonement

Christ only died for those who would believe

Does not mean we don’t witness

Irresistable Grace

We only come because he called us to Himself, not by any work we can do

And when he calls us we cant resist it, because he changes us and we desire Him opposed to this world

Perseverance of the Saints

Once saved always saved.

Europe’s greatest church planter and missionary

by 1562, his church in geneva had started sending missionaries to France to plant churches, and they had planted 2000!!!!!

What can we learn from Calvin?

He gave God authority over his life and his wants

Even if his wants were good (theological books desire)

To the glory of God alone

He left a legacy that has lasted 500 years bc he was willing to be used

What kind of legacy is the life we’re leading going to leave for our family and future generations

He was focused on spreading the good news of Jesus

He never got too big for his own good.

he was the most well known reformer by the end of his life

And it was for this reason:

Calvin quote: “We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God's: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God's: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God's: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal.”

We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God's: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God's: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God's: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal.