Holiness and John Calvin
---What does Calvin say about holiness? ---I was reading the letters of Calvin and someone accused him of making the gospel cheap and overlooking sanctification. His response: "What! No one is emphasizing holiness as much as I do." ---There is also the further connection between John Calvin and Jakobus Arminius. Arminius did not leave Calvin to start his own movement. Why? Because he claimed that he was following Calvin. ---John Wesley said that there is no difference between Calvin and himself and that it is so small but that small aspect is very important. Wesley was also a Calvinist just like Arminius. ---Adventists are more Arminius like and Wesley like and Methodist like. ---Are Adventists Calvinists? No. They are like Calvin because Calvinists after 1564 when Calvin died became eclectic Calvinists. They cut and paste what they like and threw away what they did not like. ---They started teaching the old testament is law and the new testament is grace. Hello. That is not what Calvin said. ---Ellen White is closer to John Calvin than Calvinism of Orthodoxy. ---Modern Calvinistic churches are closer to Orthodox Calvinism but not closer to John Calvin in comparison to Ellen White or Jacob Arminius or John Wesley. ---The topic is the importance of holiness and not other elements of salvation here.
---That holiness consists in the
conformity to Christ of the believer. ---Calvin said: "Because the Father has reconciled us to Himself in Christ,
therefore He commands us to be conformed to Christ as to our pattern." ---Calvin said it is imperative to be
conformed to Christ. ---He said that Christ is our pattern or
image and we need to conform to that pattern or image. Hello Adventists. ---How serious is this for Calvin? "Unless
we not prayerfully devote ourselves to Christ's righteousness we do not only
faithlessly revolt from our Creator, but we also abjure Him as our
Savior." ---There is no room for 1% deviation
from prayerful devotion to Christ’s Righteousness. Says Calvin. ---If you do not do this, Calvin said,
you are renouncing Christ by your behavior and lifestyle. This is the
conclusion of dr. Jeremy Bridges who studied holiness and Calvin. ---Jeremy Bridges said that a zealous
pursuit of holiness was seen by Calvin as the normal Christian life. ---Calvin said that motivation is needed
and an appeal to the blessings of God is the secret for Calvin. Jeremy Bridges
listed Calvin’s blessings: ---Says Calvin: If God revealed Himself
as a Father to us, we should behave like His children. ---Calvin felt that Christ has purified
us through His blood; therefore, we should not become defiled by fresh
pollution. ---Calvin said that Christ has ascended
to heaven and for that reason we should leave our carnal desires behind and
lift our hearts upward to Him. ---Calvin said that the Holy Spirit
dedicates us as a temple of God, therefore, we should be careful not to profane
this sanctuary. ---For this reason we must display His
glory. ---Calvin said because both the body and
soul will inherit an incorruptible crown, therefore we must keep them soul and
body pure and undefiled. ---Are we reading Ellen White or who?
Well, John Calvin. ---Is this not amazing? ---Can you find this in modern
Calvinism? There are articles indicating that modern Calvinism is no longer
virgin Calvin. Oops. Compromised Calvin. ---What is compromised Calvin? Taking
eclectic Calvin which is here a sentence and there a sentence of Calvin and mix
it with secular wishes and desires and money-making objectives and call it “Calvin”. ---Any modern church saying they are Calvinists
and saying to you that if you strive for obedience you are a legalist, is not
John Calvin’s follower. ---Jeremy Bridges found that “For Calvin, there is no such thing as the
so-called ‘carnal Christian.’” ---Calvin said: "The apostle denies that anyone actually knows Christ who has not
learned to put off the old man, corrupt with deceitful lusts, and to put on
Christ." ---What about the gospel and sin of a person? ---Calvin said that "[The gospel] will be unprofitable if it does not change our
heart, pervade our manners, and transform us into new creatures." ---This truth you read in Jesus, Paul,
Peter, John, Jude, Calvin, Arminius, Wesley, Ellen White. Wow. ---Calvin and Perfection is interesting. ---Calvin: "Perfection must be the final mark at which we aim, and the goal
for which we strive. It is not lawful for you to make a compromise with God, to
try to fulfill part of your duties and to omit others at your own
pleasure." ---What! Is this Ellen White or John
Calvin. John Calvin and Ellen White. ---What about absolute Perfection. What
does Calvin say? Is it attainable? ---On absolute perfection Calvin said: "We should not insist on absolute
perfection of the gospel in our fellow Christians, however much we may strive
for it ourselves." ---Ellen White said that absolute
perfection of the body is not possible but absolute perfection of the soul is a
necessity. ---Ellen White says: “In perfecting a
Christian character, it is essential to persevere in right doing” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol.
2, p. 552.4 (Ellen Gould White). ---How do we teach or preach holiness? ---Jeremy Bridges found that Calvin said
“we should be tough on ourselves and tender with others.” Paul said the same
and Ellen White too. ---Calvin encourages faithful pilgrims
as follows: "Let us not cease to do
the utmost; that we may incessantly go forward in the way of the Lord; and let
us not despair because of the smallness of our accomplishment.” ---There is no difference between Ellen
White’s encouragements and Calvin’s on this matter. Wow. Is this not exciting?
Source:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/john-calvin-holiness-life