This December I had the privilege of reading some of John Calvin’s sermons on the book of Ephesians. I felt as if I was re-converted after every sermon. I loved Calvin’s (correct) emphasis on the utter hopelessness of man and the extreme, deep grace of God in drawing us out of the pit of hell and giving us new life. I was challenged by Calvin’s regular reminders to ask God to make me perceive my sins more, to throw myself once again on the mercy of Christ, to hate my sin more, and to aim more at holiness out of an abiding sense of profound gratitude to a good, majestic God.
John Calvin
John Calvin lived in the 1500’s, mostly in Geneva, Switzerland. He was and is considered as one of the heroes of the Christian faith. He was one the greatest Christian thinkers, theologians and reformers who bought the church back to the Bible when it was immersed in superstition.
The Fist Every (Angelic) Christmas Carol
On Christmas Day I preached on Luke 2:14. The sermon was part of our series called The Fist Ever Christmas Carols. These carols in the Bible were sung hundreds of years before our traditional Christmas carols were ever composed and include Mary’s melody, Zechariah’s hymn, Simeon’s song and of course, the angels’ chorus – all found in Luke’s gospel chapter 1-2. The angel’s chorus is unique because it is the first recorded Christmas carol sung by the angelic host, not by human beings. The words of this fist heavenly carol are very significant:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among/ in those with whom he is pleased.
The angels declared that there is now peace available for, not for everyone, but some; on all those on whom God’s favour rests.
War
Listen to what John Calvin preached about how we obtain this peace, peace with God:
“If we intend to enjoy this spiritual peace which passes all the good things of this world, let us learn to be at war with ourselves. And how does that come about? It is to know that we are damned and lost and that there is no hope of a remedy for us by which to get out of the pit of destruction again, unless we are recovered (saved) by means of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are so bereft of all perverse self-reliance upon our own merits and know that we are empty and stark naked, let us come as poor beggars to God. That is what is required for the attainment of true peace…When we have learned thus to make war against our own vices and to apply ourselves to the matter thoroughly without hypocrisy and with reality, then we are on the high way to the peace which our Lord Jesus Christ publishes and preaches to us every day in the gospel.”
Prayer for 2015
Calvin ended his sermon with this prayer, which is my prayer for me and all my readers:
“Now let us cast ourselves down before the majesty of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him to make us to feel them that we may dislike them more and more and set our whole mind to considering the infinite grace he extends towards us in calling us to him, in order that we may not be so evil, nor so senseless and blind as not to listen when he speaks, but rather that we may obediently through faith yield to the doctrine he sets before us, in which lies all our welfare and salvation; (praying) that the same may pluck us back from all the lewd lusts of the world and from all the evil affections that thrust us aside and turn us away from him, so that we may grow more and more in his fear and love to be fashioned like his image, until we come to his heavenly glory, to which he calls us. That it may please him to grant this grace, not only to us, but also to all peoples.”
May your 2015 be filled with war, so that you may have peace with God.
Here is a good Bible-reading plan.
Here is a prayer app that looks very good.
Hi Andre,
Thank you so much for your reply. Perhaps I have misunderstood, I kind of understood that Paul was under attack? not at war, but struggling.
“but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! In me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:23-25
I can’t help but feel that there will always be a struggle, but we have victory, that Christ has won this victory for us, and that is what makes me perhaps understand a little differently the use of the words, “war” & “struggle”
“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 Cor 15-56
I have recently just started a study of the book of Romans, and having read it through a couple of times before moving forward and in depth, realised that Paul was a very tormented soul, he really did struggle, and I guess that’s why I commented about the battle being the Lords, and not ours as we can do nothing under our own strength.
Hey Andre, thank you for making me think! Thank you for making me check scripture out and thank you for being my brother. You also have a great year in 2015 and all the very best to you and your family.
By grace alone
John
Hi John
Calvin constantly encouraged all in his church, including and Christians, to keep fighting against sin. As John Owen wrote in The Mortification of Sin (in the believer) , we must keep killing sin or sin will be killing us. I think Calvin used the word war as to our fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. It is akin to the Apostle Paul fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and beating down his body (1 Corinthians 9:27). Yes, as Christians we have peace with God and we have found Rest for our souls, yet we still live in this fallen world and therefore we must war/ fight/ struggle with sin. Perhaps Romans 7 is helpful as it details Paul’s struggle/ war with sin as a Christian and how he keeps casting himself on the mercy of Christ.
IOW I think the words ‘war’ and ‘fight’ and ‘struggle’ can be used as synonyms in this case. Hope this is helpful.
Have a fantastic New Year, thanks for the support and input!
Hi Andre, yet another great article, I do enjoy your blog and also take the opportunity to wish you a great and blessed Year ahead.
Could I perhaps ask for some clarification, surely Calvin refers to those not yet saved, and is your blog directed to such. Calvin uses the word “war” as do you, and also to quote further ” it is to know that we are damned and lost and that there is no hope of a remedy for us by which to get out of the pit of destruction again, unless we are recovered (saved) by means of our Lord Jesus Christ”
I only ask because once I was lost and at war within, until I was found in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but now I struggle as I am sure we all do daily.
I am slightly at odds with being at “war” struggle yes, as I think that there is a difference in meaning. War is to battle, and struggle is more akin to wrestle. Personally I feel that my days of battle are over, as according to scripture the battle is the Lords.
“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 NIV
In Ephesians we read that we are to stand, Struggle yes, put on Armour, defend ourselves.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” Eph 6:11-13 NIV
So I guess that my question really is, am I at war, battling, or just struggling? Because I certainly am at peace.
Grace
John