Source: Bibliothèque de Genève

Source: Bibliothèque de Genève

Let me ask you: Does your Gospel presentation looks like the one of John Calvin? Or more like a message from Dr. Phil and Oprah? Read the following from a letter that Calvin wrote to the Catholic Cardinal Sadoleto in 1539. See if you can identify with Calvin’s Gospel.

“First, we bid a man begin by examining himself, and this not in a superficial and perfunctory manner, but to cite his conscience before the tribunal of God, and when sufficiently convinced of his iniquity, to reflect on the strictness of the sentence pronounced upon all sinners. Thus confounded and amazed at his misery, he is prostrated and humbled before God; and, casting away all self-confidence, groans as if given up to final perdition. Then we show that the only haven of safety is the mercy of God, as manifested in Christ, in whom every part of our salvation is complete. As all mankind are, in the sign of God, lost sinners, we hold that Christ is their only righteousness, since, by His obedience, He has wiped off all our transgressions; by His sacrifice, appeased the divine anger; by His blood, washed away our sins; by His cross, borne our curse; and by His death, made satisfaction for us. We maintain that in this way man is reconciled in Christ to God the Father, by no merit of his own, by no value of works, but by gratuitous mercy. When we embrace Christ by faith, and come, as it were, into communion with Him, this we term, after the manner of Scripture, the righteousness of faith.”

Please read and understand each of Calvin’s 5 main ideas in his Gospel presentation:

1) Recognition of Sin
“First, we bid a man begin by examining himself, and this not in a superficial and perfunctory manner, but to cite his conscience before the tribunal of God, and when sufficiently convinced of his iniquity.”

A friend says that a sheep appears to be pure white, when he is standing in the middle of a field. The green grass contrasts the sheep’s white color. However, when the snow falls and the field is totally covered, the same sheep looks dirty, compared to the snow’s pure white. Same sheep, same color but contrasted with different background. Compare yourself and ask the people around you to see the contrast with the perfect and pure-white holiness of God.

The only way that a man can see his real condition is by looking into the mirror of the Ten Commandments. We all think that we are pretty good people, until compared with the holiness and perfection of God, reveled in his Moral Law.

After recognizing Sin and his consequence, then understanding the grace of God we must repent (turn from our sins).

2) Consequence
“Reflect on the strictness of the sentence pronounced upon all sinners.”

God has declared death sentence upon all humanity. Sooner or later, our spirit will face God’s perfect justice. We have recognized already that we have sinned and transgressed His Law. Every guilty law-breaker will be damned for eternity. God cannot let sinners go free and unpunished, He will see that justice is served for lyers, murderers and blasphemers. Eternity in Hell is God’s promised sentence.

3) Humbling
“Confounded and amazed at his misery, he is prostrated and humbled before God; and, casting away all self-confidence, groans as if given up to final perdition.”

There is nothing that we can do or say to escape God’s justice and our deserved punishment. We cannot bribe the Judge with our good actions. We cannot justify ourselves! This is so humbling! When you understand you are helpless… you desperately need mercy!

4) Grace
“As all mankind are, in the sign of God, lost sinners, we hold that Christ is their only righteousness, since, by His obedience, He has wiped off all our transgressions; by His sacrifice, appeased the divine anger; by His blood, washed away our sins; by His cross, borne our curse; and by His death, made satisfaction for us.”

“We maintain that in this way man is reconciled in Christ to God the Father, by no merit of his own, by no value of works, but by gratuitous mercy.”

5) Faith
“When we embrace Christ

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by faith, and come, as it were, into communion with Him, this we term, after the manner of Scripture, the righteousness of faith.”

Let me ask you again: Does your Gospel presentation looks like the one of John Calvin? Can you can identify with Calvin’s Gospel?

You should. It is the Gospel from the Bible.

——

“A Reformation Debate” by Calvin
ISBN-10: 0801023904