Today’s study in Calvin’s Institutes involves angels and Satan.
1. God is the Creator of the universe. The fact that He did create it is revealed to the church, "In order that the faith of the church, resting upon this, might seek no other God but Him who was put forth by Moses as Maker and Founder of the universe" (Pg., 160). However, why he created it must not be left to human speculation. Calvin says, "Let us remember that the invisible God, whose wisdom, power, and righteousness are incomprehensible, sets before us Moses' history as a mirror in which His living likeness glows" (Pg., 160).
2. We know that we can say it was God's will to create this world. In his will he created the world in six days, including man. But God also has displayed his majestic power in the creation of angels.
3. "The angels are celestial spirits whose ministry and service God uses to carry out all things He has decreed" (Pg., 165). [Ps 103:20-21]
4. The Bible calls angels hosts (Lk 2:13), virtues (Eph 1:21; 1 Cor 15:24), principalities, powers, dominions (Col 1:16; Eph 1:21), thrones (Col 1:16), gods (Ps 138:1), and ministering spirits (Heb 1:14).
5. Calvin explains how God's angels benefit us. "Scripture strongly insists upon teaching us what could most effectively make for our consolation and the strengthening of our faith: namely, that angels are dispensers and administrators of God's beneficence toward us" (Pg., 166). [see Ps 90:11-12; 34:7; Gen 16:9; 24:7; 48:16; Ex 14:16; 23:20; Jdg 2:1; 6:11; 13:3-20; Matt 4:11; 28:5,7; Lk 22:43; Acts 1:10; Dan 10:13, 20; 12:1; Lk 16:22; Acts 12:15]
6. However, there are also fallen, sinful angels who war against God and his people. Scripture forewarns us, "That an enemy relentlessly threatens us, an enemy who is the very embodiment of rash boldness, of military prowess, of crafty wiles, of untiring zeal and haste, of every conceivable weapon and of skill in the science of warfare. Scripture makes known that there are not one, not two, nor a few foes, but great armies, which wage war against us" (Pg., 173). [see 2 Cor 4:4; Jn 12:31; Eph 2:2; 1 Pet 5:8-9; Eph 6:12ff]
7. These angels are devils and by nature are depraved, evil, and malicious against God and his kingdom. Yes, God did create them but He did not create their evil. As Calvin says, "They were when first created angels of God, but by degeneration they ruined themselves and became the instruments of ruin for others. Because this is profitable to know, it is plainly taught" (Pg., 175). [see 2 Pet 2:5; Jude 6]
8. Though God is not the author of their sin, they are nevertheless under God's sovereign control. Calvin writes, "As for the discord and strife that we say exists between Satan and God, we ought to accept as a fixed certainty the fact that he can do nothing unless God wills and assents to it" (Pg., 175), and, "Because with the bridle of His power God holds him bound and restrained, he carries out only those things which have been divinely permitted to him; and so he obeys his Creator, whether he will or not, because he is compelled to yield him service wherever God impels him" (Pg., 176). [see Job 1:6, 12; 2:1, 6; 1 Kgs 22:20-22; 1 Sam 16:14; 18:10; 2 Thess 2:9-11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2]
9. Because of God's sovereign control over these devils, his elect are assured of victory while those who reject God yield to their lies and join them. [see section 18. Pg., 176-178]
10. "Christ, by dying, conquered Satan, who had 'the power of death' (Heb 2:14), and triumphed over all his forces, to the end that they might not harm the church. God does not allow Satan to rule over the souls of believers, but gives over only the impious and unbelievers, whom He deigns not to regard as members of His own flock, to be governed by Him" (Pg., 177).
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