Our study of Calvin’s Institutes goes on. Chapter 17 is the focus today and tomorrow. I've summarized it in two parts.
Chapter 16 defined the doctrine of God’s providence. Chapter 17 explains how it connects with our human lives. The questions of human responsibility, human guilt, and God’s relation to evil are discussed here.
1. There is a purpose for everything God ordains, and by his omnipotent power brings those things to pass. Calvin says that, “God’s providence must first of all be considered with regard to the future as well as the past. Secondly, it is the determinative principle of all things” (Pg., 210).
2. Nevertheless, the reason and cause for his providential acts are not always known. But we can trust him and “So reverence his secret judgments as to consider his will the truly just cause of all things” (Pg., 211). [see Ps 40:5; Ps 115:3]
3. God is the maker and framer of the universe. (Ps 36:6; Deut 30:11-14; Rom 11:33-34; Is 40:13-14).
4. There is no fatalism here. Man cannot blame God for his evil, nor can he leave his life’s well being to fate. More on this in Part 2.
5. When a man sins, he sins, not God. Yet, God is so omnipotent that he uses evil instruments to do good. Calvin explains. “But do we do evil things to the end that we may serve him? Yet he by no means commands us to do them; rather we rush headlong, without thinking what he requires, but so raging in our unbridled lust we deliberately strive against Him” (Pg., 217).
6. Grant that God uses evil instruments “to carry out the judgments that he has determined with himself” (Pg., 217); does that not, (1) marry God with their sin, or (2) excuse the sinner from his sin? No! Why? “In their own conscience they are so convicted as to be unable to clear themselves; in themselves they so discover all evil, but in him only the lawful use of their evil intent, as to preclude laying the charge against God” (Pg., 217).
7. Does fate play a role in the events of our life’s well being? No! (Prov 16:9)
8. “We are not at all hindered by God’s eternal decrees either from looking ahead for ourselves or from putting all our affairs in order, but always in submission to his will” (Pg., 216). This is actually our responsibility according God’s decree. That is, in his free sovereignty he ordained men to be faithful stewards according to his good will.
9. “Now it is very clear what our duty is: thus, if the Lord has committed to us the protection of our life, our duty is to protect it; if he offers helps, to use them; if he forewarns us of dangers, not to plunge headlong; if he makes remedies available, not to neglect them” (Pg., 216).
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