The doctrine of repentance has been Calvin’s main subject since chapter three of Book 3. Even in this chapter (chapter seven) it is behind what is said. The chapter is entitled, The Sum of the Christian Life: The Denial of Ourselves. Obviously if this is the sum of what it is to be a Christian then repentance must be an ongoing practice. To deny ourselves involves turning away from sin (denying sin), and turning to God (denying the self).
Of course Calvin said God’s law guides us in this. Now, in union with Christ we are free to love that law. He believed Jesus freed us from the debt and curse of God’s law. In him we don’t come to Mt. Sinai that swirls with judgment. But rather we come to Mt. Zion. And Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Now, that law is written in our hearts by the Spirit as his GPS for us. This gospel centered understanding of the law is found throughout the Institutes.
Here is the summary today.
1. God’s law is the Christian’s guide in life. Love must have expression; therefore love for God is expressed by keeping God’s commandments. (Jn. 14:15, 21-24; 1 Jn. 5:3).
2. But loving obedience to that law is always accompanied with self denial, “A presenting your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” (Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 6:19). We are God’s people therefore, “let us therefore live for him and die for him... let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions...let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal (Rom. 14:8; cf. 1 Cor. 6:19)” (Pg., 690).
3. The Christian must not seek his self meaning or will. God’s will and glory must be his goal. Christian maturity comes as we forget ourselves. “Surely subordinating our self-concern, we try faithfully to devote our zeal to God and his commandments” (Pg., 691).
4. Grace teaches us to deny ourselves (Titus 2:11-14). This grace teaches our flesh and mind to say no to irreligion and sinful passions; and yes to soberness, joy, righteousness and godliness.
5. Grace teaches us to deny ourselves and love others. You will never love others unless you renounce the “kingdom you think lies in your breast” (pride), and unless “you give up all thought of self and, so to speak, get out of yourself, you will accomplish nothing here” (Pg., 695).
6. Remember everything we have received comes from God (1 Cor. 4:7; James 1:17), but also remember that these gifts of grace are to be used for God and for the benefit of others. (1 Peter 4:10) Again, self must be denied. (1 Cor. 12;12ff; Ps. 16:2-3; Heb. 13:16).
7. God’s grace, and the freedom it brings, teaches us to deny ourselves and love God and his will. “Scripture calls us to resign ourselves and all our possessions to the Lord’s will, and to yield to him the desires of our hearts to be tamed and subjugated” (Pg., 698).
God has given us this freedom in Christ. Paul said in Gal 5:1, “For freedom, Christ has set us free.” We are free to obey God. Our obedience is a free obedience. Our discipleship is a glad one. We present our selves to God freely. That is, we are perfectly satisfied with what God has chosen for us. We are willingly in agreement with God’s sovereign will. We have the freedom to make the right choice by the power of the Spirit. He has written God’s law in our hearts and we agree with it. This is the law of life in Christ Jesus which sets us free from the law of sin and death. Christ’s gospel brings us simply to live as true human beings…thinking God’s thoughts after him and agreeing with him on everything.
8. Love of money, love of prestige, or love of self comfort must not control us. Calvin tells us, “We are always to look to the Lord so that by his guidance we may be led to whatever lot he has provided for us” (Pg., 699). This faith expressing itself in love enables believers to worship God in the midst of adversity.
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