John Calvin’s Description of the Gospel-Centred Life [1/3]

John Calvin’s Description of the Gospel-Centred Life [1/3]

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)

John Calvin’s Description of the Gospel-Centred Life

[Part 1 of 3]

Without the gospel

everything is useless and vain;

without the gospel

we are not Christians;

without the gospel

all riches is poverty,

all wisdom folly before God;

strength is weakness, and

all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God.

But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made

children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ,

fellow townsmen with the saints,

citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven,

heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom

the poor are made rich,

the weak strong,

the fools wise,

the sinner justified,

the desolate comforted,

the doubting sure, and

slaves free.

It is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe.

 

from John Calvin’s preface to Pierre Robert Olivétan’s

French translation of the New Testament (1534)