O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

A COMMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF JOHN CALVIN

          One of the most marvelous and praiseworthy works of God is the way that He brings a mighty accomplishment to pass through frail sons of men. One such work was the 16^th Century Protestant Reformation. And one such frail son foreordained from the beginning of the world for that very purpose was John Calvin (1509-1564).

His Experience of God’s Providence

          Nothing could perhaps be a better demonstration of the outworkings of Calvin’s own exposition of the Sovereignty of God in Providence than his very own life. Born into a Roman Catholic household of the French common people, he could easily have ended up in obscurity if not for a carefully-timed series of circumstances which led to his special training and promotion:

• His father’s acquisition of influence in Noyon Cathedral by which he procured priesthood training benefits for John;
• his father’s change of mind, which caused him to switch to the study of Law (just in time perhaps to save him from becoming forever a part of the Roman church’s machinery);
• the rigorous training at the College de Montaigu which brought the best out of Calvin’s potential abilities;
• the instruction in Latin he received from the eminent teacher, Mathurin Cordier;
• his witnessing of John Major’s strenuous opposition to the earlier reformers;
• his sudden conversion which brought his mind to a teachable frame;
• the public notice which he somehow could never escape;
• the war that diverted his journey through Geneva, and finally,
• William Farel’s impassioned plea to him to stay and work there.

Praise God for His wonderful work in the life of a man!

          Perhaps nothing could also be a better demonstration of the importance of man’s responsibility in responding to God (which counterbalances the doctrine of God’s Sovereignty) than Calvin’s life. Just as the Lord tested Abraham, Moses, Saul and David, He also tested his young reformer in Geneva: the severe opposition that Calvin encountered there during which time “not a day passed in which he did not long for death ten times over” (in his own words) would have made many averse to staying there. But Calvin endured it all well, for he considered himself placed in that position by God like a sentry at his post.

          Like Job, Calvin was also tested by the grievous loss of his beloved wife Idelette and their only child. Yet he did not “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). These and other trials were the fiery furnace which purified his life for the sterling service he gave to his Master. Calvin fulfilled his responsibility well, and as Moses was used of God to give the Law to Israel, so he was used of God to give an enormous legacy in writing, namely: his Institutes of the Christian Religion, his commentaries, sermons and lectures. These later become the wisdom of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches throughout the world. Against ill health he offered up his burning heart fully to the Lord until it was finally consumed by the flames of his prolific ministry. O that more such men of piety and diligence would arise today!

His Consistent Bible Study

          One lesson that we must learn well from Calvin is the importance of regular, consistent personal Bible study. He was a brilliant student in the Law schools of Orleans and Bourges when he was converted. But after that, he was so inflamed with an intense desire to study the Scriptures, that although he did not altogether leave off his Law studies, he pursued them with less zeal than before. After less than a year, he knew the Bible so well that people were already coming to learn from him! Calvin would never have accomplished all that he did if he had not kept a habit of studying the Scriptures. The Bible itself tells us about this – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

          The study of the Scriptures is different from any other kind of study, because it is something we need to keep doing throughout our lives here on earth. We cannot stop learning from God’s Word. But how do we sustain this habit of personal Bible Study? Here are four strong motivations given by the Scripture itself, together with Calvin’s comments:

1. It Is Profitable for Our Good. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17) Calvin comments: “…the Lord, when He gave us the Scriptures, did not intend either to gratify our curiosity, or to encourage ostentation, or to give occasion for chatting and talking, but to do us good; and, therefore, the right use of Scripture must always tend to what is profitable… The most valuable knowledge, therefore, is “faith in Christ.” Next follows instruction for regulating the life, to which are added the excitements of exhortations and reproofs. Thus, he who knows how to use the Scriptures properly, is in want of nothing for salvation, or for a Holy life.”

2. It Has Power to Make Us Eternal. “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever….” (1 Peter 1:24,25) Calvin comments: “Hence Peter ascribes power and efficacy to God’s word, according to the authority of the Prophet, so that it can confer on us what is real, solid, and eternal. For this was what the Prophet had in view, that there is no permanent life but in God, and that this is communicated to us by the word. However fading, then, is the nature of man, yet he is made eternal by the word; for he is re-moulded and becomes a new creature.”

3. It Produces Faith in Us. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Calvin comments: “…faith is grounded on nothing else but the truth of God; for Paul does not teach us that faith springs from any other kind of doctrine, but he expressly restricts it to the word of God; and this restriction would have been improper if faith could rest on the decrees of men.”

4. It Penetrates Our Innermost Thoughts. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Calvin comments: “God’s word is a discerner, for it brings the light of knowledge to the mind of man as it were from a labyrinth, where it was held before entangled. There is indeed no thicker darkness than that of unbelief, and hypocrisy is a horrible blindness; but God’s word scatters this darkness and chases away this hypocrisy. Hence the separating or discerning which the Apostle mentions; for the vices, hid under the false appearance of virtues, begin then to be known, the varnish being wiped away.”

His Passion for God’s Glory

          Lest any glory which belongs to God should be added to Calvin, there is one dark blot in his life. In the matter of Michael Servetus (who was condemned and executed as a heretic as a result of Calvin’s prosecution) he unwittingly demonstrated the truth of his own exposition on the depravity of man. Calvin was, after all, also depraved in nature and was saved by the grace of God alone. Every great man of God, whether Moses, David or Paul has fallen short of His glory. Calvin was no exception. But where sin abounded grace did much more abound, and the LORD was pleased to continue using him and to bless his ready pen.

          When he was thirty years old, he described an imaginary scene of himself at the end of his life, giving an account to God, and saying, “The thing [O God] at which I chiefly aimed, and for which I most diligently laboured, was, that the glory of Thy goodness and justice … might shine forth conspicuous, that the virtue and blessings of Thy Christ … might be fully displayed.” His constant and sole aim was the glory of God.

          In the life of John Calvin, we have found the biblical doctrines he expounded proved and sealed. Praise God for his wonderful works which he accomplishes in and through frail sons of men!

– Pastor

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Oct 30

        7.30 pm     No ERBL Lecture

Tuesday, Oct 31

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Lim Teck Chye)

Thursday, Nov 2

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     No ERBL Lecture

Saturday, Nov 4

        9.00 am     FEK Concert

        2.00 pm     Marriage Enrichment Seminar (MPH)

        3.00 pm     LTF

        4.00 pm     SF Meeting

Sunday, Nov 5

  8.00 am Living Before the Face of God Acts 20:17-38 (Rev Charles Seet)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Living Before the Face of God Acts 20:17-38 (Rev Charles Seet with Holy Communion)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6) 

Announcements

Sunday School Open Sunday: Reformation Sunday (Today, 29 Oct, 9.40am)

Topic: Returning to the Old Paths (Jeremiah 6:16)

Speaker: Bro Mok Chee Cheong

Venue: Sanctuary

All church members are invited to join the Sunday School for the Open Sunday.  

An Evening of Praise – With One Voice

Audio & e-booklet are available in the Church Website, at link: https://www.lifebpc.com/index.php/component/k2/with-one-voice 

The video clip is available in the Life RTL, access by its homepage shortcut. 

Birth

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs QSY on the birth of a baby boy, on 25 Oct 2023. 

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 31 March 2024 will commence on 17 December 2023 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 10 December 2023. 

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Choong CY or Bro Kelvin if you are available. 

Door to Door Evangelism 5 Nov 2023 (Next Sunday)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm

Contact: Desmond or Amos  

Participating in upcoming Mission Trips in 2024 

We would like to encourage Life B-P Church members to participate actively in missions both in support and involvement (short-term or otherwise), including medical and dental (MaD) missions, with the hope that some may be called to be full-time missionaries. If you are interested to participate in the upcoming mission trips being planned for 2024, please register your interest by filling in the form. All participants who are attending mission trips organised by Life B-P Church are required to sign the letter of undertaking for the mission trip:

https://forms.gle/Cc4Q22b8csiFmqEY6. 

LTF Camp 2023 

4-8 Dec 2023 “Peter the Man, Jesus his Lord” by Brother Joel Seah

Registration link: http://tiny.cc/LTFCamp2023eform 

Closing date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sunday) 

MM Thanksgiving Fellowship Meeting 25 Nov 2023; 4-7 pm 

“My Three Pillars of Life” by Rev Daniel Khoo. All are welcome. Dinner is provided. RSVP if you are joining for dinner by contacting Bro Ignatius This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Closing date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sunday) 

Indonesian Service 

Every Sunday, 4pm @ Beulah House Rm 1-6. 

Strengthening Marital Relationships in the Church 

Speaker: Rev Gabriel Gan

Date: 4 & 18 Nov 2023

Time: 2.00pm to 6.00pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Registration deadline: 20 Oct 

A nursery programme will run concurrently with the seminar for children 3-8 years old.

https://forms.gle/RrXU9nGYJ2VPjnmz6

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