Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - XLI - Chapter 11 of Book 3 commenced

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 11 of Book 3 by readings Sections 1 to 10.

My summary
After a brief recap of what he has taught previously regarding salvation, Calvin seeks to explain more adequately the meaning of justification by faith.

Firstly Calvin tells us what it is to be justified in the sight of God: 'A man is said to be justified in the sight of God when in the judgment of God he is deemed righteous, and is accepted on account of his righteousness'.

Then he states what it is to be justified by works: 'a man will be said to be justified by works, if in his life there can be found a purity and holiness which merits an attestation of righteousness at the throne of God, or if by the perfection of his works he can answer and satisfy the divine justice.'

Then Calvin teaches us what it is to be justified by faith: 'a man will be justified by faith when, excluded from the righteousness of works, he by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and clothed in it appears in the sight of God not as a sinner, but as righteous'.

Next Calvin gives various passages of Scripture that support his teaching.

Then the rest of the reading is given to answering the false teachings on the subject from Osiander.

What grabbed me
I liked Calvin's summary at the beginning of the chapter: ' I trust I have now sufficiently shown how man’s only resource for escaping from the curse of the law, and recovering salvation, lies in faith; and also what the nature of faith is, what the benefits which it confers, and the fruits which it produces. The whole may be thus summed up: Christ given to us by the kindness of God is apprehended and possessed by faith, by means of which we obtain in particular a twofold benefit; first, being reconciled by the righteousness of Christ, God becomes, instead of a judge, an indulgent Father; and, secondly, being sanctified by his Spirit, we aspire to integrity and purity of life. '

I love that.  God is no longer a judge, but an indulgent Father.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 11 of Book 3.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.