Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - LIV - Chapter 23 of Book 3

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 23 of Book 3.

My summary
Today Calvin continues to answer objections to the doctrine of election, particularly that the reprobate are destined to hell.

The objections are:
(i) why is God offended with his creatures who have not provoked him by any previous offense;
(ii) he who is condemned by God as a sinner cannot ultimately be acquitted without impugning the judge;
(iii) if it is entirely to the counsel of the divine will, that those whom God adopts as the heirs of his kingdom are exempted from universal destruction, then God is an acceptor of persons;
(iv) if predestination stands, all care and study of well doing must cease.

What grabbed me
Calvin was most clear about whose fault sin is: 'The first man fell because the Lord deemed it meet that he should: why he deemed it meet, we know not. It is certain, however, that it was just, because he saw that his own glory would thereby be displayed. When you hear the glory of God mentioned, understand that his justice is included. For that which deserves praise must be just. Man therefore falls, divine providence so ordaining, but he falls by his own fault.'

God is just and cannot be blamed for our sin.  The blame falls on us and us alone.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 24 of Book 3.

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