Do All to the glory of God

The divine law contains a most fitting and well ordered plan for the regulation of our life; yet it has pleased the heavenly Teacher to direct men by a very excellent and key principle.

It is the duty of believers to “present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”; this is the only true worship.

The principle of holiness leads to the exhortation, “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the will of God.”

It is a very important consideration that we are consecrated and dedicated to God; it means that we may think, speak, meditate, or do anything only with a view to his glory.

For that which is sacred cannot, without great injustice to God, be applied to unhholy usage. [John Calvin]

Spiritual progress

The one condition for spiritual progress is that we remain sincere and humble.

Let us keep our end in view, let us press forward to our goal . Let us not indulge in pride, nor give in to our sinful passions. Let us steadily exert ourselves to reach a higher degree of holines till we shall finally arrive at a perfection of goodness which we seek and pursue as long as we live, but which we shall attain then only, when, freed from all earthly infirmity. we shall be admitted by God into his full communion. [John Calvin]

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Proceeding Forwards

But let everyone proceed according to his given ability and continue the journey he has begun.There is no man so unhappy that he will not make some progress, however small. Let us not cease to do the utmost, that we may incessantly go forward in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the smallness of our accomplishment.

Though we fall short, our labour is not lost, if this day surpasses the preceding one. [John Calvin]

On seeking perfection

We should not insist on absolute perfection of the gospel in our fellow Christians, however much we may strive for it ourselves. It would be unfair to demand evangelical perfection before we acknowledge anyone as a Christian.  There would be no church if we set a standard of absolute perfection, for the best of us are still far from the ideal, and we would have to reject many who made only small progress.

Perfection must be the final mark at which we aim, and the goal for which we strive. It is not lawful for you to make a compromise with God: to try to fulfil part of your duties and to omit others at your own pleasure.  The Lord first of all wants sincerity in his service, simplicity of the heart without guile and falsehood.
A double-mind is in conflict with the spiritual life, for this implies an unfeigned devotion to God in the search for holiness and righteousness.
No one in this earthly prison of the body has sufficient strength of his own to press forward with a due degree of watchfulness, and the great majority of Christians are kept down with such great weakness that they stagger and halt and even creep on the ground, and so make very slight advances.  [John Calvin]

on vain babblers

The philosophers rightly condemn and banish with disgrace from their company those who profess to know the art of life, but who are in reality vain babblers.

With much better reason Christians ought to detest those who have the gospel on their lips but not in their hearts.

The exhortations of the philosophers are cold and lifeless if compared with the convictions, affections and boundless energy of the real believers. [ Eph. 4:22] [John Calvin]

Faith–More than lip service

Let us ask those who possess nothing but church membership, and yet want to be called Christians, how they can glory in the sacred Name of Christ?
For no one has any communion with Christ but he who has received the true knowledge of him from the word of the Gospel.
The apostle denies that anyone actually knows Christ who has not learned to put off the old man, corrupt with deceitful lusts, and to put on Christ.
External knowledge of Christ is found to be only a false and dangerous make-believe, however eloquently and freely lip servants may talk about the gospel. [John Calvin]

Showing our gratitude to Christ

Scripture accompanies its exhortations with the promise of God’s countless blessings and of the all-embracing salvation he grants us.

Therefore, since God has revealed himself as a Father, we would be guilty of the basest ingratitude if we did not behave as his children.

Since Christ has purified us through the baptism in his blood, we should not become defiled by fresh pollution.

Since Christ has united us to his body as his members, we should be anxious not to disgrace him by any blemish.

Since Christ, our Head, has ascended to heaven, we should l eave oru carnal desires behind and lift our heart upward to him.

Since the Holy Spirit had dedicated us as temples of God we should exert ourselves not to profane his sanctuary, but to display his glory.

Since both our soul and body are destined to inherit an incorruptible and never-fading crown, we should keep them pure and undefiled till the day of our Lord.

Such are the best foundations for a p roper code of conduct. Philosophers never rise above the natural dignity of man. (But Scripture points us to our only sinless Savior, Jesus Christ. Rom 6: 44ff; 8:29)  [John Calvin]

Adopted as His Children

The Lord has adopted us to be his children on this condition that we reveal an imitation of Christ who is the mediator of our adoption.
Unless we  ardently and prayerfully devote ourselves to Christ’s righteousness we do not only faithlessly revolt from our Creator, but we also abjure him as our Saviour. [John Calvin]

Holiness–exhibiting the Character of Christ in our lives

Scripture does only show the principle of holiness, but also that Christ is the best way to it. Because the Father has reconcile us to himself in Christ, therefore he commands us to be conformed to Christ as to our own pattern. Let those who think that philosophers have the only just and orderly system or morality show us a more excellent plan than to obey and follow Christ. The sublimest virtue according to philosphers is to live the life of nature, but Scripture points us to the perfect Christ as our example. We shold exhibit the character of Christ in our lives, for what can be more effective than this one stirring consideration? Indeed, what can be required besides? [John Calvin]