The True Christian by John Calvin

I had the great privilege this past Saturday, Oct 24 2009 to participate in a Reformation Conference at Covenant Reformed Church in Sacramento. As part of the commeration of the great Genevan Reformer John Calvin I was asked to present a paper on Calvin's view of the Christian life.

The past couple of months have been both encouraging and heart searching as I delved into both Calvin's Institutes, Book 2:6-11 and the 'Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life'. What a rich treasure of succinct biblical teaching Calvin gives us on the true nature of the Christian life.

I set out my paper around Calvin's main points as the actual five points of Calvin regarding what it means to be a true Christian. The five points Calvin believed that mark a true Christian's life are...

1. The Pursuit of Holiness

2.The Exercising of Self-Denial

3.The Cultivation of Patient Endurance

4.The Possesion of an Eternal Hope

5.The Wise Maintaining of an Orderly Life

A few weeks before he entered glory in 1564 Calvin wrote to Farel 'It is enough that I live and die for Christ who is to all His followers a gain both in life and death...'

His motto was as ours should be to 'I offer my heart to you Lord, promptly and sincerely...', Christian are you living as Christ calls you to?

PCRT Conference in Sacramento

I am delighted once again to be anticipating the return of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology to our church in Sacramento. This is the third year we have had the privilege to host this Conference. It has been and continues to be a source of great encouragement to our people and to the wider Christian community.

This year the topic is Justification by Faith Alone, it should be a real encouragement to our hearts. I am particularly looking forward to the Pre-Conference with Steve Lawson, who is responsible to bring addresses on John Calvin.