A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin
Thorough and Insightful
When I state that John Calvin’s little book on the Christian life is both thorough and insightful, what I mean is that it addresses the subject of the Christian life as completely as it can. Due to this fact it carries great depth within its pages. The book is less than 150 pages and yet it covers a series of topics that every Christian not only contemplates on a regular basis (sometimes without realizing it), but the book also reminds the Christian that he or she must take on the responsibility of addressing such topics with godly discernment and wisdom. The Table of Contents are a follows:
Scripture’s Call to Christian Living
Self-denial in the Christian Life
Bearing Our Cross is a Part of Self-denial
Meditation on Our Future Life
How the Present Life and its Comforts Should be Used
While a lot more could be said on each of these topics, Calvin addresses them well enough that every Christian who reads this book would spiritually benefit from reading and contemplating what Calvin says in this book. During his life Calvin spent time both as a pastor and theologian. He wrote and preached for the sake of God’s glory and kingdom. Much of his works, especially his Institutes of the Christian Religion, have left a huge impact on Christianity for the past few centuries and still do so today. As much as I would want to encourage Christians to read and understand what Calvin and the Reformers address in their larger works, much of what they need for their spiritual growth and nourishment can also be found in the shorter works of Christian theologians and preachers. The other thing is, if you have never read John Calvin before this book is a great place to start.
The Institutes might be a bit too daunting for some Christians and it is not always helpful to start with something as massive and in depth as those books. I am not wanting to discourage anyone from reading them but it can be easy to overload oneself with large theology books to read when you begin studying the subject in greater depth than you have before. My first book that got me into theology was C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity and his other theology writing have also had a great impact on me as well. If you are new to studying the subject of theology I would recommend both Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Calvin’s A Little Book on the Christian Life. Both writers take complex subjects and help the everyday Christian understand why theology, especially for the Christian life, is so important. Calvin states that this is the explicit focus of his book while Lewis addresses this as well as other aspects of Christianity for the general reader in his book. Mere Christianity addresses aspects of the Christian life whereas Calvin’s book addresses it more broadly but also with greater depth. The Christian life is a part of C.S. Lewis’ book whereas with Calvin’s it is the core focus.
All five chapters of A Little Book on the Christian Life are on the same level of quality and depth. However, if I were to pick one or two chapters that stood out to me the most it would be chapters 2 and 3. I was greatly encouraged and comforted by Calvin’s words throughout the book, but chapters 2 and 3 encouraged and comforted me especially. One of the most important aspects of the Christian religion is self-denial. Christians are to embody the humility that Christ showed in his ministry and life. This is done through self-denial which Calvin explains well in chapter 2 of his book. In discussing Romans 12:1-2, which addresses how we are to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice for God, Calvins says the following:
“Let then our first step be to abandon ourselves, that we may apply all our strength to obedience to God. When I say “obedience,” I don’t mean giving lip service to God; but rather, being free from the desire of the flesh, turning our minds over completely to the bidding of the Spirit of God. The philosophers are ignorant of this transformation (which Paul calls the “renewing of the mind”) even though it constitutes the very beginning of life (Eph. 4:23). They enthrone man’s reason alone as ruler, and they think it alone should be listened to. Indeed, they grant and entrust government of conduct to human reason alone. But Christian philosophy, on the other hand, orders human reason to give place—to submit and yield—to the Holy Spirit. For it’s not now we who live, but Christ who lives and reigns in us (Gal. 2:20)” (pp. 23-24, Kindle).
Calvin here emphasizes the reality that human authors like the philosophers often enthrone man’s wisdom. He points out how this makes the transformation of man to obey God cannot happen apart from the work of God. We cannot become like Christ and continue to enthrone human wisdom. Such an idol must be brought down in order for us to truly be free from our fleshly desires to serve Christ. Human reason must submit to the Holy Spirit, who binds and guides our consciences to the wisdom of God. Chapter 3 continues the main focus of chapter 2. Romans 8:29 discusses how we are to be conformed into the image of Christ and Calvin states this in his discussion of this passage “From this also we receive remarkable consolation, that in the midst of dark and difficult circumstances, which we consider hostile and evil, we share in Christ’s sufferings” (p. 59, Kindle). We share in Christ’s sufferings in order to be conformed into his image. Christians suffer, not because God hates us, but because he will use those sufferings to conform us into the image of Christ. It is out of his deep love and devotion to his people that allows us to endure through our sufferings and be conformed into the image of Christ. Calvin’s discussion reminds me of Luke 9:23 which states “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Being conformed into the image of Christ means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Christ daily. This is a difficult thing to do with all the temptations that seek to lure us away from God’s holiness and truth. Yet it is in our trials and sufferings that we are able to be conformed into Christ’s image. In these instances we learn of our own weaknesses and how we cannot stand on our own virtues but on God’s grace. “Indeed, the holiest among us know they stand by God’s grace and not by their own virtues” (p. 61, Kindle). We come to withstand temptation because we are continually conformed into the image of Christ.
I could go on and on about Calvin’s work and his discussion about self-denial being a central aspect of the Christian life. However, I think it is better that I leave some of it undiscussed here so that my readers can enjoy the full discussion that Calvin offers on these subjects in his short yet thoughtfully written book on the Christian life.
