But Spiritual Discernment is Wholly Lost Until we are Regenerated by John Calvin

Calvin examines the limitations of human reason regarding the kingdom of God and spiritual perception, emphasizing the essentiality of divine revelation for true judgment. He identifies three key aspects: the knowledge of God, the assurance of His paternal favor vital for salvation, and the regulation of human conduct according to Divine Law. Calvin argues that even the most intelligent minds are seriously blind in understanding the first two, especially the assurance of divine favor. He recognizes that philosophers occasionally enunciate astute attentions about God's nature, but these are often clouded by imaginative speculation. God grants them a slight perception of His existence to ensure they cannot claim ignorance as a defense for their impiety. This limited knowledge helps to convict rather than guide them toward truth, likening their perception to a fleeting flash of lightning that leaves them in darkness. Besides, Calvin dives into human spiritual blindness, notably analyzing John 1:4-5, which states, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." This passage suggests that while the human soul is elucidated by a glimmer of divine light, it is insufficient for true understanding of God. The darkness, symbolizing human ignorance, fails to grasp the light, accentuating the innate inability of the human intellect to attain spiritual perception without divine intervention. Lastly, Calvin affirms that human knowledge of God is entirely a divine gift, not a product of human effort or natural capability. He cites various biblical passages to support this, such as Psalm 36:9 and 1 Corinthians 12:3, asserting that divine illumination is crucial for realization. Even revered figures like John the Baptist and Moses required the Holy Spirit's intervention for true comprehension. Calvin highlights the integral role of divine grace in enabling one to know and enter the kingdom of God, indicating the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating human recognition. This summary is made by Eleven Labs AI audio generated platform: elevenlabs.io/?from=partnerhall9106 Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian If you want to support this podcast's operational cost, you can do so here: venmo.com/u/edisonwu