Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - Only Damnable Things Come Forth from Man's Corrupt Nature

John Calvin's theology, as presented in the sources, centers on the belief that human nature is fundamentally and pervasively corrupt due to the Fall. This corruption extends to every aspect of the human being, including the mind, understanding, heart, and will, rendering individuals utterly incapable of seeking God or doing any genuine good on their own. This state is described as being "flesh," inherently opposed to God and in bondage to sin.Because of this total depravity, conversion is entirely the work of God's sovereign grace. God takes the initiative to transform the hearts of individuals, giving them a new will and enabling them to desire and pursue righteousness. This is not a cooperative effort where humans contribute their own will, but a monergistic action by God who "works in us to will and to work." Even the initial inclination towards good and the ability to have faith are gifts of God's grace.While human nature remains uncleansed in the unregenerate, God's grace also functions to restrain the outward expression of this corruption. Through various means like shame, fear of the law, and the pursuit of self-interest, God prevents humanity from descending into utter chaos. However, this restraining grace does not purify the inner being, and any apparent virtue in the unregenerate lacks true merit before God.Furthermore, perseverance in faith is also solely God's gracious gift. Believers do not maintain their faith through their own strength or as a reward for their initial acceptance of grace, but are sustained and kept by God's power until the end. In essence, Calvin's view emphasizes the complete dependence of humanity on God's grace for every aspect of salvation and righteous living.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed