Knowing God, Knowing Ourselves | John Calvin

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - The Knowledge of God and That of Ourselves are Connected. How They are InterrelatedTrue and sound wisdom is fundamentally divided into two interconnected components: the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves. Examining our own condition naturally leads our thoughts toward God, as our existence and the gifts we possess originate entirely from Him. Furthermore, recognizing our own poverty, ignorance, and depravity highlights the infinite benefits and perfect righteousness that rest in the Lord alone. We are prompted by our own miserable ruin to look upward, learning humility through our misery and realizing that we cannot genuinely aspire to God until we become dissatisfied with our own fallen state.Conversely, humanity cannot achieve a clear and accurate understanding of itself without first contemplating God. Because pride is innate, people naturally view themselves as righteous and wise. If individuals only measure themselves against earthly standards, they are easily satisfied with an illusion of virtue, much like how vision focused on the ground seems keen until it attempts to gaze directly at the blinding brilliance of the sun. When humans elevate their thoughts to consider God's perfect nature, the traits they previously flattered themselves with are immediately exposed as profound foolishness and miserable weakness.This dynamic explains why scriptural figures are repeatedly described as being stricken with dread and wonder when confronted with God's majesty. Saints who were otherwise steadfast are completely overwhelmed by the manifestation of His glory, demonstrating that humans only truly grasp their lowly state when compared to divine purity. Biblical examples, such as Abraham recognizing himself as mere dust and Elijah covering his face, illustrate this profound realization of human corruption. Ultimately, while these two types of knowledge are inextricably linked, proper instruction requires that the knowledge of God be examined first, followed by the knowledge of humanity.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730