The Final Resurrection | John Calvin

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - The Final ResurrectionThe highest aspiration and the sole perfect happiness for humanity is defined as union with God. This union forms the essence of the everlasting blessedness of the elect, as God, who holds the fullness of all good things like an inexhaustible fountain, will somehow make the elect become one with himself. We await this happiness because our current condition is one of hardship and spiritual confinement, as we are "away from the Lord" while "confined in the prison house of the flesh". This waiting requires "more than common patience".The anticipation of this unseen glory is sustained by Christian hope, which is described as the patient anticipation of unseen realities. Faith itself is the "indication of things unseen". To aid believers in grasping the resurrection, which is a concept "too hard for men's minds to apprehend," Scripture provides two main helps: the parallel of Christ’s resurrection and the omnipotence of God. Christ’s resurrection serves as the prototype and pledge, ensuring that the life begun in the Head must be completed in all the members. God’s omnipotence assures us that he can command earth, waters, and fire to restore what they seem to have consumed, accomplishing this "incalculable miracle".The final resurrection will separate mankind into two eternal destinies. The elect will come forth to the resurrection of life, resulting in undying glory and union with God. The reprobate, however, will face the "resurrection of judgment", leading to the "punishment of eternal destruction, excluded from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might". This unending suffering is justified because the reprobate violated God's eternal majesty and justice.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730