Podcast Summary

In this final movement on the theology of the cross, John Calvin distinguishes true Christian patience from the "iron philosophy" of the Stoics. Calvin argues that being a Christian does not mean becoming a block of stone or suppressing the natural capacity for grief; rather, it means following the example of Christ, who wept, grieved, and felt the bitterness of death even as He submitted to the Father's will. We explore the reality of the "double will"—where the flesh shuns pain while the spirit embraces God's appointment—and see how the believer finds spiritual joy not by ignoring affliction, but by recognizing it as a salutary tool for salvation. Ultimately, Calvin reminds us that we do not submit to God out of a cold necessity, but out of a grateful recognition of His justice, equity, and paternal care.

Today’s Readings:

John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 8 (Sections 9–11)

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