JOHN CALVIN ON THE NECESSITY OF THE SINNER SEEKING IMMEDIATE SALVATION
"Hence let us learn that we OUGHT TO RECEIVE CHRIST WITHOUT DELAY, while he is still present with us, that the opportunity of enjoying him may not pass away from us; for if the door be once shut, it will be vain for us to try to open it. Seek the Lord, says Isaiah, while he may be found; call upon him, while he is near, (Isaiah 55:6.) We ought therefore to go to God early, while the time of his good pleasure lasts, as the prophet speaks, (Isaiah 49:8;) for we know not how long God will bear with our negligence. In these words, where I am, you cannot come, he employs the present tense instead of the future, where I shall be, you shall not be able to come." (Comment on John 7:34)
John Calvin frequently urged sinners to their responsibility in seeking the Lord. For example:
"This assemblage of words makes still more evident what I slightly mentioned a little before, that God leaves nothing undone which is fitted to correct and arouse our tardiness. Yet there is an implied reproof; for they must be excessively stupid who, when they are so gently called, do NOT INSTANTLY OBEY. This is a remarkable passage, from which we see that our whole happiness lies in obeying the word of God. When God speaks in this manner, the object which he has in view is to lead us to life; and therefore the blame lies wholly with ourselves, because we disregard this saving and life-giving word." (Comment on Isaiah 55:3)
"We ought to learn from this, that, when the Lord delays to punish and to take vengeance, WE OUGHT NOT ON THAT ACCOUNT, TO SEIZE THE OCCASION FOR DELAYING OUR REPENTANCE; for although he spares and bears with us for a time, our sin is not therefore blotted out, nor have we any reason to promise that we shall make a truce with him. LET US NOT THEN ABUSE HIS PATIENCE, BUT LET US BE MORE EAGER TO OBTAIN PARDON."
He says first, And even now the Lord says, Turn ye to me. The Prophet exhorts the people, not in his own name, but speaks in the person of God himself. He might indeed have borne witness to the favour which he proclaimed; but the discourse becomes more striking by introducing God as the speaker. And there is a great importance in the words, even now; for when one considers what we have noticed in the beginning of the chapter, a prospect of relief could hardly have been deemed possible. God had, indeed, in various ways, tried to restore the people to the right way; but, as we have seen, the greater part had become so void of feeling, that the scourges of God were wholly ineffectual; there remained, then, nothing but the utter destruction which the Prophet threatened them with at the beginning of the second chapter. Yet, in this state of despair, he still sets forth some hope of mercy, provided they turned to him; even now, he says. The particles וגם ugam are full of emphasis, “even now” that is, “Though ye have too long abused God’s forbearance, and with regard to you, the opportunity is past, for ye have closed the door against yourselves; yet even now, — which no one could have expected, and indeed what ought to be thought incredible by yourselves, — even now God waits for you, and invites you to entertain hope of salvation.” But it was necessary that these two particles, even now, should be added; FOR IT IS NOT IN THE POWER OF MEN TO FIX FOR THEMSELVES, AS THEY PLEASE, FOR THE SEASON OF MERCY. God here shows the acceptable time, as Isaiah says (Isa_49:8) to be, when he has not yet rejected men, but when he offers to be propitious. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE PROPEHET GIVES NOT HERE LIBERTY TO MEN TO DELAY THE TIME, as the profane and scorners are wont to do, who trifle with God from day to day; but the Prophet here shows that we must obey the voice of God, when he invites us, as also Isaiah says, ‘Behold now the time accepted, behold the day of salvation: seek God now, for he is near; call on him while he may be found.’ So then, as I have reminded you, these two particles, even now, are added, that men may be made attentive to the voice of God when he invites them, that they may not delay till tomorrow, for the Lord may then close the door, and repentance may be too late. We at the same time see how indulgently God bears with men, since he left a hope of pardon to a people so obstinate and almost past recovery. (Joel 2:12-13)
"Hence let us learn that we OUGHT TO RECEIVE CHRIST WITHOUT DELAY, while he is still present with us, that the opportunity of enjoying him may not pass away from us; for if the door be once shut, it will be vain for us to try to open it. Seek the Lord, says Isaiah, while he may be found; call upon him, while he is near, (Isaiah 55:6.) We ought therefore to go to God early, while the time of his good pleasure lasts, as the prophet speaks, (Isaiah 49:8;) for we know not how long God will bear with our negligence. In these words, where I am, you cannot come, he employs the present tense instead of the future, where I shall be, you shall not be able to come." (Comment on John 7:34)
John Calvin frequently urged sinners to their responsibility in seeking the Lord. For example:
"This assemblage of words makes still more evident what I slightly mentioned a little before, that God leaves nothing undone which is fitted to correct and arouse our tardiness. Yet there is an implied reproof; for they must be excessively stupid who, when they are so gently called, do NOT INSTANTLY OBEY. This is a remarkable passage, from which we see that our whole happiness lies in obeying the word of God. When God speaks in this manner, the object which he has in view is to lead us to life; and therefore the blame lies wholly with ourselves, because we disregard this saving and life-giving word." (Comment on Isaiah 55:3)
"We ought to learn from this, that, when the Lord delays to punish and to take vengeance, WE OUGHT NOT ON THAT ACCOUNT, TO SEIZE THE OCCASION FOR DELAYING OUR REPENTANCE; for although he spares and bears with us for a time, our sin is not therefore blotted out, nor have we any reason to promise that we shall make a truce with him. LET US NOT THEN ABUSE HIS PATIENCE, BUT LET US BE MORE EAGER TO OBTAIN PARDON."
He says first, And even now the Lord says, Turn ye to me. The Prophet exhorts the people, not in his own name, but speaks in the person of God himself. He might indeed have borne witness to the favour which he proclaimed; but the discourse becomes more striking by introducing God as the speaker. And there is a great importance in the words, even now; for when one considers what we have noticed in the beginning of the chapter, a prospect of relief could hardly have been deemed possible. God had, indeed, in various ways, tried to restore the people to the right way; but, as we have seen, the greater part had become so void of feeling, that the scourges of God were wholly ineffectual; there remained, then, nothing but the utter destruction which the Prophet threatened them with at the beginning of the second chapter. Yet, in this state of despair, he still sets forth some hope of mercy, provided they turned to him; even now, he says. The particles וגם ugam are full of emphasis, “even now” that is, “Though ye have too long abused God’s forbearance, and with regard to you, the opportunity is past, for ye have closed the door against yourselves; yet even now, — which no one could have expected, and indeed what ought to be thought incredible by yourselves, — even now God waits for you, and invites you to entertain hope of salvation.” But it was necessary that these two particles, even now, should be added; FOR IT IS NOT IN THE POWER OF MEN TO FIX FOR THEMSELVES, AS THEY PLEASE, FOR THE SEASON OF MERCY. God here shows the acceptable time, as Isaiah says (Isa_49:8) to be, when he has not yet rejected men, but when he offers to be propitious. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE PROPEHET GIVES NOT HERE LIBERTY TO MEN TO DELAY THE TIME, as the profane and scorners are wont to do, who trifle with God from day to day; but the Prophet here shows that we must obey the voice of God, when he invites us, as also Isaiah says, ‘Behold now the time accepted, behold the day of salvation: seek God now, for he is near; call on him while he may be found.’ So then, as I have reminded you, these two particles, even now, are added, that men may be made attentive to the voice of God when he invites them, that they may not delay till tomorrow, for the Lord may then close the door, and repentance may be too late. We at the same time see how indulgently God bears with men, since he left a hope of pardon to a people so obstinate and almost past recovery. (Joel 2:12-13)
