What’s the longest book you’ve ever read?
Aside from the Bible, I read it twice a year, the longest book I have ever read was the Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. In Bible college, I was told he taught “doctrines of demons.” Yet, they never quoted his books or writings. I thought that was strange.
So I read the book. It took me an entire summer. I never found anything that contradicted the Bible. I would propose that most Evangelical Christians would agree with 95% of what he wrote.
Yes, he taught against Catholicism and showed by Scripture that they taught against what the Bible clearly teaches about salvation. He taught that salvation was by grace through faith. Yet, those are things Evangelical Christians would agree with.
His teaching on God’s Sovereignty never went against man’s responsibility to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. He was certainly not a determinist. Christians should agree with this.
His teaching on the idea that man can only have a good view of himself if he has an accurate view of God is also biblical. I highly recommend this 500-year-old classic for any Christian to read.
Bad news: we have all lied, used God’s name in vain, stolen, and looked with lust. We are lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterers at heart. We all deserve to burn in Hell for all eternity.
Good news: God is rich in mercy. He sent Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, to live a sinless life, die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rise from the dead three days later. God calls all people everywhere to repent (turn from sin) and trust in Jesus Christ to save them from sin.
God will seal His people with the Holy Spirit, who keeps His people saved, transforms them from evil to Good, and keeps them holy. God makes everything better.
Biblical Interpretation Through Demonstration 