17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,” (1 Timothy 1:17–19 (ESV)
The following is a sermon by 16th century Protestant reformer, pastor, and theologian John Calvin (1509-1564). He addresses the subject of the believer’s assurance of salvation.
We must well remember and bear in mind that verse which was expounded before, how Saint Paul gives us to understand by his own example that when we know ourselves to be sinners, we should in no wise doubt but that the Son of God is at hand to receive us to mercy. For why was he sent into the world but to save that which was lost? And although we are of our own nature bent to distrust, yet must we be resolved in this point, that the son of God will not cast us off, so that we come to him to be partakers of the salvation which he offers generally to all sinners.
But we must take this with us, that we cannot come to salvation in Jesus Christ, but only by faith, which betokens as much as this, that we be truly drawn unto him, and that with an upright affection, being angry and sorry with ourselves for our sins. For he that will cherish and nuzzle up himself in wickedness, is not worthy of that remedy which the son of God brings us. And because we are subject to doubt, especially regarding the matter of putting our trust in God, St. Paul confirms this doctrine, saying that it is a sure word, worthy to be received; as God has promised in other passages, in order to keep us from doubting his goodness. He is not content to tell us that he will be as good to us as his promise, but he adds an oath. Therefore we are so much the more to be blamed for distrust if we cannot settle our minds upon such promises, when God helps us in our distrust and in our weaknesses.
Now St. Paul adds a thanksgiving, and one that is rather strong, crying out, “Honor and glory be to God for ever to him (he says) that is King everlasting, who is immortal, who is invisible, who alone is wise.” By this he shows that he was, as it were, ravished to glorify God’s name, feeling the grace that he had received. And indeed if we consider how St. Paul was turned, and in what condition God found him, it was the strangest miracle that could be to have a wolf become a sheep, a man so raging and mad to shed the blood of martyrs, to be directly turned into a shepherd, and to have so gentle and mild a spirit; and a man full of pride to be so humbled; a man that was before drunk with the honors of the world, to submit himself to all rebukes and slanders; for him who resisted God, to take the yoke upon himself and to desire nothing but to be a servant of Jesus Christ, against whom he had been fighting. Mark, I say, such a wonderful changing, that it is not without cause that St. Paul cries, Honor and glory be given to God.
Nevertheless, although God’s dealing be not altogether such with us, yet all of us, both great and small, have good reason to magnify the exceeding goodness which he has made us feel. Has not God plucked us out of death, and from the bottom of hell, and called us unto himself? And is not this enough to ravish us with the praise of God, since we know that it is impossible for us to do as much as we ought to him, if we will confess how much are bound to him? Let us learn therefore, whenever we think about our redemption, and how every one of us has been brought to the knowledge of the Gospel, to be touched to the quick with this affection and burning zeal which was in St. Paul, so that we may, at the least, show that we cannot fully do our duty in praising God as we ought.
And if we cannot do our duties as we ought, God himself makes satisfaction for us, when we confess our weakness; and it is a great matter, when we know that he accepts this sacrifice of humbleness, that if we simply say, O Lord, I see that I am so much bound to your mercy that I am even swallowed up with it when I think of it. These few words being spoken with a true heart will be enough for God to take account of them as of a most sufficient payment.
When we see that God so accepts us, have we not much more reason and occasion to make ourselves do what St. Paul shows us in these verses? And how can we excuse ourselves, if we be so slack and such villains that we will not consent to confess so much as that obligation wherein we are bound to God, since he has thus magnified his mercy toward us and called us to salvation? Yet we have to mark the titles that St. Paul here gives to God. He calls him King of the world everlasting; and afterward he calls him Immortal. He calls him invisible and only wise. It is true that these titles always belong to God, but St. Paul refers them to the matter he spoke of to show what difference there is between God and us. For by this means he focuses on the grace which he uses and which he bestows and pours out for our salvation.
More to come. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
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