Sermons on Election and Reprobation

by John Calvin

This collection of sermons from the book of Genesis, deals with an awesome topic that has throughout time been repeatedly misunderstood, unfairly ignored, but most often shamefully denied and taught against. Calvin will cause the reader of these sermons to rightly understand this profound doctrine, to come away with the Biblical truth of the Sovereignty of the Creator, and to understand that God is God and needs not man to excuse or explain away the power of the Potter over the clay as he makes to dishonor the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. Commenting on the volume, Dr. Richard A. Muller of Calvin Theological Seminary states that this "is an edition that respects the historical document and conveys the full style of the original translators but also makes the text accessible to the modern reader." We learn from Calvin that, "It is a thing that much troubleth men's spirits, when they see the estate of the world so confused, that the most part do manifestly despite God, and it seemeth that they have conspired with the devil, to the end to give over themselves to all mischief. For this is thought a thing greatly against reason, that GOD should create men to destroy them. Wherefore then is it, that he suffereth the greatest number so to fall? If it be said that this ought to be imputed not to God, but to those that of their own accord throw themselves so to perdition, yet this maketh no whit to the appeasing of those troubles, that we may For could not God remedy it? Why is it then that he doeth it not? They that allege a simple permission, that God layeth the bridle upon every mans neck, and that every one guideth himself according to his own free yet they cannot well undo this to wit, why God hath not created men of another and wherefore he hath suffered that they should be so weak, yea and inclined to evil and and seeing that he knew their infirmity, wherefore is it, that he doth not help them and provide them some remedy? This therefore is to entangle ourselves in great torments and troubles." This book contains a Foreword by The Rev. David J. Engelsma, Professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament Studies at the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed Churches. There is also an Index of Scriptures referred to by Calvin, and an extensive Subject Index.

Genres: Theology

317 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

French-Swiss theologian John Calvin broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1533 and as Protestant set forth his tenets, known today, in Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536).

The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.

* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)

Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.

After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.

Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.

Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.