Calvin Flashcards
What was his idea of sovereignty
He believed God is the sole creator of the universe and its absolute monarch. He believed that there are no limitations to Gods power. he can do anything. However, there is a distinction between what God can do and what He will do. For example, God can not lie or be unjust.
What was his idea of Creation and Law?
God is the author of creation and as the stoics and others have pointed out, establish laws that govern creation. He has a right to take a claim over it. To make a thing is to make it according to a plan, and it requires certain rules. The rules that make a thing a thing.
What connections can you make between Seneca and Calvin on laws and God?
They both emphasised a higher law. Seneca focused on natural law, and Calvin focused on Gods divine law.
What was his key idea on how we are subject to law?
We are creatures under God’s creational laws, and so much of life is discovering what the creation is like rather than creating meaning as such.
What was his idea on general revelation?
Human beings are created in the image of God and part of this means that they can discern the revelation that God gave all. This includes knowledge of concepts such as justice. Every human being has an innate sense of Gods presence because God has placed knowledge of himself into the human heart. People may suppress or ignore this knowledge, but it is still evident in creation. It is making people aware of Gods existence, but does not offer the complete knowledge of Gods will.
What was his idea on the fall?
Adam knew that justice requires that each be treated correctly, including treating the superior as the superior, and yet did not do this, elevating the lower (Eve) over the greater (God). The heart of man is now one that says me first, God second. Calvin says we as sinful creatures must act on our strongest desire.
What are the compatibilist vs. free will sides?
The compatibilist side says we must act on our strongest desires. Calvin says this is humankind after the fall. The free will side says we will probably act on our strongest desire, but not necessarily.. Calvin says this was us before the fall.
What is the idea of total depravity?
Since Adam was guardian over all creation, the curse of Adam is over all creation.
what was his idea of common grace?
Common grace is basic reasonable principles from God common to all men.
What is sensus divinitatis?
A sense of the divine, a sense of Gods existence. we naturally believe that God exists. We have to convince ourselves that we dont.
What is the idea of the unregenerate?
Fallen mans desires are always stronger against rather than for God. So fallen or unregenerate man is doomed without help.
What is the idea of special revelation and special grace?
People are elect. Those that God saves are given the specail grace of faith that allows them to confess their sins and be saved by Christ.
What is his idea of limited attonment?
Jesus didn’t die for everyone, just the elect.
