Calvin points out in his work on justification in the Institutes that, Scripture affirms that “Christ is both righteousness and life, and that the blessing of justification is possessed by faith alone.”
(Inst. 3.14.17)
Faith & Hope
Accordingly, in brief, hope is nothing else than the expectation of those things which faith has believed to have been truly promised by God. Thus, faith believes God to be true, hope awaits the time when his truth shall be manifested; faith believes that he is our Father, hope anticipates that he will ever show himself to be a Father toward us; faith believes that eternal life has been given to us, hope anticipates that it will sometime be revealed; faith is the foundation upon which hope rests, hope nourishes and sustains faith.
(Calvin, Inst. 3.2.42)
The Knowledge of Faith
Calvin says in his Institutes that “the knowledge of faith consists in assurance rather than in comprehension.” Faith, of course, must also comprehend, for it is not a blind faith that we have. What Calvin means, is that faith grasps that which cannot be seen. He says in the same section that, “faith is so far above sense that man’s mind has to go beyond and rise above itself in order to attain it. Even where the mind has attained, it does not comprehend what it feels.” He uses Paul in Ephesians 3:18, 19 to say that faith “is the power to comprehend…what is the breadth and length… and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge”. This knowledge, he says, is lofty and we are “more strengthened by the persuasion of divine truth than instructed by rational proof.” We thus, acknowledge that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:6, 7), and in this we are assured. (See Institutes III.2.14)
The Dangerous Craving for Miracles
Calvin points out quite rightly in his Institutes (Prefatory Address, p. 17, Battles edition) that Satan too, has his miracles which are nothing but deceitful tricks rather than true powers. They are of the kind that lead simple-minded and untutored folk astray. He then says that magicians and enchanters have always been noted for miracles, and idolatry is nourished by these so-called miracles. He concludes with these words,“What shall we say except that it has always been, and ever will be, a very just punishment of God to ‘send to those’ who have not received the love of the truth ‘a strong delusion to make them believe a lie'” (2 Thess. 2:11).
Is it any wonder that many seek miracles today as proof for their faith? What faith can it really be? Faith requires no miracle. Faith “is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Note those words, ‘assurance’ and ‘conviction’. Can God do miracles? Of course he can. Does God do miracles? No doubt he does everyday. But not the miracles the modern seeker of wonders desires. So beware of those who run after signs and wonders. They are not necessary for faith. Rather, if God in his grace should reveal himself in such a way to us, they are cause for worship and submission, for encouragement and endurance of and in the faith.
Sola Fide
Luther’s famous dictum (probably not his exact words-but certainly his conviction) is still true for us today:
“Justification is the article by which the church stands and falls” (justificatio est articulus stantis et cadentis ecclesiae).
Don’t let anything stand in the way of this great point. Don’t add anything to it either. God imputes the righteousness of Christ to us through the instrument of faith only. this is how we are right with God.
Happy Reformation Day!