Joni shares John Calvin’s preface to the French Bible. Jesus’ sacrifice allows his people to be welcomed into fellowship with the Father. Death and sin are defeated forever!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I’ll be upfront: I’m a Calvinist.
John Calvin was a French theologian, a pastor, and a reformer who lived in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the great doctrines of the Bible, and we owe much to his tireless and articulate defense of the Christian faith. He was the first one to translate the Bible into French, and when it was published, John Calvin wrote an eloquent preface in the front. I have long loved these words, and so, from the French Bible, let me quote John Calvin here, and I think you will agree. He writes:
“For, [Jesus Christ] was sold, to buy us back; [he was made] captive, to deliver us; he was condemned, to absolve us; he was made a curse for our blessing, [he became a] sin offering for our righteousness; [he was] marred that we might be made fair; he died for our life; so that by him fury is made gentle, wrath is appeased, darkness turned into light, fear reassured, debts are canceled, labor [is] lightened, sadness [is] made merry, misfortune made fortunate, difficulty [is made] easy, disorder [is] ordered, division united, rebellion subjected, intimidation intimidated, ambush uncovered, assaults assailed, war warred against, vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned, and the abyss sunk into the abyss. [Wow]. [Through Jesus, death was made] dead, mortality made immortal. In short, mercy has swallowed up all misery, and goodness all misfortune. For all these things which were to be the weapons of the devil in his battle against us, and the sting of death to pierce us, are turned for us into exercises which we can turn to our profit. If we are able to boast with the apostle, saying, O hell, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? it is because by the Spirit of Christ promised to the elect, we live no longer, but Christ lives in us. For us, the world is no more, even while our life is in it; but we are content in all things. And we are comforted in tribulation, joyful in sorrow, and abounding in poverty. This is what we should seek in the whole of Scripture: truly to know Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father.” Woah! Oh, my goodness. Again, that is John Calvin's Preface to the French Bible.
And every time I read it, my heart’s filled to overflowing with praise and thanksgiving to my Savior. I mean, just think, just look at all that is ours in Christ! And I especially love the part where John Calvin says that we can turn the weapons of the devil – you know, the ones he uses in battle against us – we can turn those weapons against Satan himself. When he causes mischief, when he brings afflictions for the purpose of demoralizing us, those very weapons we can use as reasons to trust God, believe in his Word, and rely on his promises. All of that – well, it makes Jesus look all the better, and all the more beautiful and powerful.
Yep, every once in a while I like to read this preface that John Calvin wrote back in the 1500s. And although centuries have passed, the freshness and the reality of these wonderful words still inspire my faith. And hey, if you’d like a copy of this preface that John Calvin wrote for the first edition of the Bible in the French language, visit joniradio.org. It’s available there for a download. Again, that’s joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends