The next speaker in the mini-conference on John Calvin was Dr. Ligon Duncan. His text was 1 Timothy 1:3-5--the goal of instruction is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith. The practical fruits of godliness. Not just a head knowledge [compare 1 Corinthians 8:1) but transformed and changed by the truth (Romans 12:1-2). Piety is an important idea in Calvin's teaching. The word comes from the Latin pietas and applies to the whole understanding and practice of the Christian life. An experiential love of God as Father plus a fear and reverence of God as Lord. "Religio"--a heart matter, faith joined to fear and reverence. The pious man honors God as his own Father, yet fears/reverences him as Lord. There is a similar idea in classical Roman thinking reflective of the attitude of children toward parents and citizens toward the state. (By the way, the reason why Roman authorities often charged Christians with impiety and atheism was because they did not appropriately respect the state and they had rejected the Roman pantheon). In the NT, the idea of piety is frequently rendered as "godliness." What were the origins of Calvin's teaching on piety? Unlike the "conversion verses" of Augustine and Martin Luther, the biblical text that the Spirit used to convert Calvin is not known because he wrote so little about himself and did not elaborate much on this event. The Calvin scholar Battles speculated it might have been Romans 1:18-25, especially verse 21, because the central theme of Calvin's teachings was honoring God and being thankful to him. In Institutes III:6, the object of the work God is doing in us is to manifest in our lives harmony and agreement between God's righteousness and our obedience, and to confirm us in our adoption as his children. Two more aspects were that a love of righteousness that is foreign to us needs to be instilled, as against antinomianism; a rule is set forth that does not let us wander. The spirit of the current age is against the guiding use of the Law. Calvin highlights God's holiness as a foundation for our own righteous living, a motivation. When we hear mention of our union with God, recall the bond of holiness. We need to cleave to him, infused with his holiness, and then we can follow him. We come to him to become like him, to be conformed, that we might have fellowship with him. Pursue holiness. God's benefits in salvation are another motivation. Since cleansed by Christ, we will not want to get back in the mud. Keep the body of Christ free of spots and blemishes. Philippians 2:12-13. Piety has negative implications in our contemporary thinking; it's a synonym for hypocrisy in the mind of many. Calvin points out our lives are not characterized by perfection but of growth. A progressive sanctification. God is not done with us yet.
A summary of Institutes III:6-10:
1) Self denial
2) Cross bearing
3) Meditation on the future life; animated by a vital hope
4) The use of the present life; moderation in the enjoyment of temporal benefits, industry, thankfulness, cognizance that God is greater than his gifts
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