The Role of Good Works - John Calvin

I often say that caricatures of Calvinism are so abundant that it borders on slander.  On the topic of the role of good works, I believe Calvin is second-to-none.  Here is a sampling:

"But though it is by mercy alone that God admits his people to life, yet as he leads them into possession of it by the course of good works, that he may complete his work in them in the order which he has destined  . . .  Hence it appears, that working is not at all opposed to grace, but refers to pursuit . . . There is nothing in the term reward to justify the inference that our works are the cause of salvation . . . Let us not suppose, then, that the Holy Spirit, by this promise, commends the dignity of our works, as if they were deserving of such a reward. For Scripture leaves us nothing of which we may glory in the sight of God. Nay, rather its whole object is to repress, humble, cast down, and completely crush our pride." [1]

He goes on to write, "How often do we meet in Augustine with this expression,—'God crowns not our merits but his own gifts; and the name of reward is given not to what is due to our merits, but to the recompense of grace previously bestowed?'" [2]




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1. Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (1845). Institutes of the Christian religion (Vol. 2, p. 414-418). Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society.
2. Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (1845). Institutes of the Christian religion (Vol. 1, p. 370). Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society.