Customer Reviews

Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Calvin is the master exegete. Calvin pastors his readers with a glimpse into the eternal purposes of suffering. The author encourages the suffering saint to see that Jesus Christ was the ultimate suffering servant and that our temporal afflictions are sent from God to cause us to rely on Christ and promote obedience, sobriety, righteousness and godliness. The book is a quick, understandable read as it is a distillation of portions of his "Institutes." This work should dispel the false notion that all that interests Calvin is predestination!

How do you review a book such as this one? When I first read this book several years ago, it changed the way I thought and lived the Christian life. Now, rereading it some years later, it reminds me of just how foundational it was in my way of thinking of "the Christian life". Especially in the way it taught me (and others through me who I teach) how important and "normal" is suffering in the true Christian life. It is through suffering God conforms us to the image of Christ.

This is a volume taken from the third volume of 'Calvin's Institutes' and has been incredibly helpful for Christians for over 400 years! One of the things you will find about this book is how extremely easy it is to understand it, as well as practical (in fact it is almost like it was written yesterday). Oftentimes, it is easy to think that a book written originally in the 16th century would be both difficult and impractical! However, this book is biblically crystal clear as well as useful! I have given this book away often and I have only seen growth in those to whom I have given it! May it be a new book for you, or one you buy again for a friend.

This section from Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion makes one hungry for more. Modern writers cannot hold a candle to the depth of Christ-knowledge that our older brothers had. Indeed, we are in a time of spiritual declension. But Calvin, Knox, Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, Asahel Nettleton, and others were "meat", whereas almost all of the latest titles available at the local "Christian" bookstore are mere "dessert"- sweet (sounding), but in the end empty, and unable to satisfy. No substance to them. I will say this as politely as possible: Put away your Max Lucado and your "Left Behind" (false eschatology) and get into God's Word, and then go and see how God taught the ancients. These men were not focused on making men "feel" good about themselves. No Arminian lightweights were they. If you read this booklet, and its content does not resonate within your soul, then you will have reason to fear that you have not learned Christ aright. This booklet is required reading for all in my household. Read it and see why.

May I also recommend www.graceonlinelibrary.org

This thin little book is no lightweight. It's a Trojan horse that delivers timeless substance from the Scriptures on how to think about and live the Christian life. It reaches head and heart, and so is extremely practical--without being a simplistic "how-to" book. I have used it in a number of one-on-one discipling relationships; its small size makes it manageable and appealing to busy people, but God uses its substantive and convicting teaching to affect lives. Buy a copy for yourself and another for someone you care about, and get ready for sharpening discussions.

The Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life is a separate printing of Chapters 6 through 10 of Book III of John Calvin's magnum opus Institutes of the Christian Religion. As these chapters were considered to be among the more practical of Calvin's texts on the Christian life, they were printed separately as early as 1550. They consist mostly of short, pithy sayings on the Christian life. (Calvin at one point even says that brevity is his stock in trade!)

Calvin had a gift for writing short, often hard-hitting, and almost invariably profitable maxims that are also very quotable. To cite just three: "A sincere repentance from the heart does not guarantee that we shall not wander from the straight path and sometimes become bewildered"; "Everyone flatters himself and carries a kingdom in his breast"; and "The cross of Christ triumphs only in the hearts of believers over the devil and the flesh, over sin and wickedness, when they lift their eyes to behold the power of the resurrection."

If Calvin's brevity is a virtue, it's unfortunately also true that the chapters do not always hang together successfully. Occasionally, Calvin makes a jump from one topic to another with little-to-no transition. Modern-day editors have tried to soften this blow by adding section headings and even numeration to indicate changes in focus, but they do not entirely solve the problem. Readers, as well, may find themselves wanting more on a given topic than Calvin provides.

Another weak point is that Calvin tacks back and forth between asking Christians to look to the next life and consider this life of little account, and counseling Christians that they should thank God for this life. Admittedly, this tension dates back at minimum to the apostle Paul, but Calvin seems to be deeply conflicted on this matter. He counsels Christians that they should never hate their earthly lives, which God uses to sanctify and bless them, but he also calls this life "nothing but misery" and counsels Christians to long for death. There's a balance to be obtained here that's not quite in evidence in the Golden Booklet, despite Calvin's valuable instruction.

But such weaknesses do little to diminish the luster of this powerful collection. The Golden Booklet takes Christians on a journey to holiness as expressed through obedience, self-denial, taking up one's cross, living in light of eternity, and rightly living this earthly life. It does not pretend to offer a complete examination of these topics, but what Calvin does do, he does very well. Calvin's classic text -- whether read within the Institutes or as this separate printing -- is highly recommended for all Christians.

The Golden Booklet was first written by John Calvin in 1550. Calvin later included it in the third and subsequent volumes of 'Calvin's Institutes'. It has been an extremely useful tool for over four centuries. The reader will find this book to be particularly easy to understand and sensible. It is biblically clear and valuable.

Calvin urges the reader to apply the Christian life in a balanced manner. The book stresses the importance of an active, Christ centered, Christian life. Chapter topics include earthly things as God's gift, the cross makes us humble, not being anxious to obtain riches and honors, and holiness means full obedience to Christ. The modern Christian will find many applications for living in today's world. The format and division into 38 small sections makes this book a useful daily devotional.

Calvin, in general, was an amazing author with an insight seldom found in modern Christian writing. Many modern Christians avoid his work as above their level, outdated or stuffy. These accounts are untrue and often come from lack of exposure to his works. This book, while substantive and intense, would serve as a wonderful introduction to the writings of Calvin. A wonderful gift to introduce Calvin.

This book is written with sincerety and is heavily weighted in Biblical truth. It weaves together solid intellectual thought with a wholehearted drive for practicality.

Besides being worth its weight in gold, it is actually quite an easy read! This is a true gem pulled out of the period of the Reformation, and highly recommended for Christians of our era!

This is an excellent book for those who are interested in using the mind that God gave them. This is no contemporary "fluff". If you are truely interested in a complete comittment to Christ likeness and life long service to God; READ THIS! Otherwise stay away; it may be too challenging to your comforts.