Calvin’s view on trying to save your life

25. For he that would save his life shall lose it.

It is a most appropriate consolation, that they who willingly suffer death for the sake of Christ {1 } do actually obtain life; for Mark expressly states this as the motive to believers in dying  —  for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel  —  and in the words of Matthew the same thing must be understood. It frequently happens that irreligious men are prompted by ambition or despair to despise life; and to such persons it will be no advantage that they are courageous in meeting death. The threatening, which is contrasted with the promise, has also a powerful tendency to shake off carnal sloth, when he reminds men who are desirous of the present life, that the only advantage which they reap is, to lose life. There is a contrast intended here between temporal and eternal death, as we have explained under #Mt 10:39, where the reader will find the rest of this subject. {2 }

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26. For what doth it profit a man?

The word soul is here used in the strictest sense. Christ reminds them that the soul of man was not created merely to enjoy the world for a few days, but to obtain at length its immortality in heaven. What carelessness and what brutal stupidity is this, that men are so strongly attached to the world, and so much occupied with its affairs, as not to consider why they were born, and that God gave them an immortal soul, in order that, when the course of the earthly life was finished, they might live eternally in heaven! And, indeed, it is universally acknowledged, that the soul is of higher value than all the riches and enjoyments of the world; but yet men are so blinded by carnal views, that they knowingly and willfully abandon their souls to destruction. That the world may not fascinate us by its allurements, let us remember the surpassing worth of our soul; for if this be seriously considered, it will easily dispel the vain imaginations of earthly happiness.

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{1 } “Ceux qui meurent alaigrement pour Christ”;  — ” those who die cheerfully for Christ.”

{2 } Harmony, vol. 1 p. 472 (See CALVIN “Mt 10:39”).

John Calvin

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Note

After judgment day: The bible speaks about some who would come to heaven but having the majority coming to live on earth.

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Preceding

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 16:13-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Building a Hades-Proof Congregation

Matthew 16:21-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Think God’s Thoughts

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Demanding signs or denying yourself

To follow Christ

Every one who would be Jesus his follower must sacrifice himself

Calvin’s view on taking up the cross

 

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Read also

1. I Can’t Believe That (1) … God would send anyone to hell
2. Mortal Soul and Mortal Psyche #2 Psyche, the word

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3. Finding your spirituality is the key for True Wisdom
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