Podcast Summary

In this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 1–6, Calvin introduces the doctrine of Christian liberty and argues that it is essential for understanding the gospel, justification, and the peace of the believer's conscience. He explains that Christian liberty first frees believers from seeking righteousness through the law, directing them instead to Christ alone as their righteousness before God. Second, it frees Christians from the terror of legal bondage so that they may obey God willingly as beloved children rather than fearful slaves. Calvin shows from Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews that the law continues to guide believers in holiness, but it can never serve as the foundation of their acceptance before God. Because believers are accepted by ...