Reformed Wisdom

On Acts 5:20 –

“Most people will think that when they hear a sermon on Sunday as a matter of duty, they have done enough. When they return home, instead of discussing, as thy should, what was said in the sermon in order to remember better what was dealt with, they will speak only of unworthy and profane subjects. ‘Not at all! Not at all,’ they will say. ‘That is a heavy subject to think about. Let us not weary our heads with it.’ Still others will be careful not to be offended by the teaching, for with great effort they will come to th sermon once every two months. Consequently, we should not be surprised if men have less understanding and judgment than dumb animals. For animals at least know how to seek the food they need, and men are so wretched they flee from spiritual food, without which they cannot live, although they think they are much at ease in this world. Consequently, we must pay even closer attention to this statement that the gospel is the teaching of life. If we wish to be quickened by God’s power and might and so attain the heavenly kingdom, the gospel must be our doorway. Since God is at work in it and displaying his power through it, it has to be clear to us that there is no other way to come to him. It is certain that we will not enter his kingdom against his will. Only the gospel leads us to him. By it we embrace Jesus Christ, who reconciles us with God. By the gospel, I say, we can come to God and the salvation it promises. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘You are not of God, because you refuse to hear his word’ (John 8:47). Therefore, those who are offended by the hearing of God’s word are already marked for being thrown into the fire of hell” – John Calvin, Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 1-7, 242-243.