Reformed Wisdom

On Acts 5:31 (cont.) –

“The statement ‘He has God exalted with his right hand’ is a simile taken form the roles of men in the world and indicates that Jesus Christ is like a viceregent of God his Father to exercise all authority and government over us. Do we wish to show that God rules over us and that we honour him as we should? Then we need to yield to Jesus Christ his Son, our Saviour, whom he has given all power and authority. It is he who wants us to take refuge for reconciliation with himself. In short, our Lord wants to reign over us only in the person of Jesus Christ his Son. It is futile for men to try to serve God and exclude Jesus Christ at the same time. This is manifest idolatry We make of God an idol when we want to honour and serve him other than through Jesus Christ. We must mark this passage well, for it tells us God raised Jesus hi Son to his right hand to make him our Prince and Saviour. That shows, as I have just said, that it is a misguided effort to serve God without acknowledging Jesus Christ as Saviour and Mediator between him and us. That is also John’s testimony: ‘He that does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him’ (John 5:23)” – John Calvin, Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 1-7, 263