Here is Part 3 on the Calvin posts:"Now we have a problem to solve. In every age there have been people who, by nature, wanted to lead good lives. Of course, many faults could be found in their behavior, but simply by following virtue they showed the element of purity of characters. Such examples keep us from thinking that the nature of man is totally evil, since some have been outstanding in noble acts as well as behaving with integrity throughout their lives. We must realise that, despite our fallen natures, there is room for divine grace. This grace will restrain the heart inwardly without cleansing it. If the Lord allowed every mind to do exactly what it wanted, it is quite certain that each of us would show our nature to be capable of every crime Paul mentions. Tell me, are you completely innocent of murder and theft? Don't your lips speak deceitful, spiteful things? Aren't your actions often wrong or harmful? Our souls are without God; our inmost beings are sinful; we are devious and malevolent with every part of us capable of lifelong evil (Rom. 3:10-18). If we are at all like this (and the apostle says so clearly) it is easy to see what would happen if the Lord allowed human passion to have its way. No wild beat would rush with such fury, no stream, however rapid and turbulent, would burst its banks so boisterously. God heals the elect of these evil things; others he only restrains so that they do not break out in a way which makes it impossible to maintain law and order.
However much such people disguise their sinfulness, some are held back from action only by shame, others by fear of the law. Some try to live an honest life, thinking it to be in their own interest, while others rise above common folk, so that by dignity of rank they can keep inferior folk in their place. So God, by his providence, curbs the perversity of nature, preventing it from breaking out in action, but not making it inwardly pure" (94-95).
Next time we will look at Calvin's description of "divine grace".
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