Calvin on Assurance

John Calvin writing on the assurance of salvation says,

"He alone is truly a believer who, convinced by a firm conviction that God is a kindly and well-disposed Father toward him, promises himself all things on the basis of his generosity; who, relying upon the promises of divine benevolence toward him, lays hold on an undoubted expectation of salvation.....No man is a believer, I say, except him who, leaning upon the assurance of his salvation, confidently triumphs over the devil and death."

Institutes, III.ii.16.

The Cause of Christian Piety

"For, properly speaking we cannot say that God is known where there is no religion or piety.....For this sense of the divine perfections is the proper master to teach us piety, out of which religion springs. By piety, I mean that the union of reverence and love to God which the knowledge of his benefits inspires."

John Calvin

Institutes of the Christian Religion: Book I, Chapter II

I pray that God would give us a deeper knowledge and understanding of the benefits that are in Christ, and that would in turn inspire us to serve Him in humility.

God's Divine Sovereignty

John Calvin writes,

"...unless we are also persuaded that he is the fountain of all goodness, and that we must seek everything in him, and in none but him. My meaning is: we must be persuaded not only that as he once formed the world, so he sustains it by his boundless power, governs it by his wisdom, preserves it by his goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and judgement, bears with them in mercy, shields them by his protections; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from him, and thankfully ascribe to him whatever we receive"

Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 2