Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001289A
00:01 [It Is Written Theme]
00:08 >: It has stood the test of time. 00:13 God's book, the Bible; 00:18 still relevant in today's complex world. 00:23 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:36 [sounds of thunder] 00:43 [Serene melody] 00:53 JB: This is It Is Written. 00:54 I'm John Bradshaw. 00:56 Thanks for joining me. 00:57 If you live in the western world in the 21st century, the chances 01:01 are you enjoy a certain amount of religious freedom. 01:05 You're free to go to church, if you want to; or not, 01:08 if you don't want to. 01:10 You can believe the Bible to be your sacred text or the Koran or 01:14 the Bhagavad Gita or something else, 01:16 or you can ignore them all. 01:18 You can be a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Atheist, 01:23 whatever you please. 01:25 You can be because you experience, you enjoy, 01:29 religious freedom. 01:31 But it hasn't always been that way. 01:34 Think with me for a few minutes about where that religious 01:37 freedom has come from. 01:40 I'm in Geneva, Switzerland, at the site of the International 01:43 Monument to the Protestant Reformation, otherwise known 01:46 as the Reformers Wall. 01:48 It was completed in 1909, the 400th anniversary of the 01:53 birth of John Calvin, the great Reformer who helped to make 01:57 the city of Geneva famous. 01:59 And if you look at the Reformers Wall, across the top you see a 02:04 certain phrase written in Latin: post tenebras lux. 02:10 After darkness, light. 02:13 And it was people like John Calvin who helped to cause light 02:16 to shine into a world that until then had been full of darkness. 02:22 In the Middle Ages, the Roman church, the Vatican City, 02:25 was the ruling, dominant religious power in the world, 02:29 and at that time there was nothing that really 02:32 resembled religious freedom. 02:35 Now, you were free to believe in God, 02:37 you were free to believe certain teachings, 02:39 as long as your beliefs and the teachings of the church 02:44 were on the same page. 02:46 If your views and the church's views digressed or diverged, 02:51 you could be in real trouble. 02:53 It could even cost you your life. 02:56 That's where people like John Calvin came in. 02:59 Gripped with a conviction that the Word of God should be the 03:03 basis for a person's faith, they clung to the Word of God, 03:07 believed the Word of God, they taught the Word of God, 03:11 and the world would never be the same again. 03:14 And you, as a result, have religious freedom today. 03:22 This beautiful city, nestled on the shores of a spectacular 03:25 lake, would prove to be a refuge for faithful worshipers of God 03:29 throughout Europe, who fled their native lands so they could 03:32 honor the Bible and the convictions of their hearts. 03:37 And more than anyone else, the man who made this possible 03:40 was John Calvin, one of the greatest 03:43 of the Protestant Reformers. 03:45 Our story starts with him. 03:51 John Calvin was born about 60 miles outside the city of Paris 03:55 in France. 03:56 He was the first of four children in his family to 03:59 survive infancy, and his father was determined that he was going 04:02 to have a son or sons who would study for the priesthood. 04:06 John was a bright boy. 04:08 At just the age of 12 he was given a position 04:10 of responsibility by a local bishop. 04:12 And not long after, he was enrolled in university 04:16 to study philosophy and to prepare 04:18 for the priesthood. 04:20 But his father got the idea that John could make a whole lot more 04:22 money as a lawyer, so John changed directions and he 04:26 enrolled again, this time to study law at a different 04:29 college, in the year 1529. 04:33 John loved the ancient classics, so he studied ancient Greek, 04:38 and although he might not have realized it at the time, 04:40 it prepared him for later understanding in a profound way 04:44 the writings in the New Testament. 04:48 But God had something other than a legal career in mind for young 04:52 John Calvin. 04:54 In 1533, he met Jesus for the first time, in a dramatic 04:59 conversion experience. 05:01 Reading his personal accounts of what happened, it appears that a 05:04 long process of inner turmoil eventually led him to a sudden 05:08 and total commitment to God as the Lord of his life and the 05:12 arranger of his plans. 05:15 It was about this time that the spirit of the Protestant 05:17 Reformation, which had already begun with Martin Luther in 05:20 Germany, began to stir in John's heart. 05:24 As a result, he chose to leave the Roman Catholic church. 05:30 You know, God will do that in a person's life. 05:32 We make plans and have ideas and we're looking forward to the 05:35 future, and then God intervenes and changes our direction. 05:39 Sometimes that can come as a real surprise, particularly 05:42 when it happens in your spiritual life. 05:44 I was born into a certain faith, I discovered certain things, 05:48 my friend brought me to this church. 05:50 But then God reveals to you that He didn't bring you to where you 05:54 are to stay forever, but he brought you 05:56 to where you are so that you could learn enough 05:59 to prepare you to move on and grow spiritually. 06:02 And that's important. 06:04 Now, in life generally it's right to make plans, it's right 06:07 to have ideas and a direction for your future; but what's even 06:10 more right is to submit your plans and ideas and your 06:14 direction to God, because God may have another way. 06:18 It might even be a better way. 06:20 John Calvin found out that God's way was better, but certainly 06:25 that God's way was more challenging. 06:28 But submitted to God, Calvin lived the life 06:31 God wanted him to live. 06:33 And when we do that, we discover it's by far 06:36 a more rewarding life. 06:39 Then, in mid-October of 1534, something happened that altered 06:44 John Calvin's life. 06:47 A group of overzealous Protestants went around Paris 06:50 posting placards attacking various Roman Catholic teachings 06:54 and practices. 06:55 They meant well enough, inasmuch as they thought they were doing 06:58 something for the truth. 07:00 But it was a foolish act that caused Catholic authorities 07:03 around France to react violently. 07:06 As a result, Calvin fled to Basil in Switzerland, a city 07:10 with strong Protestant leanings. 07:14 It isn't easy to know just how much damage was done to the work 07:17 of the gospel by the posting of those placards in Paris. 07:21 Evidently somebody didn't understand that even zeal for 07:24 God really ought to be guided by the Holy Spirit and wisdom. 07:29 Somebody succeeded in stirring a whole lot of anger, but God was 07:33 no doubt more interested in stirring up hearts. 07:37 That act of misguided enthusiasm set back the work of Reform. 07:42 In fact, it no doubt had a negative impact on the future 07:46 history of the nation of France. 07:50 So, John Calvin had moved into Switzerland, and today in 07:54 Switzerland his image is etched in stone. 07:57 Now, for his image to be etched in stone, you know that 07:59 something pretty remarkable had to have happened. 08:02 And we'll find out what that was in just a moment. 08:08 >: You are watching the weekly It Is Written program with 08:10 Pastor John Bradshaw, but did you know that 08:13 there's a daily program, too? 08:15 Every Word is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 08:18 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed especially 08:22 for busy people like you. 08:23 Look for Every Word on selected networks, or watch it online 08:27 every day on our website, ItIsWritten.com. 08:30 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 08:32 Watch Every Word. 08:34 You'll be glad you did. 08:38 [Rythmic Melody] 08:45 JB: There's a beautiful verse in the last chapter of the 08:47 book of Daniel that shows us what a high value God places on 08:50 people sharing their faith in God with others. 08:53 It says in Daniel 12:3, "They that turn many to 08:56 righteousness will shine as the stars for ever and ever." 09:01 God says there's a special eternal blessing, or quality, 09:04 about those who put an emphasis on winning souls to Christ. 09:07 And it's something everyone can do. 09:09 That is, we can take the opportunities God brings to us 09:12 to share our faith with others. 09:14 Who is there in your life who might need to hear the good news 09:17 of salvation through Jesus? 09:19 Look for the opportunities God brings to you. 09:21 You can even pray that God would bring opportunities to you. 09:24 Everyone you come in contact with is a potential soul for the 09:27 kingdom of heaven, and those who win souls will shine forever. 09:32 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 09:34 Let's live today by every word. 09:39 JB: This is It Is Written. 09:40 I'm John Bradshaw. 09:41 Thanks for joining me today. 09:43 It was while he was living in Basil, Switzerland, during the 09:46 year 1536 that John Calvin published the first edition of 09:50 his signature work, "Institutes of the Christian Religion." 09:54 It was a hugely influential book and it's still read by theology 09:57 students today. 09:59 In a large degree, it outlined the theological positions taken 10:02 by the major Protestant Reformers of that time, and one 10:05 of the key subjects in the book is the subject of justification 10:09 by faith alone; a major tenant of the Protestant Reformation 10:13 and a doctrine that drove Protestantism forward. 10:17 It wasn't long after this that Calvin returned briefly to 10:20 France, where his brother was in the process of settling their 10:23 late father's financial affairs. 10:26 But the persecution of the Protestants was in full force in 10:29 France just then, and so it was clear to John that he had no 10:32 future in that country if he was to keep true to his faith. 10:36 For a short time he fled to the city of Strasbourg, which then 10:40 was on the border between France and the German states of the 10:43 Holy Roman Empire. 10:45 But due to both German and French pressure, Calvin was soon 10:49 forced out of Strasbourg. 10:51 Making a detour to the south, he ended up in Geneva. 10:55 He'd only planned to stay one night in that city, 10:58 but William Farrell, a fellow French Reformer 11:01 who lived in Geneva, begged Calvin to stay. 11:04 And so he did. 11:06 The city of Geneva would never be the same again. 11:10 Calvin's early experience in Geneva was a rocky one. 11:14 Disagreements with other Protestants, together with the 11:16 unease of the Geneva city councilmen who wanted a closer 11:20 relationship with France, ended with Calvin and William Farrell 11:24 fleeing to Basil, where Calvin had taken refuge once before. 11:29 Soon he was invited to return to Strasbourg and take up the 11:32 position of pastor at a new Protestant church there. 11:36 The city welcomed John to his new position, which he held from 11:38 1538 to 1541. 11:41 Now, in 1541 the city leaders of Geneva came to the conclusion 11:45 that they'd been wrong to force John Calvin to leave. 11:49 Church attendance was down, political tensions had not 11:52 eased, and disputes within Protestant circles 11:55 were growing more serious. 11:57 So the city council decided to ask Calvin to come back. 12:01 But he wasn't interested, at all. 12:04 He wrote in reply, "Rather would I submit to death a hundred 12:09 times than to that cross on which I had to perish daily 12:13 a thousand times over." 12:16 But true to his character, the great Reformer 12:19 was determined to follow the Lord's leading, 12:21 even if it didn't promise to be pleasant. 12:24 So Calvin came back from Strasbourg to Geneva on 12:27 September 13, 1541, with an official escort 12:30 and a wagon for his family. 12:33 Calvin was one of those men who realized that God sometimes 12:35 brings responsibilities that promise more pain than pleasure. 12:40 With the cause and the work of God being the most important 12:43 thing in his life, he was willing to sacrifice his energy, 12:47 his talents, and even his peace of mind all because he believed 12:51 God was guiding him. 12:54 Calvin's life in Geneva was often hard. 12:58 He had few if any worldly possessions. 13:01 His house and his furniture were owned by the city council, 13:04 though the home was large enough to accommodate both John's 13:06 family and that of his brother. 13:09 In 1545, John's wife, Idalette, gave birth to a son, 13:13 who died soon after. 13:15 Four years later, Ida Litt also fell ill and died. 13:20 John Calvin was heartbroken, as you'd expect. 13:23 He later wrote of his sorrow. 13:24 He said, "I've been bereaved of the best friend of my life, 13:30 of one who had it been so ordained would willingly 13:33 have shared not only my poverty but also my death. 13:37 During her life, she was the faithful helper of my ministry. 13:41 From her I never experienced the slightest hindrance." 13:46 John Calvin never did remarry, but the Lord gave him true 13:49 friends who kept close to his side for the rest of his life. 13:53 Among them were William Farel, Nicholas Cop, and Martin 13:56 Luther's young protégé, Philip Melanchto. 14:01 Calvin and the officials of Geneva put together a list of 14:04 reforms for the city, mainly as a means of distinguishing the 14:07 authority of the Church from that of the civil government. 14:11 Now this would often prove to be a difficult relationship, 14:15 but most of his efforts were directed toward establishing 14:18 order within the Church and in nurturing the faith that had 14:22 spawned the Reformation. 14:24 It is said that Calvin preached as many as 2,000 sermons 14:29 during his stay in Geneva. 14:31 Many of his sermons lasted at least an hour, and he never 14:34 preached with notes. 14:36 He was a man of deep learning and vast biblical knowledge. 14:41 But, John Calvin wasn't without his faults. 14:45 His understanding of the Bible included some surprising errors. 14:50 Calvin taught what became known as the Doctrine of 14:54 Predestination, the idea that God has decided in advance 14:58 who's going to be saved and who is going to be lost 15:01 and there's nothing you can do about it. 15:03 Now, it's hard to fathom how a man of Calvin's learning could 15:06 believe predestination, when there are texts in the Bible 15:10 like these: "For God so loved the world 15:13 that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever 15:17 believes in him should not perish 15:19 but have everlasting life." 15:20 That's John 3 verse 16. 15:22 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 15:25 as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, 15:29 not willing that any should perish 15:32 but that all should come to repentance." 15:35 2 Peter 3 verse 9. 15:37 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." 15:41 Matthew 24 and verse 13. 15:44 "The spirit of the Bride say come, and let him who hears say 15:47 come, and let him who thirsts say come, and whoever desires, 15:51 let him take of the water of life freely." 15:54 Revelation 22 verse 17. 15:57 It's hard to read these verses and come away with the idea that 16:00 God has arbitrarily chosen some to be saved 16:03 and others to be lost. 16:05 The verses found in this book, the Bible, give every indication 16:08 that salvation is not only available to everybody, but that 16:11 somebody can in fact lose their salvation. 16:15 But unfortunately, that's what John Calvin believed. 16:18 And it hurt his influence with many people who otherwise might 16:22 have accepted his convictions. 16:25 Now, sometimes Calvin used the power of civil authority in 16:29 Geneva to punish those who disagreed with him 16:32 or threatened his power. 16:34 There was one man by the name of Jacques Gruet, who was accused 16:37 of plotting against Calvin's authority. 16:39 He was even subjected to torture 16:42 as a means of getting him to confess was he'd done. 16:45 He was later condemned to death and beheaded 16:48 with Calvin's consent, on July 26, 1547. 16:52 Now, perhaps the most famous example of Calvin's misuse of 16:55 power was in the case of Michael Servetus, 16:59 a Spanish physician and theologian who disagreed on 17:02 Calvin on doctrines such as the Trinity and infant baptism. 17:05 He'd already been sentenced to death by burning at the stake in 17:08 the city of Vienna, Austria, but he escaped. 17:12 On his way to Italy, he stopped in Geneva and he was arrested 17:16 and tried for heresy. 17:18 On October 20, 1553, Servetus was condemned for his beliefs by 17:22 the city council of Geneva, and the following day he was again 17:26 sentenced to be burned at the stake. 17:29 It was October 27, 1553, when this terrible sentence 17:35 was carried out. 17:36 [somber music] 17:41 ♪ I fear no foe, ♪ ♪ with Thee at hand to bless; ♪ 17:52 ♪ Ills have no weight, ♪ ♪ and tears no bitterness. ♪ 18:03 ♪ Where is death's sting? ♪ ♪ Where, grave, thy victory? ♪ 18:14 ♪ I triumph still, if Thou ♪ ♪ abide with me. ♪ 18:48 JB: If you're looking for the security of salvation, 18:50 let me suggest that you call and request today's free book, 18:54 "Steps to Christ." 18:55 This book will help you in your daily walk with Jesus. 18:59 Please call or write us and "Steps to Christ" will be 19:02 on its way to you. 19:04 There's no cost and no obligation, 19:06 it's our free gift to you. 19:09 Just call 1 (800) 253-3000 and ask for the book 19:13 "Steps to Christ." 19:15 The lines are open 24 hours daily. 19:18 They may be busy, so please do keep trying. 19:20 You may also request this free book by writing to 19:23 It Is Written, P.O. Box 6, 19:26 Chattanooga, TN 37401, and we'll mail a copy to your 19:30 address in North America. 19:33 For immediate access, you can download a free electronic 19:35 version of the book "Steps to Christ" from our website, 19:38 ItIsWritten.com. 19:41 It Is Written is a faith-based ministry made possible 19:45 by viewers like you. 19:47 If you wish to help the worldwide outreach of 19:49 It Is Written, your tax-deductible 19:51 gift may be sent to the same address, or you can make a gift 19:54 online at ItIsWritten.com. 19:58 Thank you for your correspondence and for your 20:00 continued support. 20:12 Planning for your financial future is a vital aspect of 20:14 Christian stewardship. 20:16 For this reason, It Is Written is pleased to offer free planned 20:19 giving and estate services. 20:21 For information on how we can help you, please call 20:24 1 (800) 992-2219. 20:27 To receive additional material on the advantages of life income 20:31 plans, such as a charitable gift annuity which can provide you 20:34 with tax benefits and income for life, call today 20:38 or visit our special website, www.HisLegacy.com. 20:44 You can also write to It Is Written, Planned Giving and 20:47 Trust Services, Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359. 20:52 Our toll-free number again, 1 (800) 992-2219, 20:57 and our web address www.HisLegacy.com. 21:07 [Folk tune] 21:19 JB: John Calvin's shortcomings, his errors, if you like, 21:22 reveal to us a couple of very important things. 21:25 One is that God uses flawed, imperfect people 21:29 to get His work done. 21:31 And God will use who He has to use, 21:33 those who are willing to be used by Him. 21:36 Another thing Calvin's experience teaches us is, 21:40 as profoundly important as the Reformation was, 21:42 as outstanding as the Reformers themselves were, 21:46 the work of the Reformation is not over. 21:49 There's still work that needs to be done. 21:53 The Bible tells us in Acts 17 verse 30, 21:56 that God winks at the times of our ignorance. 21:59 We also read in the epistle of James that 22:02 "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, 22:06 to him it is sin." 22:07 James 4:17. 22:10 In the book of Proverbs, the wise man declares, 22:13 "But the path of the just is like the shining sun 22:16 that shines even brighter unto the perfect day." 22:20 Proverbs 4:18. 22:22 The work of the Protestant Reformation is not over, 22:25 it still needs to be finished. 22:28 God doesn't hold men and women accountable for believing 22:31 or doing wrong when they don't know better. 22:34 The God of Scripture is infinitely fair in His judgment 22:39 of every case. 22:41 [Pensive Melody] 22:46 Geneva and Lake Geneva are especially beautiful, but during 22:50 the Reformation people flocked here not because of the beauty 22:53 of the area but because of the protection it provided from the 22:56 wrath of the established Church. 22:58 Now true, there were disputes from time to time among the 23:00 refugees who came here, but that didn't stop people from many 23:05 lands from seeking shelter here. 23:07 Shelter from a storm of persecution that raged 23:11 throughout Europe. 23:14 The natural fortifications of this community, 23:17 the towering Alps and rugged terrain, gave an 23:21 added protection to Geneva and to the rest of Switzerland when 23:25 foreign powers threatened their security. 23:28 When the French king Louis XIV reopened persecution of French 23:32 Protestants in 1685, the city of Geneva was quick to invite and 23:37 welcome all who sought refuge. 23:40 The faithful, Bible-believing Waldenses also found a home here 23:44 in a time of crisis. 23:46 More than a hundred years after John Calvin's death, the Alpine 23:51 valleys where the Waldenses had lived for centuries were stolen 23:55 by their enemies. 23:57 These faithful Christians saw their possessions plundered 24:01 and most of their people slaughtered. 24:04 The 12,000 or more who survived were thrown into prison, 24:08 most of them destined to die there. 24:18 Those who were released were not permitted to return 24:22 to their native valleys in northern Europe, 24:24 they were expelled from Italy even though the mountain 24:28 passes out of Italy were clogged with heavy snow. 24:32 It was, after all, late December. 24:35 But those 3,000 decided that they had to get to Geneva. 24:40 So they braved the brutal weather, they trudged through 24:43 the snow, and they made it. 24:46 They made it here, and what a welcome they received. 24:50 It is said that half of the city of Geneva turned out 24:54 to welcome them. 24:56 And they received food and clothing 24:58 and medical care and shelter. 25:01 They received just about every kind of hospitality 25:04 you could imagine. 25:05 Heroes they were, they risked their lives 25:09 for one thing: They had to get to the place 25:13 where they could embrace the Bible and live their faith. 25:17 They had to get to the place where they would be free 25:20 to worship the God that loved them so. 25:23 They were driven by that. 25:25 They had to get to that place. 25:29 You know, it reminds me of Proverbs 18 and verse 10, 25:31 which says, "The name of the Lord 25:34 is a strong tower. 25:35 The righteous runneth into it and is safe." 25:40 Jesus is that safe place for you and me. 25:44 These brave souls had to get to Geneva, 25:47 this wonderful city that opened its arms 25:49 and embraced them, protected them, and kept them. 25:52 In the same way, we have to get to Jesus. 25:55 He's our safety, He's our hope. 25:59 These hardy, brave heroic souls demonstrated that truth matters. 26:03 It matters what you believe. 26:05 And it matters that you live what you believe. 26:08 So, how is it with you, friend? 26:10 Are you living what you believe. 26:12 You know Jesus is the Savior of all the world, 26:14 but are you living that belief? 26:16 You know the Bible is the Word of God, 26:18 but are you living that belief? 26:19 You know that God will forgive your sins and on top of that 26:23 give you a new heart that will keep you from going back into 26:26 the old ways, but are you living that? 26:29 You can live that today. 26:30 In fact, God can do that work and live that in you. 26:36 It's what He wants to do; it's what He delights to do; 26:40 it's what He will do, when you let Him do it. 26:43 Let's pray together now, shall we? 26:45 Our father in heaven, we are thankful for Jesus, 26:48 our example in all things. 26:50 We're thankful too for the example of the Reformers 26:54 and the brave souls who emulated them 26:56 and followed their lead and were faithful and true 26:59 to the teachings of the Bible. 27:01 You've given us Your Word to keep us, inform us, and guide us 27:05 down in what we believe to be the closing days 27:07 of this earth's history. 27:09 So let that work be done. 27:11 You know we are weak, but You've promised 27:13 that Your strength is made perfect in weakness, 27:17 and You've promised that the One who has begun 27:19 a good work in us is faithful to perform it 27:21 to the day of Jesus Christ. 27:23 Fill us with Your faith, Your Spirit and Your love, 27:26 we pray. 27:28 In Jesus' name. 27:30 Amen. 27:35 [Tender music] 27:48 JB: Thanks for joining me today. 27:49 I look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:51 Until then, remember, It is written, 27:55 man shall not live by bread alone, 27:59 but by every word that proceeds 28:02 from the mouth of God. 28:03 ♪ [Closing Theme] ♪ |
Revised 2015-06-18