John Calvin Faith Quotations

If God were not to test us, there would be no patience.

The subject then of these chapters may be stated thus, - man's only righteousness is through the mercy of God in Christ, which being offered by the Gospel is apprehended by faith.

When our faith is tested by suffering "as gold is tried in a furnace" and we depend with confidence on God and rely entirely on his help, we will be granted the most excellent gift of patience and through faith we may victoriously persevere to the end.

When pain and suffering strike, our faith is well founded if it is standing on the promises of God. For all of God's promises have strong confirmation in Christ.

God does not bestow his spirit on his people in order to set aside the use of his word, but rather to render it fruitful.

True faith is ever connected with hope.

Humility is the beginning of true intelligence.

But a faithful believer will in all circumstances mediate on the mercy and fatherly goodness of God.

Things that are seen are temporal; things that are unseen are eternal.

Faith and patience are exceptional virtues in those that suffer. Patience is the fruit and evidence of faith.

Whether each of the faithful has a particular angel assigned him for his defense, I cannot venture certainly to affirm; not one angel only has the care of every one of us, but that all the angels together with one consent watch over our salvation....

It would be the height of absurdity to label ignorance tempered by humility "faith"! (Institutio III.2.3)

Tears that are shed in time of affliction are rarely tears of penitence, but more likely they are shed out of self pity and pain or sorrow.

Prayer doesn't change things - God changes things in answer to prayer.