Calvin's Institutes: January 17

John Calvin's Institutes in a Year · Jan 17, 2026 · 4m

In today’s reading, Calvin delivers one of his most uncompromising critiques of false religion, arguing that any worship not grounded in God’s self-revelation ultimately replaces the true God with demons. Drawing from Paul and Christ Himself, Calvin shows that even sincere or culturally inherited religion is no refuge from error—ignorance of God is still guilt before Him (Ephesians 2:12; John 4:22; 1 Corinthians 2:8). Creation bears real witness to God, but without faith it cannot guide us to Him rightly. The problem is not lack of evidence but human blindness: though God’s glory is…