I like the review of Institutes Book II, chapter 7 and I certainly do not disagree with any of the points made there and in the sebsequent blog entries on this current topic. I do wonder sometimes if we get lost in complex dialog rather than seeking the person of Jesus Christ, however the context is the very complete theology developed by John Calvin so it's hard for the dialog not to get a little complex. I feel that John Calvin brought the Christian church into our current stage in which the grace of God is recognized as paramount for our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This grace is the spiritual blessing Jesus Christ purchased for us by His death and resurrection. In the last blog entry I noted one of the analyses of Book II so far is an interpretation that "Christ died on the cross for those who will be redeamed by faith in Him and not necessarily for the entire human race". I'm not sure that would be my interpretation of what I have read however I'll keep thinking it over for awhile and get back to you if I change my mind. In Book II, chapter 8 there is a nice reference to this grace purchased for us by Jesus Christ as John Calvin reviews the nature and intent of the Law: "Christians are under the law of grace, meaning not that they are to wander unrestrained without law, but that they are engrafted into Christ, by whose grace they are freed from the curse of the Law, and by whose Spirit they have the Law written in their hearts. This grace Paul has termed, but not in the proper sense of the term, a law, alluding to the Law of God, with which he was contrasting it.". I interpret John Calvin's intent here to say that my sins, past/present/future, are covered by the grace that Jesus Christ purchased for me; essentially, God became His creation, mankind, so He personally can provide atonement for my sins. As John and Paul go to some length to point out, this does not permit my life to be one of sin, rather what is the moral law requirements for relationship with God as defined in the Old Testament are now written on my heart. There are a couple of good Old Testament verses that define this so well however I'll leave them out for the intent of brevity. There is always so much to think about in this process, consider Boaz as the "kinsman redeamer" in the Old Testament book of Ruth; this is the image of God, as Jesus Christ, providing the necessary atonement for our sins - something no man or woman is capable of doing themselves. Love, peace and joy.