Listen and Wake Up! (10): Depart From Babylon! (Isaiah 52:11-12) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Beautiful Old Testament Imagery
II. The Practical New Testament Reality
John Calvin: “When mention is made of our union with God, let us remember that holiness must be the bond of our union. But, this does not mean that we come into communion with Him by the merit of holiness. We ought rather first to cleave to Him, in order that, pervaded with His holiness, we may follow whither He calls. Holiness must be the bond of our union because it greatly concerns His glory not to have any fellowship with wickedness and impurity. Wherefore He tells us that this is the goal of our calling, the goal to which we ought ever to have respect, if we would answer the call of God. For to what end were we rescued from the iniquity and pollution of the world into which we were plunged, if we allow ourselves, during our whole lives, to wallow in them? Besides, we are at the same time admonished, that if we would be regarded as the Lord’s people, we must inhabit the holy city Jerusalem, which, as He hath consecrated it to Himself, it would be impious for its inhabitants to profane it by impurity. Hence the expressions, ‘Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness’ (Psalm 15:1-2; 24:3-4); for the sanctuary in which He dwells certainly ought not to be like an unclean stall” (“The Christian Life,” pp. 4-5).
www.cprf.co.uk/pamphlets/christianlifecalvin.pdf