[ksen]

Ok, so far in chapter 1 we have:

1) Man can only know God by knowing himself;
2) Man can only know himself by knowing God;
3) Sin hinders Man from truly knowing God, and thus from truly knowing himself.

Does all that sound fair?

Now, the question is, does our sin nature COMPLETELY stop us from coming to know God, or does it merely HINDER us?

[Jean Chauvin]

I would probably drop the "only".

Calvin does not say that one can "only" know God by himself.

Likewise, Calvin does not say that one can "only" know himself by knowing God.

He simply says that true knowledge of God will lead one to true knowledge of himself and that true knowledge of himself will lead him to true knowledge of God.

Jean

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Fallen man not only does not seek God, he flees from Him. He's not semi-fallen or quasi-fallen; he's toast.

Through God's gracious gift of regeneration we are born again, desiring only to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

At the center of that gift is Christ's sacrifice on the cross, wherein He suffered in our place, and washed our sins away forever.