The relationship between God and humans

After having sketched briefly the general framework and some key elements of Calvin’s theology, this section attempts to give a closer view of the way he conceived his relationship with God. As in Chapter I, the main theme of this section is the gap between God and humans, which Calvin over accentuated so that it in the temporal-empirical sphere never can be bridged. The following theological insights are discussed: God’s glory versus human sin, the role of the law, Christian freedom and God’s mercy, God’s saving action and the true knowledge of God, the experience of salvation in faith, mystical union and participation in the free eschatological benefits, direct access, and finally, some characteristics of Calvin’s theology of the believers’ situation in statu viae .