Calvin's Institutes. Book II, Chapter 3

This is the post #22 of the Calvin's Institutes summary series.

People sin without fail because their nature is corrupted by sin, but this does not mean they sin against their will (by compulsion). Instead, they all sin because they want to (willingly). That people do good things occasionally or that there are some remarkably virtuous people throughout history does not mean that some people have a "pure" nature or a good will, it only means that God limits the evil people can do. Everything good comes from God, and people can have the good will only by God's grace. This grace both initiates (as to make a new heart) and sustains them in good will and works. We can never say that we, human beings, initiate or co-operate so we can acquire a good will, it's totally by God's grace we receive and continue to have the good will.