Podcast Summary: Renewing Your Mind

Episode: The Necessity Now
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Ligonier Ministries (Nathan W. Bingham)
Speaker: Dr. W. Robert Godfrey

Overview

This episode serves as the concluding message in a series exploring John Calvin’s treatise, The Necessity of Reforming the Church. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey reflects on how Calvin’s insights into church reform remain highly relevant for the contemporary Christian church. The core theme is the ongoing call for Christians to continually return to, study, and be reformed by the Word of God as the only way forward, both for unity and fidelity within the church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Urgency and Necessity of Reform

• Dr. Godfrey recounts Calvin's situation: Reformers were accused of moving "too quickly" and causing division, but Calvin insisted that urgent action was needed due to deep corruption and distortion in the church.
• “Things were so bad we couldn't wait. God's glory was being compromised, Christ's salvation was being obfuscated, the sacraments had been completely distorted and corrupted. Ministers were not doing their work. We had to act and, and so we are unapologetic for that.” — Dr. Godfrey summarizing Calvin [01:35]

2. Charges of Division and Schism

• Calvin and Luther were accused of schism—unnecessary division. Calvin responded by arguing that those who departed from the truth of Scripture had in fact left the church, not the reformers.
• “We have not left the church. Those who have deserted Christ, those who have deserted his Word, they have left the church.” — Dr. Godfrey [05:59]
• The concept of the "seamless robe" of Christ is challenged; church history, Godfrey notes, is full of conflict and division.

3. Church Authorities and Councils: Then and Now

• Calvin rejected submitting to the Pope, labeling him a tyrant whose claim to universal authority was never universally recognized.
• The prospect of a universal, ecumenical council was also dismissed, as such gatherings would falter unless they submitted to Scripture.
• Godfrey observes how the church environment today is fundamentally different: less centralized, less tied to political power, and therefore requiring different approaches to reform [11:25].

4. The Enduring Call: Return to the Word

• Godfrey insists that the only effective path for church reform is a persistent, communal return to study and obey the Scriptures.
• He references Jude 3 and 17 (contend for the faith, beware of divisions from worldly people), John 8, Acts 17:11 (the noble Bereans), and Psalm 81 to show the Bible's consistent call to listen and submit to God’s revealed Word.
• “It's the only objective, reliable statement of the Word of God we have. And that's why we have to keep coming back to it and studying it.” — Dr. Godfrey [14:05]

5. The Communal and Personal Responsibility

• Everyone in the church—not just clergy—has a duty to know, study, and live by the Word of God.
• “On the last day, it will not be enough to say, well, my pastor never told me that, because on the last day the Savior's going to say, did you read My Word? Did you listen to what is to be found there in that word?” — Dr. Godfrey [19:51]

6. Reforming May Involve Difficult Choices

• Congregants should be wary if their church does not encourage study of Scripture; in some cases, true reform may require changing churches.
• “A necessity of reforming the church may mean changing churches. That can be a hard thing, but sometimes it's a necessary thing.” — Dr. Godfrey [21:26]

7. Faithfulness in Weakness

• The podcast concludes with encouragement not to fear weakness or struggle, drawing on Paul’s affirmation that “God’s power is made perfect in weakness.”
• Reference to the remarkable growth of the church in China amidst hardship as a modern example [22:50].
• “We shouldn't be too fearful of the fact that there aren't as many of us who love the Word and want to study the Word and want to follow the Word as we'd like to see. And particularly we have to hold on to the confidence that the only way forward is to stick with the Word.” — Dr. Godfrey [23:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[The church] has never been a seamless robe. There's always been commotion in the life of the church.” — Dr. Godfrey [06:15]
• “The only way to unity, the only way to overcome differences, is to look into the Scripture and study the Scripture. Not just as individuals, but in community.” — Dr. Godfrey [17:35]
• “We have to take responsibility for ourselves... The Savior’s going to say, did you read My Word?” — Dr. Godfrey [19:50]
• “Our call is to be faithful. Our call is to love the Word.” — Dr. Godfrey [23:45]

Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:23] — Historical context for Calvin’s treatise
• [05:10] — Response to accusations of causing division
• [07:45] — The Pope and councils as potential solutions
• [14:00] — The Bible as the recurring foundation for reform and faithfulness
• [17:30] — The communal obligation to study Scripture
• [21:20] — When leaving a church may be necessary
• [22:50] — Paul’s teaching on strength in weakness; recent examples in church history
• [24:07] — Episode reflection and closing remarks

Conclusion

Dr. Godfrey closes by urging listeners to continually study God’s Word, both individually and in community, as the only way to foster genuine unity and reform in the church. He encourages faithfulness, especially in times of perceived weakness, assuring believers that God’s grace and power shine most clearly in such moments.

This episode is essential listening for anyone invested in the health and future of the church, offering historical perspective and deep biblical grounding for approaching reform today.