Description In sixteenth-century France, nothing scared people more than the thought of eternal damnation in hell. And nothing sickened young John Calvin more than seeing people so misled by the powerful Church of the day. Calvin’s careful study of the Bible convinced him that Jesus’ death on the cross is the only payment for eternal life-that salvation is a free gift to all who believe and repent of their sins. Such radical thinking ignited a firestorm of protest from the Church. Powerful officials accused John Calvin of trying to start a new religion-or worse, a new nation with the political power to overthrow the Church! Yet despite their threats-and his own physical ailments-he continued to preach the liberating gospel message that was soon carried around the world.
