Calvin 1

Overview of Calvin's Doctrine of Redemption

The Human Condition After the Fall

  • Man's Estrangement from God: After the Fall, humanity is viewed as having lost its innate goodness. Man is described as being half alive with a corrupt nature, where the mind, judgment, and awareness of the divine remain, but these qualities are tainted by sin.

  • Augustine's Influence: Calvin stresses Augustine's belief that human nature was severely corrupted post-Fall, which fundamentally affects man's ability to achieve righteousness without divine intervention.

  • The Nature of Sin: Calvin argues that the heart and mind of man are so corrupted that they can produce nothing but sinful thoughts and actions, characterizing them as inherently impious and deceitful.

The Role of the Mediator, Christ

  • Need for Redemption: The original dignity of humanity is deemed unprofitable until God, through Christ, acts as the Redeemer. This act restores the relationship between God and man.

  • Knowledge of God Through Christ: The only way to know God after the Fall and restore the relationship is through faith in Christ as the Mediator. This knowledge is essential for salvation and is characterized as the only true understanding of God.

  • Christ as the Door: Calvin emphasizes that access to salvation is solely through Christ, asserting no worship is pleasing to God if it is not directed towards Him. The law prior to Christ was inadequate for salvation, which is ultimately found in faith in Christ.

The Old Covenant and Christ

  • Faith in the Old Covenant: The Old Testament is viewed as ultimately incomplete without Christ. Even the sacrifices and laws of the Old Covenant directed the faithful towards the coming Redeemer.

  • Covenantal Relationship: God's covenant with Abraham and the descendants is seen as still effective, with Christ being the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.

  • Prophetic Assurance: Calvin quotes various prophets (Ezekiel, Isaiah) affirming that the restoration of God's people hinges on David's lineage, prefiguring the coming of Christ as the ultimate hope for salvation.

The Law's Purpose

  • The Function of the Law: The law serves multiple purposes: it guides the moral conduct of believers, reveals the righteousness of God, and shows humanity's failure to adhere to it, thereby leading believers to seek grace through Christ.

  • Three Uses of the Law:

    1. Curb: It restrains evil in society by instilling fear of punishment.

    2. Mirror: It reflects the righteousness of God and reveals human sinfulness. This function drives believers to recognize their need for redemption.

    3. Guide: It instructs the regenerate in living according to God's will and encourages holiness in their lives.

Conclusion on the Law and Faith

  • The Law's Abrogation: Although the law is no longer binding as a means of achieving righteousness (it can only condemn), it still educates and guides believers in their spiritual journey.

  • Role of Grace: The necessity of Christ's mediation highlights the importance of grace in achieving salvation, as the law on its own can neither save nor justify.

  • Holistic Understanding of Redemption: Calvin concludes that the understanding of God and salvation through Christ must integrate the teachings of the law alongside the promise of grace, emphasizing that true faith leads to embracing Christ as the sole Mediator for reconciliation with God.