God the Creator, God the Redeemer:Institutes of the Christian Religion (Pure Gold Classic) [Paperback]

John Calvin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2005

The first two books of John Calvin's Opus Magnum compiled into one book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 584 pages
• Publisher: Bridge-Logos Publishers (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882709275
• ISBN-13: 978-0882709277
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,134,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calvin's Foundation For God-fearing Worship, November 2, 2007

By 

Jacques Schoeman (SA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God the Creator, God the Redeemer:Institutes of the Christian Religion (Pure Gold Classic) (Paperback)

Calvin believed in the continuity between the Testaments, and when he compared the sacramental signs believers experienced under both testaments, he found more cause to justify his assertion. He stated that the Jews 'possessed similar symbols. They were baptized in passing through the sea, and in the cloud that protected them from the burning heat of the sun. It is said, that this passage was a carnal baptism, corresponding in some degree to our spiritual baptism. But if so, there would be a want of conclusiveness in the argument of the apostle, whose object is to prevent Christians from imagining that they excelled the Jews in the matter of baptism, that they did 'all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them - and that Rock was Christ.' 2:10.5
1 Corinthians 10

Calvin, of course, taught that Christ was manifested under the gospel, yet affirmed that Scriptures in the New Testament confirm the typological import of Christ's intercession in the Old Testament. He provided an example: 'when He rained manna from heaven, had not merely supplied their bodies with food, but had also dispensed it as containing a spiritual mystery to typify the spiritual quickening which is obtained in Christ. Wherefore it is surely and clearly proved, that the same promises of celestial and eternal life, which the Lord now gives to us, were not only communicated to the Jews, but also sealed by truly spiritual sacraments.' 2:10.6
'I am the living bread which came down from heaven.' John 6:51

The sacraments of the Lord's Table and baptism into Christ can now clearly be seen as Calvin developed them against the OT backdrop as the type and shadow of sacramental union and communion in Christ.

Further, Calvin clearly did not advocate presumptive grace:
'Wherefore, with regard to the increase and confirmation of faith, I would remind the reader that in assigning this office to the sacraments, it is not as if I thought that there is a kind of secret efficacy perpetually inherent in them, by which they themselves promote or strengthen faith, but because our Lord has instituted them for the express purpose of helping to establish and increase our faith. The sacraments duly perform their office only when accompanied by the Spirit, the internal Master, whose energy alone penetrates the heart, stirs up the affections, and procures access for the sacraments into our souls. If He is wanting, the sacraments avail us no more than the sun shining on the eyes of the blind, or sounds uttered in the ears of the deaf.' 4:14:9

'But we do not rob Him of the merit of confirming and increasing faith; no, rather, we maintain that which confirms and increases faith is nothing else than the preparing of our minds by His internal illumination to receive that confirmation which is set forth by the sacraments...He shows that it is God who there speaks to us, softens our obdurate hearts, and frames them to the obedience which is due to His word. Both word and sacraments, therefore, confirm our faith, bringing under view the kind intentions of our heavenly Father, in the knowledge of which the whole assurance of our faith depends, and by which its strength is increased.' 4:14:10

'The term 'sacrament'...embraces generally all those signs which God has ever enjoined upon men to render them more certain and confident of the truth of His promises.' 4:14:18

In his comment on the two silver trumpets in Numbers 10:8, Calvin further showed the thing signified points further than itself - to God as the true means of empowering grace:
'We must, however, observe the promise, which is inserted, that the Israelites "should be remembered before the Lord," that He should put their enemies to flight; not as if the safety or deliverance of the people was attached to the trumpets, but because they did not go to the battle except in reliance on God's aid. For the reality itself is conjoined with the external symbol, viz., that they should fight under God, should follow Him as their Leader, and should account all their strength to be in His grace.'