Calvin gives an explanation why he orders his discussion or repentance before justification. His reasoning is tied to the distinct yet inseparable nature of justification and sanctification. Both flow from believing with the heart.
This is part of my series on Calvin’s Institutes.
Quote
Although we have already in some measure shown how faith possesses Christ, and gives us the enjoyment of his benefits, the subject would still be obscure were we not to add an exposition of the effects resulting from it.
The sum of the Gospel is, not without good reason, made to consist in repentance and forgiveness of sins; and, therefore, where these two heads are omitted, any discussion concerning faith will be meager and defective, and indeed almost useless.
Now, since Christ confers upon us, and we obtain by faith, both
- free reconciliation and
- newness of life,
reason and order require that I should here begin to treat of both.
The shortest transition, however, will be from faith to repentance; for repentance being properly understood it will better appear how a man is justified freely by faith alone, and yet that holiness of life, real holiness, as it is called, is inseparable from the free imputation of righteousness.
That repentance not only always follows faith, but is produced by it, ought to be without controversy (see Calvin in Joann. 1:13).
For since pardon and forgiveness are offered by the preaching of the Gospel, in order that the sinner, delivered from the tyranny of Satan, the yoke of sin, and the miserable bondage of iniquity, may pass into the kingdom of God, it is certain that no man can embrace the grace of the Gospel without re- taking himself from the errors of his former life into the right path, and making it his whole study to practice repentance. (Calvin, Instit. 3.3.1)
Comment
Normally, when people think of the order of salvation they logically put faith before justification, and justification before [progressive sanctification]. Calvin however, as I have mentioned in a previous post argues justification (here synonymous with forgiveness) and [progressive] sanctification – what he calls repentance/regeneration – are distinct yet inseparable results of faith. Calvin is so comfortable with this idea that he speaks about repentance first (Institutes 3.3.1f) before justification (Institutes 3.11.1f).
Calvin clearly associates the Gospel with salvation. As noted before he has a misunderstanding of the Gospel and faith. I do agree however repentance from sin is a logical consequence of allegiance to Christ as Lord.
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