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Ordo Solutis) Drawing, Faith, Union with Christ which entails Justification, Regeneration, Adoption
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Calvin: Christ’s Blood Expiated (Satisfied) God for All the Sins of the World
This is our liberty, this our glorying against death, that our sins are not imputed to us. He says that this redemption was procured by the blood of Christ, for by the sacrifice of His death all the sins of the world have been expiated. (CC, on Col. 1:15)75
Calvin: Christ Provided Salvation for All Humanity
We must now see in what ways we become possessed of the blessings which God has bestowed on his only begotten Son, not for private use, but to enrich the poor and needy. And the first thing to be attended to is, that so long as we are without Christ and separated from him, nothing which he suffered and did for the salvation of the human race is of the least benefit to us. (ICR, 3.1.1)
Calvin: The “Many” for Whom Christ Died Is Everyone
We should note, however, that Paul does not here contrast the larger number with the many, for he is not speaking of the great number of mankind, but he argues that since the sin of Adam has destroyed many [all], the righteousness of Christ will be no less effective for the salvation of many [all]. (CC, on Rom. 5:15)
Calvin: The Guilt of the Whole World Was Laid on Christ
I approve of the ordinary reading, that he alone bore the punishment of many, because on him was laid the guilt of the whole world. It is evident from other passages, and especially from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, that “many” sometimes denotes “all” (ibid., on Isa. 53:12).
Calvin: The “Many” Is the Whole Human Race
Mark 14:24 [says,] “This is my blood.” I have already warned, when the blood is said to be poured out (as in Matthew) for the remission of sins, how in these words we are directed to the sacrifice of Christ’s death, and to neglect this thought makes any due celebration of the Supper impossible. In no other way can faithful souls be satisfied, if they cannot believe that God is pleased in their regard. The word “many” does not mean a part of the world only, but the whole human race: he contrasts “many” with “one,” as if to say that he would not be the Redeemer of one man, but would meet death to deliver many of their cursed guilt. It is incontestable that Christ came for the expiation of the sins of the whole world. (EPG, IX.5)
Calvin: Salvation Is Limited in Its Effect, Not in Its Offer
If it is so (you will say), little faith can be put in the Gospel promises, which, in testifying concerning the will of God, declare that he wills what is contrary to his inviolable decree. Not at all; for however universal the promises of salvation may be, there is no discrepancy between them and the predestination of the reprobate, provided we attend to their effect. We know that the promises are effectual only when we receive them in faith, but, on the contrary, when faith is made void, the promise is of no effect. (ICR, 3.24.17)
Calvin: Christ’s Death Is Applied Only to the Righteous (by Faith)
Accordingly, he is called our Head, and the first-born among many brethren, while, on the other hand, we are said to be ingrafted into him and clothed with him, all which he possesses being, as I have said, nothing to us until we become one with him. And although it is true that we obtain this by faith, yet since we see that all do not indiscriminately embrace the offer of Christ which is made by the gospel, the very nature of the case teaches us to ascend higher, and inquire into the secret efficacy of the Spirit, to which it is owing that we enjoy Christ and all his blessings, (ibid., 3.1.1)
Calvin: Salvation Is Applied Only to Those Who Believe
The apostle indicates that the fruits of it do not come to any but to those who are obedient. In saying this he commends faith to us, for neither He nor His benefits become ours unless, and in so far as, we accept them and Him by faith. At the same time he has inserted the universal term “to all” to show that no one is excluded from this salvation who proves to be attentive and obedient to the Gospel of Christ. (CC, on Heb. 5:9)
Calvin: Even the Lost Were Purchased by Christ’s Blood
“It is no small matter to have the souls perish who were bought by the blood of Christ” (MG, 83).
Calvin: No One Is Barred From Salvation
[Paul] had commanded Timothy that prayers should be regularly offered up in the church for kings and princes; but as it seemed somewhat absurd that prayer should be offered up for a class of men who were almost hopeless (all of them being not only aliens from the body of Christ, but doing their utmost to overthrow his kingdom), he adds, that it was acceptable to God, who will have all men to be saved. By this he assuredly means nothing more than that the way of salvation was not shut against any order of men; that, on the contrary, he had manifested his mercy in such a way, that he would have none debarred from it. (ICR, 3.24.16)
Calvin: Christ Suffered for the Sins of the World
“I would they were even cut off.” [Paul’s] indignation increases and he prays for destruction on the imposters by whom the Galatians had been deceived. The word “cut off” seems to allude to the circumcision which they were pressing for. Chrysostom inclines to this view: “They tear the Church for the sake of circumcision; I wish they were cut off entirely.” But such a curse does not seem to fit the mildness of an apostle, who ought to wish that all should be saved and therefore that not one should perish. I reply that this is true when we have men in mind; for God commends to us the salvation of all men without exception, even as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world. (CC, on Gal. 5:12)
When he says “the sin of the world,” he extends this kindness indiscriminately to the whole human race, that the Jews might not think the Redeemer has been sent to them alone. From this we infer that the whole world is bound in the same condemnation; and that since all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God, they have need of reconciliation, (ibid., on John 1:29)
Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004), 382–384.
Edited by Divinesoteriology : March 9, 2010, 4:38 pm
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Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future.
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