Calvin: Institutes Chapers 3.4.1. to 3.4.4.

INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

By
John Calvin

BOOK THIRD.
THE MODE OF OBTAINING THE GRACE OF CHRIST. THE
BENEFITS IT CONFERS, AND THE
EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IT.

CHAPTER 4.
PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION.

3.4.1.

Calvin now turns his attention to what the Roman Catholic church was teaching about repentance. He argued that their view came from certain writers who never truly defined repentance but simply exhorting people "not again to fall into the same faults from which they had been delivered." His greatest critique of their teaching is that although they speak of heart contrition they teach that the cure is external penance and outward ceremonies. These so-called scholastics even present a case where a person can be penitent and not confess their sin and find forgiveness -- repentance without confession!

3.4.2.

This is no small point. The consequence is forgiveness of sins. "If forgiveness of sins depends on the conditions to which they bind it, nothing can be more wretched and deplorable than our situation." They say that due contrition is necessary for forgiveness. But if forgiveness is given on the basis that I have been contrite enough for the offense, I will never have peace of mind. "But when such bitterness of sorrow is demanded as may correspond to the magnitude of the offense, and be weighed in the balance with confidence of pardon, miserable consciences are sadly perplexed and tormented when they see that the contrition due for sin is laid upon them, and yet that they have no measure of what is due, so as to enable them to determine that they have made full payment."

3.4.3.

This aforementioned basis of pardon only drives men to despair or a feigned sense of justice. Calvin had already affirmed in the previous section that repentance is necessary means to forgiveness, but it is not the cause. "Our doctrine was, that the soul looked not to its own compunction or its own tears, but fixed both eyes on the mercy of God alone."

3.4.4.

Those that were not as "Canonists" (experts of Canon law) and the Scholastics (those who mixed theology with philosophy) argued as to the authority of forgiveness. The former said that it existed in God. The Latter said that in included the Church -- forgiveness comes by confessing your sins to a priest. They cannot use the Old Testament priesthood as an example for "all the sacerdotal functions were transferred to Christ, and in him fulfilled and ended (Heb. 7:12). To him alone, therefore, all the rights and honors of the priesthood have been transferred."

Question to Consider

1. This is an important point on all spiritual disciplines. Does God respond to us favorably if we say and do the right things as we pray; as we confess?