Calvin: Institutes Chapers 3.4.11. to 3.4.15.

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.

3.4.11.

Calvin has just articulated the normal means of repentance. He also acknowledges that there are times of corporate repentance. Citing examples in Scripture he says, " Therefore, as often as we are afflicted with pestilence, or war, or famine, or any other calamity whatsoever, if it is our duty to retake ourselves to mourning, fasting, and other signs of guiltiness, confession also, on which all the others depend, is not to be neglected." In addition, he adds, every time we gather for worship in the assembly we ought to acknowledge our sin and unworthiness before our Lord.

3.4.12.

James 5:16 speaks of another confession where we mutually acknowledge our weaknesses and gain the care and counsel of a fellow Christian. Another is where we have injured or violated our neighbor, it is our duty to seek his forgiveness to appease for the wrongdoing.

In Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, it is supposed that the leaders of the Church are granted divine authority to forgive or to keep bound those who repent or in the latter case, do not repent.

"Let every believer, therefore, remember, that if in private he is so agonized and afflicted by a sense of his sins that he cannot obtain relief without the aid of others, it is his duty not to neglect the remedy which God provides for him-viz. to have recourse for relief to a private confession to his own pastor, and for consolation privately implore the assistance of him whose business it is, both in public and private, to solace the people of God with Gospel doctrine."

3.4.13.

Matthew 5:23-24, says, "23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." So we are presented with the principle that if we have offended one or many we ought to make that right before approaching God in worship.

3.4.14.

"The power of the keys has place in the three following modes of confession,-either when the whole Church, in a formal acknowledgment of its defects, supplicates pardon; or when a private individual, who has given public offense by some notable delinquency, testifies his repentance; or when he who from disquiet of conscience needs the aid of his minister, acquaints him with his infirmity."

3.4.15.

The Roman church was teaching that all men and women having reached the age of accountability had to appear before the priest and confess their sins. Failure to do so bars a person from Paradise. " But they say it belongs to the priest to declare who are bound or loosed, and whose sins are remitted or retained; to declare, moreover, either by confession, when he absolves and retains sins, or by sentence, when he excommunicates or admits to communion in the Sacraments."

Questions to Consider

1. How prevalent is confession of sin in your life acknowledged privately, before a trusted believer and publicly?

2. What are the three occasions, according to Calvin, when the power of the keys is to be used?

3. When should people confess all together?

4. What role do pastors have in this?