Calvin: Institutes Chapers 3.5.3. to 3.5.8.

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 5.
OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTING SATISFACTION-VIZ. INDULGENCES AND PURGATORY.

3.5.3.

Continuing his attack on the heresy of indulgences and purgatory, Calvin quotes a Roman bishop, Leo: “Although the death of many saints was precious in the sight of the Lord (Ps. 116:15), yet no innocent man’s slaughter was the propitiation of the world . . . except Christ our Lord, in whom alone all are crucified—all dead, buried, and raised up.” The vulgarity of the false doctrine is expressed by Calvin. Imagine thinking that the death of a martyr could contribute toward the remission of sin and appeasement of God’s wrath? “He alone ought to be preached, alone held forth, alone named, alone looked to, whenever the subject considered is the obtaining of the forgiveness of sins, expiation, and sanctification.”

The death of these martyrs was not in vain. No, even in death they glorified Christ and became a means of encouraging the Church. But not one drop of their blood could atone for sin.

3.5.4.

These heretics maliciously misuse Paul’s statement from Colossians 1:24,

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

“. . . those afflictions with which the members of Christ, in other words, all believers, behave to be exercised, so long as they are in the flesh.” These sufferings are for the Church in the sense they encourage and edify God’s people. “Far be it from us to imagine that Paul thought any thing was wanting to the sufferings of Christ in regard to the complete fulness of righteousness, salvation, and life, or that he wished to make any addition to it, after showing so clearly and eloquently that the grace of Christ was poured out in such rich abundance as far to exceed all the power of sin (Rom. 5:15).”

3.5.5.

There is really on two choices here. Either the Gospel is wrong, or the indulgences are wrong. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 reminds us:

²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3.5.6.

Purgatory is no stumbling block to those who know the Gospel. The Gospel dismantles this false doctrine to the core. “For what is this purgatory but the satisfaction for sin paid after death by the souls of the dead? Hence when this idea of satisfaction is refuted, purgatory itself is forthwith completely overturned. But if it is perfectly clear, from what was lately said, that the blood of Christ is the only satisfaction, expiation, and cleansing for the sins of believers, what remains but to hold that purgatory is mere blasphemy, horrid blasphemy against Christ?”

3.5.7.

These false theologians try to twist the words of Jesus when He spoke of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, “[You sin] will not be forgiven either in this world or the world to come.” But surely this is a hyperbole. Rather than saying that one’s sins will never be forgiven, He amplifies His statement to make an impression. It does not mean that some sins will be forgiven in the next world.

They also try to see purgatory in Matthew 5:25-26. But as Calvin says, “But if every man sees that Christ there intended to show to how many perils and evils those expose themselves who obstinately insist on their utmost right, instead of being satisfied with what is fair and equitable, that he might thereby the more strongly exhort his followers to concord, where, I ask, are we to find their purgatory?”

3.5.8.

Another passage that the Romanists use is in Philippians 2:10 that refers to things “under the earth”. “They take it for granted, that by “things under the earth,” cannot be meant those who are doomed to eternal damnation, and that the only remaining conclusion is, that they must be souls suffering in purgatory.”

They also try to draw strength from the Apocrypha to support their conclusions, but again this is in vain.

Questions to Consider

1. What does the practice of offering indulgences do to the redemption of Christ?

2. What destroys the notion of purgatory before it is even discussed?

3. Could the idea of purgatory be a trifle not worth discussing at all?