Exercise 2C

Understanding the reformed faith:

Calvin and Justification by Faith

Aims:

1. To better understand the doctrine of 'justification by faith'

2. To grasp more of Calvin's teaching on the doctrine.

3. To learn how to communicate this doctrine more clearly

Method:

1. Do the Bible study below together on Galatians 3:1-14, and interact with Calvin's thoughts on justification

2. Work on in pairs how you might communicate this doctrine (to children], using 'Calvin's catchwords'

Galatians 3:1-14 (with frequent reference to Calvin!)

For starters

1. Can you think of an occasion when you really tried to pull out all the stops to impress someone or win their favour? Did it work?

Did Harry Potter cast one of his spells on you...!?

2. Read Gal 3:1-5. What 'spell has been cast' on the Galatians? (cf 1:6-7)

3. Why is Paul so astonished? Vv2-5

4. Read vv6-12.  'clearly portrayed' in v1 connotes the idea of the gospel being posted on a public bulletin board so that all can see and there can be no misunderstanding.

What example does Paul go on to use to 'underline' the clarity of the gospel? Why?

After His action,...satisfaction

5 a. Why can we not be saved by law-keeping?

Calvin said: "No one can descend into himself and seriously consider who he is without feeling God's wrath and hostility toward him. Accordingly, he must anxiously seek ways and means to appease God -and this demands satisfaction."

b. What does Calvin mean by 'satisfaction'?

c. What ways today do people seek to 'appease God'?

6. What brings 'blessing'?

No ordinary 'Super-Sub'...

7. a. What one word would you use to summarise 'Paul's gospel' in vv13-14?

b. How would you describe what it means to be 'justified'? And from this passage?

Calvin understood 2 key components in justification:

i. That Christ kept the law completely

"Since the Son of God was subject to the law for our sake, He wished by observing precisely all the laws commands, to show Himself a type of complete submission and obedience."

Cf Rom 5:19; Gal 4:5]

c. Why is it vital that Jesus remained perfectly obedient?

*[A 'curly question': If Jesus completely kept the law, what are we to make of, for example, Christ celebrating the Passover on Friday, or Hebrews 5:8? ]

ii. That Christ took the condemnation the law brought for us, in His death

"Christ the Son of God, who was by right exempt from all subjection became subject to the law. Why? In our name, that He might obtain freedom for us..."

Calvin expresses the glorious truth, reflecting on Matt 27:11: "God's Son stood trial before a mortal man and suffered accusation and condemnation, that we might stand without fear in the presence of God."

d. Calvin used the word 'imputation' to describe the reality of v13? What does he mean?

e. How does this 'not guilty' verdict become a reality for us?

Backsliding is temporary insanity!

8. Why do you think the Galatians were so freely 'returning to bondage'?

9. a. How do we tend to legalism as believers? Why?

b. What would you say to assure the Christian in the context of justification?

Calvin might say something like this:

"As no one can succeed in his accusation when the judge absolves, so there remains no condemnation, when the laws have been satisfied and the penalty already paid. Christ is the One who once suffered the punishment due to us, and thereby professed that he took our place in order to deliver us. Anyone, therefore, who desires to condemn us after this must kill Christ Himself again. But Christ has not only died, He has also come forth as conqueror of death, and triumphed over its power by His resurrection."

Application questions

1. What implications does this passage have for...

a. How we teach the laws of God? (see Newton's letter)

b. How we teach sin and the cross?

c. How we confront other religions?

d. The cost of our salvation

2. How do we teach the phrase in the creed: 'He descended into hell'?

3. How do Calvin's 'summary words' help us teach the doctrine of justification?

Resources:

Institutes of Christian Religion I&II John Calvin

Calvin's doctrine of the Atonement Robert Peterson

The Cross of Christ John Stott

Letters of John Newton (pp40-48) Banner of Truth (pub.)