Monday, March 7, 2016

14: “Who do you say that I am” a summary of the roles and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ

The question of the roles and even the identity of Jesus has long been a part of our Christian heritage and even the history of the world. Some people see Jesus as merely a good teacher while others see Jesus as the savior for those who believe in Him. These questions are central to the Christian faith. Jesus himself first prompts the question in Matthew 16:13-20 when he asks his disciples “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and “Who do you say that I am?”

John Calvin also sought to provide his readers with a summary of the identity and work accomplished by Christ. He addresses these concerns in book 2 of his Institutes (chapters 15-17) Lane invites us to explore this topic when he asks us “what are the three offices of Christ?” and “How has he won our salvation?” (Lane p. 91) It is necessary to understand the total picture of Christ’s presence and Christ’s work of redemption for those for whom Christ has died. It is more than simply recognizing the name of Christ. As Calvin states: though the Papists have the words, Son of God, Redeemer of the world, sounding in their mouths, yet, because contented with an empty name, they deprive him of his virtue and dignity; (institutes 2.15.1)

In order that we understand the magnificent work of Christ, we shall consider each of Christ’s offices as understood by Calvin and then consider how the work of priest leads to our salvation. Calvin reminds his readers that Christ occupies the offices of Prophet, King, and Priest. In fact one might even say that Christ completes each of these offices. Calvin reminds us in 2.15.1 that God has always provided prophets for his people in order that they might be enlightened until the time when the messiah comes. Calvin proves that Christ is indeed the completion of the prophets when he says: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,” (Is. 60:1, 2). We see that he was anointed by the Spirit to be a herald and witness of his Father’s grace, and not in the usual way; for he is distinguished from other teachers who had a similar office. And here, again, it is to be observed, that the unction which he received, in order to perform the office of teacher, was not for himself, but for his whole body( Institutes 2.15.2)

As we consider this position that Christ’s work was not done for himself but rather for the whole body, we now turn our thoughts to the office of king. As Calvin reminds us this kingship is not an earthly kingdom but rather a spiritual one. Its purpose is two-fold, first to sustain the church in times of trial when it struggles against the powers and principalities which war against it, and second to call all believers to recognize that the fulfillment of God’s promises of reconciliation will occur in the world to come. Christ’s office of king and pastor unites all believers who voluntarily submit to him.

It is through the office of priest that we begin to comprehend how by the grace and mercies of God, Jesus Christ has won salvation for us. As Calvin reminds us God who is just requires that we cannot enter his presence unless we are made righteous by a sacrifice. The old system of sacrifice is imperfect and requires a better and perfect solution. Christ is that solution! Through the death of Christ, God reconciles those who believe in Christ to himself.(institutes 2.15.6) Recognizing Christ is prophet, eternal king, and heavenly priest, we now turn to the question asked by Lane of “how salvation was won for us through Christ? As Calvin reminds us in 2.16.1 because we are lost in and of ourselves, we have no other recourse but to seek righteousness in Christ. There is no other name under heaven which will bring us salvation (acts 4:12).

All of 2.16 outlines this work of Christ’s salvation. In summary it is accomplished through the death, resurrection, descent into hell, ascension into heaven, and acknowledgement that Christ does in fact sit at the right hand of God the Father. From that place, Christ exercises God’s power to judge and govern God’s people as well as to intercede as priest for them. Calvin acknowledges the Apostle’s creed as a foundational document summarizing this path to salvation. One might normally think that Christ’s redemptive work began with his death on the cross, but Calvin challenges that notion in 2.16.5 when he states: “Thus even at his baptism he declared that a part of righteousness was fulfilled by his yielding obedience to the command of the Father. In short, from the moment when he assumed the form of a servant, he began, in order to redeem us, to pay the price of deliverance.” This idea of obedience should impact how we live our lives.

As we consider the type of death Christ suffered, Calvin reminds us that his death must be one in which he was judged, one in which the sins of all the guilty were laid upon him. He who knew no sin received the punishment of all. Scripture confirms that even in Christ’s descent into hell he was allowed to feel the full wrath of an angry god “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!” As Calvin reminds us, while Christ was in hell he confronted the very power of the devil. Christ’s resurrection and ascension continues God’s reign and exercise of power over death. In 2.19 Calvin summarizes Christ’s path to salvation for those who believe: “if we seek redemption, we shall find it in his passion; acquittal in his condemnation; remission of the curse in his cross; satisfaction in his sacrifice; purification in his blood; reconciliation in his descent to hell; mortification of the flesh in his sepulcher; newness of life in his resurrection; immortality also in his resurrection; the inheritance of a celestial kingdom in his entrance into heaven; protection, security, and the abundant supply of all blessings, in his kingdom; secure anticipation of judgment in the power of judging committed to him.”

As one considers this amazing and wonderful work of redemption accomplished by Christ a question comes to mind: Who are the “condemned” since we are all guilty of sinning against God? and what does this say about those who do not “believe?”

13 comments:

  1. Hey Ric, nice summary and explanation of Book 2 Chapter 15-17. I tend to like the idea of simplification of ideas and questions. I have noticed that this is sometimes hard to do in theology, but honestly I think Calvin generally does a pretty good job of it, in spite of how thick the Institutes ended up being. He certainly gives us good direction in understanding what Christ was/is all about by giving us Christ's job description as prophet, king, and priest. (2.15.1) You bring this out in your post, and the details regarding these jobs are appreciated.

    Jesus must have been conscientiously aware of these functions as he went through his time walking among we humans. It just makes me wonder what it would be like had Jesus come today. In doing his various jobs would he have been encumbered by checklists, instruction manuals and a load of reports to file?

    Gather disciples, check.
    Preach on Mountain top, check.
    Feed the Multitudes, check.
    etc.

    I like your question. Who are the condemned? I guess I would answer that we are all the condemned and that it is Jesus who saves us. As for those who do not believe I will decline to judge, I think that will be left to he who will review the books at that time when he has before him both the "quick and the dead".

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  2. Hi Bill,
    Somehow I don't think Jesus would have a checklist. Actually he would probably have a list much broader than we could ever imagine. I'm thinking of when Christ said "you have heard it said... But I tell you..." The checklists would have been so all encompassing that I don't think we could have ever imagined them.

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    1. Rick, I going to back you up a bit to Calvin's use of the Creed to explain the fullness of Christ death including 'Descending into Hell'. I've been told that was just another way of saying Christ died. I was delighted when Calvin took on that explanation and to say the Creed already said that and it makes no sense to repeat it again. Calvin then goes on to explain that a real Hell is awaiting all humanity when they die and Christ went there also in his humanity. He submitted himself to the punishment (which is Hell) that is ours in the next life. Thus he conquered both death and punishment in Hell for all those who have received salvation. Christ carried with him on the cross, our fear of death and Hell. "My God My God...." from Psalm 22 is a human cry of fear and he conquered that as well.

      So with all that said, here is my answer to your questions: #1. Who are the condemned?
      Answer 1: “All have sinned and are answerable to God’s Justice.”

      Question #2. What does this say about those who do not believe?
      Answer 2: “The Judge is also the Redeemer.”

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  3. Great summary! I agree with Will that we are all condemned. Jesus came to save all of humanity, not just a select few. Maybe it’s more correct to say that Jesus gave us all the pathway to salvation, but not everyone will choose this route. Ah, but does God choose us or do we choose Him? We are incapable of choosing the right thing and doing the right thing. So then, does it just boil down to having faith?
    I too will shy away from “judging” those who do not believe. I know this is a slippery slope. We are called to proclaim our faith, but we are not God. We don’t know the condition of someone’s heart. We never know who is “in” and who is “out.” Hopefully our words and actions point to the saving grace of the empty cross. I pray that the Holy Spirit has an extra dose of patience and encouragement for a sinner like me.

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  4. Laurie, I am sure with you on that extra dose of everything from the Holy Spirit. O how many times I have grieved the Holy Spirit. Rick I think you are a smart man and so you asked a question you know no one can answer. Sure makes me glad I'm not God but happy to be his child.

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  5. Very good summary of these chapters. I agree with what the others have said - God judges, not me. However, this discussion always brings this to mind - if everyone is saved (and believing doesn't matter), why did Christ have to die? Was it for no reason?

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    1. Pam, I have a much easier time believing that everyone is depraved than that everyone is saved, although I'm not disallowing that. It seems a shame that it took death on a cross to cover our wretchedness, I'm glad the Father sent the Son to do just that. Calvin talks about the first fruit in 2.16.7 as the gift of life we are given only because Jesus died in our stead. I am brought to my knees every time I think that Jesus thought I was worth it.

      This section of Calvin's Institutes also gave me great comfort in 2.15.18. Like others have mentioned, I have tried to shy away from judging others, but alas, that is also a sin to which we tenaciously hold. What a wonderful thought that our judge is at the same time our redeemer. Too often, we think of judging as negative, but Calvin shows that Jesus does judge, but only from the aspect of wanting to save us.

      I had a conversation with two employees today. One felt that the other had commanded rather than asked for help. The other felt insubordinated, being the team leader. I told them that the conversation needed to be about building a relationship rather than tearing it down. Perhaps because I had just read Calvin, I wanted to be about redeeming the relationship, rather than judging it. As Jesus taught, that approach can surprisingly turn the tables.

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  6. Thank you for your incredible blog post, it touches on so many issues and your attention to all that Calvin shares is really wonderful, so thank you!
    In answer to your question, 'who are the condemned': I might say, all of us are by the sinfulness within us, as Calvin shares [2.16.3] "All of us, therefore, have in ourselves something deserving of God's hatred. With regard to our corrupt nature and wicked life that follows it, all of us surely displease God, are guilty in his sight…" BUT, "Because the Lord wills not to lose what is his in us, out of his own kindness he still finds something to love."

    And, 'what does this say about those who do not believe', those who do not believe are reprobates as far as Calvin is concerned. My thought too is how Calvin shares his thoughts and discussion about the visible and invisible Church, who of us are true believers? This may indicate that we truly do not know, and that God only knows and so, we treat each other as if they are or might become outwardly and truthfully believers in Christ's redemptive actions. My thought is to walk as if there is the seed of belief in all people I meet and pray. Because the fear creeps in if I think too much about those who have turned their back, of the nature of their lives, without the love of the Lord. That is all I can say really, I don’t know what it says if we are all condemned … except that God's Grace covers us, and I am reminded that God has mercy on whom he has mercy. So, what condemnation looks like and for who, is not for me or us to say.

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  7. Rick: This is a wonderful piece. To answer your question, I will quote the thematic sentence of Institute 2.16.1-4, “alienated by sin from God, who best loved us, we are reconciled by Christ.” This brief but succinct statement alienates those who reject Jesus Christ because by Christ, who loved us, we are reconciled with God.

    As Matthew writes, “He was sent to save the people from their Sin.” According the Calvin, the moment we turn away even slightly from Him, our salvation, which rests firmly in him, gradually vanishes away. The result is deprivation of Grace, The wrath and curse of God is upon sinners until they are absolved of guilt, which punishment is a part of it.

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  8. Rick: This is a wonderful piece. To answer your question, I will quote the thematic sentence of Institute 2.16.1-4, “alienated by sin from God, who best loved us, we are reconciled by Christ.” This brief but succinct statement alienates those who reject Jesus Christ because by Christ, who loved us, we are reconciled with God.

    As Matthew writes, “He was sent to save the people from their Sin.” According the Calvin, the moment we turn away even slightly from Him, our salvation, which rests firmly in him, gradually vanishes away. The result is deprivation of Grace, The wrath and curse of God is upon sinners until they are absolved of guilt, which punishment is a part of it.

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  9. Rick: This is a wonderful piece. To answer your question, I will quote the thematic sentence of Institute 2.16.1-4, “alienated by sin from God, who best loved us, we are reconciled by Christ.” This brief but succinct statement alienates those who reject Jesus Christ because by Christ, who loved us, we are reconciled with God.

    As Matthew writes, “He was sent to save the people from their Sin.” According the Calvin, the moment we turn away even slightly from Him, our salvation, which rests firmly in him, gradually vanishes away. The result is deprivation of Grace, The wrath and curse of God is upon sinners until they are absolved of guilt, which punishment is a part of it.

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  10. You did a great job Rick. I really enjoyed reading Calvin’s Apostle Creed reasoning. It was a lot to take in, but you managed to summarize it nicely. Your questions are both pretty thoughtful. Question one I think we are all condemned. Reading Calvin in almost any chapter will remind us that humanity left alone will produce disastrous results. Thanks be to God that we are so loved, the debt of sin was paid in full. Question two is a little more difficult to answer without having all the answers. I would prefer to defer that question until more is known (knowledge). Of course that knowledge may never be known.

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