The Cross and Calvin

One of the most unique aspects of the Gospel and Christianity that truly separates it from all other religions is Gods redemption of us through his Son Jesus on the Cross. Jesus’ payment for our sins on the Cross is a major point of Essential Christian Doctrine. The scriptures have made it clear that there would be many who would be the enemies of the Cross.

 

Philippians 3:18
18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

 

The Scriptures also make it clear that the word of the Cross is foolishness to them that are perishing.

 

1 Corinthians 1:18
18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

Jesus’ payment of our sins on the Cross is really one of the most clear and powerful doctrines found in the scriptures. As we have already seen that Jesus said it is finished and sins have been paid in full, in the following verses we will see clearly where this debt was paid and that it is on the Cross.

 

Philippians 2:8
8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Colossians 1:20
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Colossians 2:14
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

I Peter 2:24
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Hebrews 12:1-2
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ephesians 2:16
6and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

Galatians 6:14
14But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 

In the following we find the writings of John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, where he teaches Jesus’s death on the cross was insufficient and that “Nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death”. Let me make this clear that he claimed “Nothing”.

 

Calvin's reasoning for coming to the conclussion is based off of the Apostles Creed line 4 where Jesus "Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:"

 

Apostles' Creed

 

Note: The first mention of the expression "Apostles' Creed" occurs in a letter of 390 from a synod in Milan and this may not have been the exact Creed for which Calvin came to his conclussions.

 

https://www.ccel.org/creeds/apostles.creed.html

 

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Calvin starts of with "But, apart from the Creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ's descent to hell"

 

In the Creed he descended into Hell after he was dead and buried, and Calvin adds that "Whence also it was necessary that he should engage, as it were, at close quarters with the powers of hell and the horrors of eternal death."

 

He continues to explain that Jesus' body suffered on the Cross, but came to his conclussion that his soul suffered after his death in hell based on the Creed. He states "But after explaining what Christ endured in the sight of man, the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man."

 

Note: This payment in hell "was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man".

 

Institutes of the Christian Religion

 

CHAPTER 16. HOW CHRIST PERFORMED THE OFFICE OF REDEEMER IN PROCURING OUR SALVATION. THE DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iv.xvii.html

10. But, apart from the Creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ's descent to hell: and the word of God furnishes us with one not only pious and holy, but replete with excellent consolation. Nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death. In order to interpose between us and God's anger, and satisfy his righteous judgment, it was necessary that he should feel the weight of divine vengeance. Whence also it was necessary that he should engage, as it were, at close quarters with the powers of hell and the horrors of eternal death. We lately quoted from the Prophet, that the "chastisement of our peace was laid upon him" that he "was bruised for our iniquities" that he "bore our infirmities;" expressions which intimate, that, like a sponsor and surety for the guilty, and, as it were, subjected to condemnation, he undertook and paid all the penalties which must have been exacted from them, the only exception being, that the pains of death could not hold him. Hence there is nothing strange in its being said that he descended to hell, seeing he endured the death which is inflicted on the wicked by an angry God. It is frivolous and ridiculous to object that in this way the order is perverted, it being absurd that an event which preceded burial should be placed after it. But after explaining what Christ endured in the sight of man, the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man.

 

This is one of the most evil and dangerous teachings of John Calvin. The Scriptures warn us that we would have enemies and specifically they would be enemies of the Cross.