Calvin and Trent on the Causes of Justification

CALVIN AND TRENT ON THE CAUSES OF JUSTIFICATION

 Causes

Trent

Calvin

 Final
The glory of God and
and Jesus Christ eternal life
The glory of divine
justice and goodness
Efficient
The mercy of God
The mercy of God
Meritorious
Merits of Christ’s
satisfaction and passion
 Material

Christ with his blood

Instrumental
Baptism
Faith
Formal
The distributed
justice of God infused in us to sanctification
Faith

 

Sources: John Calvin, Commentary on Romans, ed.
D. W. Torrance and T. F. Torrance, trans. Ross Mackenzie (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961), 75; The Canons and Decrees of the
Council of Trent
, Session Six, chapter 7 in P. Schaff,
The Creeds of Christendom
3 vol. (Grand Rapids: Baker, repr.
1983), 2:94-97.

 

    Post authored by:

  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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