Calvin: Jesus Preached The Law To Teach Us Our Need For A Savior

Now it is certain that in the Law there is prescribed to men a rule by which they ought to regulate their life, so as to obtain salvation in the sight of God. That the Law can do nothing else than condemn, and is therefore called the doctrine of death, and is said by Paul to increase transgressions, (Rom. 7:13,) arises not from any fault of its doctrine, but because it is impossible for us to perform what it enjoins. Therefore, though no man is justified by the Law, yet the Law itself contains the highest righteousness, because it does not falsely hold out salvation to its followers, if any one fully observed all that it commands. Nor ought we to look upon this as a strange manner of teaching, that God first demands the righteousness of works, and next offers a gratuitous righteousness without works; for it is necessary that men should be convinced of their righteous condemnation, that they may betake themselves to the mercy of God. Accordingly, Paul (Rom. 10:5, 6) compares both kinds of righteousness, in order to inform us that the reason why we are freely justified by God is, that we have no righteousness of our own. Now Christ in this reply accommodated himself to the lawyer, and attended to the nature of his question; for he had inquired not how salvation must be sought, but by what works it must be obtained.

—John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, trans. William Pringle, (repr. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 3.56–57.

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  • 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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5 comments

  1. ‘Now it is certain that in the Law there is prescribed to men a rule by which they ought to regulate their life, so as to obtain salvation in the sight of God.’

    And what’s more, whilr the law DID offer such a promise, as with Adam & Eve, it did so successfully with Christ. – AFJ.

  2. ‘Now it is certain that in the Law there is prescribed to men a rule by which they ought to regulate their life, so as to obtain salvation in the sight of God.’

    And what’s more, whilr the law DID offer such a promise, as with Adam & Eve, it did so successfully with Christ. – AFJ.)

  3. Scott,
    Does not the Sermon on the Mount have a similar bent? Jesus teaches those ethical, moral, virtuous particulars that characterize his citizens–demands that exceed (if possible!) the virtues of the Mosaic covenant; certainly they exceeded the most “righteous” human efforts, as expressed by the scribes and Pharisees.

    It is true, the Lord encourages his hearers that those who cleave to him show the early bloom of the virtues he proclaims. “Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world.” Christ of course is the true Light, 1Jn.1:9, giving light to his servants; which proves the case to be made, that it is “coming to him,” Mt.5:1 that is the key to interpretation.

    When we realize we cannot qualify to BE citizens of God’s kingdom, even if we feel the desire; then we look to our Mediator (who teaches us) and beg him to keep us near himself for his own sake. Founded on the Rock, we do not remain because of the quality of the house. But wholly because of him whose words we prize.

    In the final analysis, Jesus preaches himself. He upholds his servants, and causes them to bring forth fruits in keeping with their connection.

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