13
is obedience is not the important, peculiar, or justifying power of faith. It justifies only
"in that it leads us into fellowship with the righteousness of Christ." Already we may
say, then, that for Calvin saving faith does not justify as obedience. In this sense of the
question embodied in the title of this essay (Does saving faith itself include evangelical
obedience in John Calvin's theology?), the answer is no. There is, however, much more
to be said in defense of this answer to the question posed in this essay.
Faith and Repentance in Calvin
The relationship between faith and repentance in Calvin's writings also points
to a negative answer to the question raised in this essay.
The structure of Calvin's "ordo salutis." One may reconstruct from the
early chapters of Book Three of the Institutes a kind of structure in terms of which Calvin
presents his view of the application of salvation. One might almost say that Calvin
provides us here with his ordo salutis! It is in terms of this structure that Calvin responds
to a number of important, theological issues in his day and ours--including the one
addressed in this essay.
Calvin teaches in these chapters that the way of salvation is as follows. The
Holy Spirit creates faith in Christ. This is His principal work.
30
In this way the Spirit
and faith unite the believer to Christ and to all the benefits of redemption to be found in
Him.
31
The two great benefits of salvation to be found in Christ are forgiveness of sins
and moral renewal (justification and sanctification).
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Moral renewal is variously termed
repentance, regeneration, and sanctification by Calvin.
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Calvin divides sanctification or
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30
Inst. 3:1:4.
31
Inst. 3:1:1; 3:2:1; 3:3:1.
32
Inst. 3:3:1; 3:11:1.
33
Inst. 3:3:1; 3:3:9; 3:3:19; 3:11:1. Note the references cited in his chapter on "Sanctification