The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 30
OF REMISSION OF SINNES.
THE chiefe Queſtions.
1 What remiſſion of ſinnes is.
2 Who giueth it.
3 For What.
4 Whether it agreeth with Gods iuſtice.
5 Whether it be freely giuen.
6 To whom it is giuen.
7 How it is giuen.
1 WHAT REMISSION OF SINNES IS.
REmiſſion of ſinnes is the purpoſe of God not to puniſh the ſins of the faithful, euen as if they had neuer ſinned: Remiſſion of ſinne, is Gods will not imputing vntounto vsus our ſinne, and imputing Chriſts righteouſneſſe.which purpoſe of not puniſhing their ſinnes God dooth withall declare vntounto vsus. Roman. 5.5. For the louelove of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holie Ghoſt which is giuen vntounto vsus. It may be alſo defined thus: Remiſſion of ſinnes is the pardoning of deſerued puniſhment, and the giuing or imputing of another… righteouſnes, to wit, the righ…eouſnes of Chriſt. But more fullie it is defined on this wiſe: Remiſſion of ſinnes is the will of God, which to the faithfull and Elect imputeth not anie ſinne, and therefore doth in like ſort louelove them, as if they had neuer ſinned, and deliuereth them from al puniſhment of ſin and giueth them eternal life freely for the interceſſion and merit of Ieſus Chriſt the ſonne of God our Mediator. Now albeit God …or the merit of his ſon remitteth our ſins to vsus, yet he afflicteth vsus as yet in this life, not therby to puniſh vsus, but fatherly to chaſtiſe vsus. Neither yet becauſe god doth not puniſh vsus for our ſins, muſt we therfore think that he is not diſpleaſed with them. For he is highly diſpleaſed & offended with the ſins alſo of his Saints & choſen.
2 Who giueth remiſſion of ſinnes.
REmiſſion of ſinnes is giuen of God onelie, who (as the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith, cap 43. 25.) putteth away our iniquities: And this is done both of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt. For we are baptized in the name of all three: Now Baptiſme, Remiſſion of ſinnes is the worke of all three perſons.as alſo it is ſaide of Iohns Baptiſme, is wrought for remiſſion of ſinnes: and of the Sonne the Scripture affirmeth plainly; That the ſonne of man hath power to remit ſinnes. Likewiſe it is ſaide of the holy Ghoſt, that hee was tempted: that he is offended and grieued. Wherefore he alſo hath power to remit ſins. For none can remit ſins, but hee againſt whom ſinne is committed and who is offended by ſinne. And Chriſt alſo in plaine woordes in the Euangeliſts ſpeaketh of the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt. Now the cauſe, that God onelie, that is, the father, the ſon, & the holy ghoſt, only remit ſins, is this; becauſe none but the partie offended can remit ſins: but only god, the father, the ſon, & the holy ghoſt is offended by our ſins. Therfore god only can remit them, and conſequently no creature is able to graunt ought of this right of god. Whereupon alſo Dauid ſaith; Pſal. 51.4. Againſt thee onelie hauehave I ſinned, and done euil in thy ſight.
How the miniſters, and the Church are ſaide to remit ſinnes.Obiection. But the Apoſtles alſo and the Church remit ſins; becauſe it is ſaide, Matth 18.18 Whatſoeuer yee binde on earth, ſhall bee bound in heauen, and whatſoeuer yee looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in heauen and Ioh. 20.23. Whoſe ſoeuer ſins yee remit they are remitted vntounto them; and whoſe ſoeuer ſins ye retein, they are reteined. Therefore not God onelyonly remitteth ſinnes. Anſwere. The Apoſtles remit ſinnes in that they are the ſignifiers and declarers of Gods remiſſion. Likewiſe alſo the Church remitteth ſinnes, when according to the commandement of God ſhee denounceth remiſſion of ſinnes to the repentant. Againe one neighbour remitteth ſinnes and treſpaſſes vntounto another, as concerning the pardoning of the offence. But God onelyonly freeth vsus from the gilt of ſinne, by his owne authoritie: God onelyonly waſheth vsus clea…e from ſinne. In a worde, God onelyonly remitteth vntounto vsus all ſinnes, that is, originall, and actuall, whether they bee of omiſſion, or of ignorance. Pſal. 103.3. Which heal…th all thine infirmities. Rom. 8 1. There is no con…emnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus.
3 For what remiſſion of ſins is granted.
REmiſſion of ſinnes is granted, not verily of any lenitie, which is repugnant to iuſtice, but of the free mercy of God, Remiſſion of ſinne▪ granted for Chriſts interceſſion and merit.of meere grace, and Gods free louelove, for the interceſſion & merit of Chriſt applied by faith. 1. Pet 3.18 Chriſt hath once ſuffered for ſinnes, …he iust for the vniust that he might bring vsus to God. 1. Iohn. 1.7. The blood of Jeſus Chriſt clenſeth vsus from all ſinne. Coloſ. 1.19. Jt pleaſed the Father that in Chriſt ſhould all fulneſſe dwell. and by him to reconcile all thinges to himſelfe, and to ſet at peace through the blood of his Croſſe both the thinges in earth, & the thinges in heauen. Heb. 12.24. Yee are come to Ieſus the Mediatour of the new Teſtament, and to the bl…ud of ſprinkeling, that ſpeaketh better thinges, than that of Abel. Eph 1.7. By Chriſt wee hauehave redemption through his bloud, euen forgiueneſſe of ſinnes▪ according to his rich grace. For entreatie can not bee made whithout ſatisfaction: becauſe that were to deſire, that God would yeeld ſ…me-what of his iuſtice.
4 Whether remiſſion of ſinnes agreeth with Gods iuſtice.
IT is true indeed, that it behoueth god, as a iuſt iudge,Gods iuſtice ſatisfied for ſinne by chriſt, though it bee remitted vntounto vsus. not to leaue ſin vnpuniſhed, and therefore not to remit it except ſome ſatisfaction bee interpoſed. But neither doth God leaue it vnpuniſhed; for he puniſheth ſinnes in Chriſt or in the ſinners themſelues moſt ſufficientlie. God pronounceth vsus in ſuch ſort iuſt, as hee pronounceth vsus not to be obnoxious to puniſhment, becauſe of the moſt perfect ſatisfaction of chriſt; & this doth not contrarie or croſſe the iuſtice and trueth of God. Obiect. The iuſtice of God requireth, that they be puniſhed who ſinne. Therefore ſuch a remiſſion of ſinnes, as is granted without ſufficient puniſhment of the party ſinning, is vnpoſſible, or doth contrary & croſſe the iuſtice of god. Anſ. It is contrary to gods iuſtice, not to puniſh ſin at al, that is, neither in him that ſinneth, nor in any other who vndergoeth the puniſhment for him that ſinneth. Reply. To puniſh one that is innocēt in place of him that hath offended, is repugnant alſo to Gods iuſtice. Anſ. True; if the innocent partie be ſuch a one, who 1. wil not vndergo the puniſhment. 2. Is not of the ſame nature with the offender. 3. Is not able to ſuffer ſufficient puniſhment. 4. Is not able to recouer out of it: for God will not hauehave him that is innocent to periſh for an offender. 5. Js not able to reſtore and conuert the offender, that hee maie thence forwarde ceaſe to offend, and further to giuegive him faith, which maie embrace and receiue this his benefite. But all theſe conditions are in Chriſt, as clearly appeareth by the teſtimonies following. Epheſ. 5.2. Chriſt hath loued vsus and hath giuen himſelfe for vsus, to bee an offering and a ſacrifice of a ſweete ſmelling ſauour to god. Iohn. 10.15. I laie downe my ſelfe for my ſheep. Iſai. 53.5. He was wounded for our tranſgreſſion. 2. Cor. 5.15. Chriſt died for all, that they which liue ſhould not henceforth liue vntounto themſelues, but vntounto him which died for them, and roſe againe. Iohn. 2.19. Destroie this temple, and in three daies J will raiſe it vp againe. Iohn. 10.17. I laie downe my life that J might take it againe. Ephe. 5.25. Chriſt loued the Church and gaue himſelfe for it, that he might ſanctifie it. Tit. 2.14. He gaue himſelfe for vsus, …hat he might redeeme vsus from all iniquitie, and purge vsus to be a peculiar people vntounto himſelfe, zealous of good woorkes.
5. Whether remiſſion of ſinnes bee freelie giuen.
Our ſins … ted freely in reſpect of vsus, thou…h they coſt Ch…ſt …ul dee…ly.ALbeit God remitteth not our ſinnes vntounto vsus, except a moſt ſufficient puniſhment be firſt paied for them: yet he remitteth them freely vntounto vsus for Chriſtes ſake, whom our debts coſt inough. Obiect. If he pardoneth them for chriſts ſatisfaction; then doth he not remit them freelie. Anſ. He remitteth them freely in reſpect of vsus, that is, without any ſatisfaction of ours, and pardoneth them for the ſatisfaction made by another. Replie. And he that after this ſort pardoneth dooth not freelie pardon: for this is a rule, what a man doth by another, that he ſeemeth to doe by himſelfe. Wherefore we our ſelues paie it in paying it by Chriſt. Anſw. God alſo giueth vsus freely this price and raunſome, that is, this ſatisfier and Mediatour Chriſt, who is not bought of vsus. Joh. 3.16. So God loued the world, that he gaue his onelie begotten ſonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him …hould not periſh, but hauehave life euerlaſting. It is all one, t… h…e remiſſ…on of ſinnes, and to be iuſt. Replie. The … th… … vsus to auoide ſinne, but to doe good alſo. Ther…fore …, that our ſinne be forgiuen: but alſo good w…rkes … and neceſſarie that wee may bee iuſt. Anſw. T…e om…ſion of good is alſo ſinne. But this alſo is remitted. He that can doe good, and doth it not, is a ſinner and accu…ſed. But God doth not hate vsus, neither hath he a will to puniſh vsus for thoſe ſinnes, for which Chriſt hath ſufficiently ſatisfied, in whom alſo we hauehave perfect remiſſion of all our ſinnes, ſo that by his onelyonly merit we are reputed iuſt before God.
6 To whom remiſſion of ſinnes is giuen.
REmiſſion of ſinnes is giuen to all the elect, and to them alone, Remiſſion of ſinne… giuen vntounto all the Elect, and to them onelyonly.becauſe it is giuen to them all and alone, who beleeue, and none beleeue, but the elect onelyonly: for the reprobate neuer hauehave true faith and beliefe. Yet all the elect hauehave not alwaies remiſſion of ſinnes, but all beleeuers hauehave it alwaies; becauſe they onelyonly hauehave remiſſion of ſinnes, who beleeue that they hauehave it. But this the elect do not alwaies beleeue: but then firſt, when they are conuerted, and endued with faith, yet in reſpect of the ſecret and fore-determined purpoſe of God, they hauehave alwaies remiſſion of ſinnes. Now, Infants hauehave remiſſion of ſinnes, becauſe they hauehave faith and conuerſion, in aptitude and inclination, though not actually.
7. How remiſſion of ſinnes is giuen.
REmiſſion of ſins is giuen by faith, Remiſſion of ſinnes giuen by faith, through the working of the Holy Ghoſt.by which being wrought and kindled in vsus by the holy Ghoſt, wee receiue the ſame. Therefore the purpoſe and decree of God, of remitting ſinnes, is euerlaſting; but the executing and performance thereof is, when by faith we applie remiſſion of ſins vntounto vsus. So alſo God doth alwaies louelove his elect, but that louelove is not poured out in their hearts before their repentance. For they hauehave that certain teſtimonie of conſciēce by the gift of the holy Ghoſt, that they are loued of god & ſo hauehave their ſins remitted, who truly conuert and repent.