The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Christ's two natures · Question 56
Queſt. 56. What beleevest thou concerning remiſsion of ſins?
Anſw. That God, for the ſatisfaction made by Chriſt, hath put out all remembrance of my ſinsa1 Joh. 2.2. 1 John 1.7. 2 Cor.5.19., and alſo of that corruption within mebRom. 7.23.24, 25. Jer. 31.34. Micah 7.19. Pſal. 103.3, 10, 12., wherewith I muſt fight all my life time, and doth freely endow me with the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, that I come not at any time into judgementcJohn 3.18. John 5.24,
The Explication.
The chief Queſtions here to be conſidered are:
1. What remiſſion of ſin is.
2. Who giveth it.
3. For what.
4. Whether it agreeth with Gods juſtice.
5. Whether it be freely given.
6. To whom it is given.
7. How it is given.
1. What remiſſion of ſins is.
REmiſſion of ſins is, the purpoſe of God not to puniſh the ſins of the faithfull, and that for the ſatisfaction of Christ. Or, it is the pardoning of deſerved puniſhment, and the giving or imputing of anothers righteouſneſſe; to wit, the righteouſneſſe of Christ. But more fully it is defined on this wiſe: Remiſsion of ſins is the will of God, which to the faithfull and elect imputeth not any ſin, but remitteth to them both the blame and puniſhment of their ſin; and therefore doth in like ſort love them, as if they had never ſinned, and delivereth them from all puniſhment of ſin, and giveth them eternall life freely for the interceſsion and merit of Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, our Mediatour. Now albeit God, for the merit of his Son, remitteth our ſins to us; yet hee afflicteth us as yet in this life, not thereby to puniſh us, but fatherly to chaſtiſe us. Neither yet becauſe God doth not puniſh us for our ſins, muſt wee therefore think that he is not diſpleaſed with them; for hee is highly diſpleaſed and offended with the ſins alſo of his ſaints and choſen, although he puniſh them not in them, becauſe he puniſhed them in his Son: For God doth not ſo remit ſins, as if hee accounted them for no ſins, or were not offended at them; but by not imputing them unto us, and not puniſhing them in us, and by reputing us juſt for anothers ſatisfaction, which wee apprehend by faith. It is all one therefore to have remiſsion of ſins, and to be juſt. Object. The law doth not onelyonly require us to avoid ſin, but to doe good alſo: Therefore it is not enough that our ſin be forgiven, but alſo good works are needfull and neceſſary that wee may be juſt. Anſ. The omiſſion of good is all ſin: he that can do good,James 4.17. and doth it not, is a ſinner, and accurſed. But God doth not hate us, neither hath he a will to puniſh us for thoſe ſins for which Chriſt hath ſufficiently ſatisfied: in whom alſo we have remiſſion of theſe, and all other our ſins, ſo that by his only merit we are reputed juſt before God.
2. Who giveth remiſsion of ſins.
REmiſsion of ſins is given of God onelyonly, who (as the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith) putteth away our iniquities. Remiſsion of ſins is the work of all three perſons. Chap. 43.25.And this is done both of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghoſt; for we are baptiſed in the name of all three. Now baptiſm, as alſo is ſaid of Johns baptiſm,Matth. 9.6. is wrought for remiſsion of ſins: and of the Son the Scripture affirmeth plainly,Acts 5.9. That the Son of man hath power to remit ſins. Likewiſe it is ſaid of the holy Ghoſt,Epheſ. 4.30. That he was tempted, that he was offended and grieved: Wherefore he alſo hath power to remit ſins: for none can remit ſins, but he againſt whom ſin is committed, and who is offended by ſin: And Chriſt alſo in plain words in the Evangeliſts ſpeaketh of the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt. Now the cauſe that God only, that is,Matth. 12.31. Mark 3.29. Luke 12.10. Why God onelyonly can forgive ſin. the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt only remit ſins, is this; Becauſe none but the party offended can remit ſins: But onelyonly God the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt is offended by our ſins: Therefore God only can remit them; and conſequently no creature is able to grant ought of this right of God. Whereupon alſo David ſaith, Against thee only have I ſinned, and done evill in thy ſight.
Object. But the Apoſtles alſo and the Church remit ſins, Matth. 18.18.becauſe it is ſaid, Whatſoever ye bind on earth, ſhall be bound in heaven; and what whatſoever ye looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in heaven. Whoſeſoever ſins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; John 20.23.and whoſeſoever ſins ye retain, they are retained: Therefore not only God remitteth ſins. Anſw. How the miniſters & the Church are ſaid to rem…t ſins.The Apoſtles remit ſins, in that they are the ſignifiers and declarers of Gods remiſſion. Likewiſe alſo the Church remitteth ſins, when, according to the commandement of God, ſhee pronounceth remiſſion of ſins to the repentant. Againe, one neighbour remitteth ſins and treſpaſſes unto another, as concerning the pardoning of the private offence. But God onelyonly freeth us from the guilt of ſin by his own authority: God only waſheth us clean from ſin in the bloud of his Son. In a word, God only remitteth unto us all ſins, that is, originall and actuall, whether they be of omiſſion, or of ignorance: Which healeth all their infirmities. Pſal. 103.3. Rom. 8.1.There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jeſus.
3. For what remiſsion of ſins is granted.
REmiſsion of ſins is granted not verily of any lenity,Remiſſion of ſins granted for Chriſts interceſsion and ment. 1 Pet. 3.18. 1 John 1.7. Col. 1.19, 20. which is repugnant to juſtice: but, 1. Of the free mercy of God, and of meer grace, and Gods free love. 2. For the interceſſion and merit of Chriſt applied by faith: Chriſt hath once ſuffered for ſins, the just for the unjust, that hee might bring us to God. The blond of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin. It pleaſed the Father that in Chriſt ſhould all fulneſſe dwell: and by him to reconcile all things to himſelf, and to ſet at peace, through the bloud of his croſſe, both the things in earth, and the things in heaven. Heb. 12.24.Ye are come to Jeſus the Mediatour of the new Teſtament, and to the bloud of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things then that of Abel. By Chriſt we have redemption through his bloud, even forgiveneſſe of ſins, Epheſ. 1.7.according to his rich grace. For intreaty cannot be made without ſatisfaction: becauſe that we are to deſire that God would yeeld ſomewhat of his juſtice.
4. Whether remiſsion of ſins agreeth with Gods justice.
Gods juſtice ſatisfied for ſin by Chriſt, though it be remitted unto us.IT is true indeed, that it behooveth God, as a juſt Judge, not to leave ſin unpuniſhed; and therefore not to remit it, except ſome ſatisfaction be interpoſed. But neither doth God leave it unpuniſhed; for hee puniſheth ſins in Chriſt, or in the ſinners themſelves moſt ſufficiently. God pronounceth us in ſuch ſort juſt, as he pronounceth us not to be obnoxious to puniſhment, becauſe of the moſt perfect ſatisfaction of Chriſt: and this doth not contrary or croſſe the juſtice and truth of God. Object. The juſtice of God requireth, that they be puniſhed who ſin: Therefore ſuch a remiſsion of ſins as is granted without ſufficient puniſhment of the party ſinning, is impoſſible, or doth contrary and croſſe the justice of God. Anſ. It is contrary to Gods juſtice not to puniſh ſin at all; that is, neither in him that ſinneth, nor in any other who undergoeth the puniſhment for him that ſinneth. Repl. To puniſh one that is innocent in place of him that hath offended, is repugnant alſo to Gods juſtice. Anſ. True, if the innocent party be ſuch a one, who, 1. Will not undergoe 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 recover out of it: for God will not have him that is innocent to periſh for an offender. 5. Is not able to reſtore and convert the offender, that he may thenceforward ceaſe to offend; and further, to give him faith, which may imbrace and receive this his benefit. But all theſe conditions are in Chriſt, as clearly appeareth by the teſtimonies following: Chriſt hath loved us, and hath given himſelf for us, Epheſ. 5.2.to be an offering and ſacrifice of a ſweet ſmelling ſavour unto God. I lay down my life for my ſheep. John 10.18. Iſa. 53.5. 2 Cor. 5.15.He was wounded for our tranſgreſsions. Chriſt died for all, that they which live, ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, but unto him which died for them, and roſe again. John 2.19. John 10.17. Epheſ. 5.25. Titus 2.14.Deſtroy this temple, and in three dayes I will raiſe it up again. I lay down my life, that I may take it again. Chriſt loved the Church, and gave himſelfe for it, that hee might ſanctifie it. Hee gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himſelfe, zealous of good works.
5. Whether remiſſion of ſins be freely given.
Our ſins remitted freely, in reſpect of us, though they coſt Chriſt full dearly.ALbeit God remitteth not our ſins unto us, except a moſt ſufficient puniſhment be firſt paid for them: yet he remitteth them freely unto us for Chriſts ſake, whom our debt coſt enough. Object. If he pardoned them for Chriſts ſatisfaction, then doth he not remit them freely. Anſ. He remitteth them freely in reſpect of us, that is, without any ſatisfaction of ours, and pardoneth them for the ſatisfaction made by another. Repl. And he that after this ſort pardoneth, doth not freely pardon: for this is a rule; What a man doth by another, that hee ſeemeth to do by himſelf: Wherefore we our ſelves pay it, in paying it by Chriſt. Anſ. God alſo giveth us freely this price and ranſome,John 3.16. that is, this ſatisfier and mediatour Chriſt, who is not bought of us: So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever beleeveth in him ſhould not periſh, but have life everlaſting.
6. To whom remiſsion of ſins is given.
Remiſsion of ſins given unto all the elect, and to them only. John 3.36. Acts 10.43.REmiſsion of ſins is given to all the elect, and them alone, becauſe it is given to them all and alone who beleeve, and none beleeve but the elect onelyonly: for the reprobate never have true faith and beleefe; therefore they never obtain remiſſion of their ſins: Hee that beleeveth in the Sonne, hath everlaſting life. To him give all the Prophets witneſſe, that through his Name all that beleeve in him ſhall receive remiſsion of ſins. Yet all the elect have not alwayes remiſſion of ſins; but all beleevers have it alwayes, becauſe they onelyonly have remiſſion of ſins who beleeve that they have it. But this the elect do not alwayes beleeve; but then firſt, when they are converted and indued with faith: yet in reſpect of the ſecret and fore-determined purpoſe of God, they have alwayes remiſſion of ſins. Now infants have remiſſion of ſins, becauſe they have faith and converſion in aptitude and inclination, though not actually.
7. How remiſsion of ſins is given.
Remiſſion of ſins given by faith, through the working of the holy Ghoſt.REmiſsion of ſins is given by faith alone; by which, being wrought and kindled in us by the holy Ghoſt, we receive the ſame: Therefore it is then alſo given, when by faith it is received. God verily decreed from everlaſting to pardon in Chriſt, for his ſatisfaction, the ſins of the elect: but he doth actually forgive all and every faithfull man their ſins then, when reputing them for juſt, he worketh by his holy Spirit in their hearts a ſenſe and feeling of that pardon, whereon they may for ever reſt ſetled and confirmed: Therefore the purpoſe and decree of God of remitting ſins is everlaſting; but the executing and performance thereof is, when by faith wee apply remiſſion of ſins offered unto us in the Goſpel. So alſo God doth alwayes love his elect: but that love is not powred out in their hearts before their repentance. For they have that certain teſtimony of conſcience by the gift of the holy Ghoſt, that they are loved of God, and ſo have their ſins remitted, who truly convert and repent.