VII. JOHN CALVIN ON THE SALVATION OF - The Works of F. N. Lee

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"God embraces with wonderful love - the ' little ones.' It would be strange indeed that a mortal man should ' despise' or treat as of no account those whom God holds in such high esteem.... We ought therefore to ' beware of despising' their salvation." John Calvin s repeated denials of any justificatory need for baptism In Mark 16:16, Jesus says: ' he who believes and is baptized, shall be saved; but he who does not believe, shall be condemned.' Ritualists and Romanists argue this means that all unbaptized persons are lost. John Calvin, however - commenting on various passages throughout the Bible - repeatedly denies the need for baptism even in respect of infant salvation. This clearly implies the availability of salvation also for unbaptized infants. We give just a few examples, in our next paragraphs below. Baptism replaces circumcision. Colossians 2:11f. Regarding circumcision in Genesis 17:14, John Calvin comments that "if any infants were deprived by death of the tokens of salvation - He [the Lord] spared them.... To consign to destruction those infants whom a sudden death has not allowed to be presented for baptism...is a cruelty originating in superstition." Mark 16:16 teaches that ' he who believes and is baptized, shall be saved.' Calvin comments that although "baptism is joined to the faith..., we must hold that it [baptism] is not required as absolutely necessary to salvation so that all who have not obtained it must perish." On Romans 4:10f, Calvin comments that "Abraham possessed righteousness before he had circumcision." Consequently, circumcision itself did not at all create incipient righteousness - but only sealed righteousness already present in Abraham before he was circumcised. Explains Calvin: "There is now no necessity for circumcision where baptism exists.... Circumcision does not justify -- because Abraham was justified by faith [before circumcision].... We deny therefore that men are justified by baptism, since they are justified [pre-circumcisionally] by the same faith as that of Abraham." So then, John Calvin states 327 that "assurance of salvation does not depend on participation in the sacraments - as if justification consisted in it. This, which is treasured up in Christ alone, we know to be communicated not less by the preaching of the Gospel than by the seal of the sacrament.... It may be enjoyed completely without this seal. So true it is, as Augustine declares, that there may be invisible sanctification without a visible sign.... Augustine' sOld Testament Questions, Book III." John Calvin continues: "I know it is a common belief that we receive forgiveness...at our first regeneration, by baptism alone. But those who entertain this fiction - err.... We maintain that children, who happen to depart this life before an opportunity of baptizing them in water, are not excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven.... Unless we admit this position, great injury - 105 -
is done to the covenant of God, as if in itself it were weak.... Its effect [thus] depends not either on baptism, or on any accessaries." 328 Calvin on the wrath and mercy of God in Romans chapters one to four Romans requires careful study. Much of the hamartiological language in that book of the Bible, cannot apply to infants - but only to wayward adults. Thus, the Apostle Paul indicates that ' the wrath of God keeps on being revealed...against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who keep on suppressing the truth in unrighteousness' - notably by idolatry and homosexuality. Romans 1:18-28f. Such sins are clearly uncommittable by tiny infants. Again, ' as many as have sinned...shall also perish.... Whenever the [heathen] Gentiles...do by nature the things contained in the Law..., they keep on showing the work of the Law written in their hearts, [by] their conscience also bearing witness.' Romans 2:12-15. As Calvin comments: 329 "All the Gentiles alike...prove their knowledge that...adultery, theft and murder are evils." Yet what babe-in-arms ever committed (or could commit) such evils? Yet Romans 4:1-13 is of very great importance - also for infants. For there, Paul asks Christians what Abraham our father had found. Paul himself then replies that Abraham was blessed by God, when He gave Abraham faith to trust in God' s own righteousness on Abraham' s behalf - so that the latter could become thefather of all who believe. Declares the great Apostle Paul: ' We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it them reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but [priorly] in uncircumcision.' For Abraham had ' received the sign of circumcision [as] a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had [while] uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all them who believe, though they be not circumcised.' Why? ' So that righteousness might be imputed unto them also; and [so that he might also become] the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of our father Abraham while yet uncircumcised. For the promise [was] that he should be the heir of the World!' Comments Calvin: 330 "Abraham possessed righteousness before he had circumcision.... God had promised Abraham a seed that was blessed. For this seed, salvation was to be looked for -- for the whole World.... "There is now no necessity for circumcision where baptism exists.... Circumcision does not justify, because Abraham was justified by faith [and indeed before he was circumcised]. The same argument also holds good for us. We deny therefore that men are justified by baptism, since they are justified by the same faith as that of Abraham.... - 106 -
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Page 3 and 4: "It grew worse and worse, as time a
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Page 7 and 8: wonder if Christ declares that they
Page 9 and 10: "Inhumanity is here mitigated, sinc
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Page 13 and 14: According to Calvin, ' the blood of
Page 15 and 16: "God' spromise comprehends not only
Page 17 and 18: grace of adoption but also newness
Page 19 and 20: Calvin comments 319 that John is he
Page 21: Calvin on Christ healing the daught
Page 25 and 26: "Christ surpasses Adam.... Since Ch
Page 27 and 28: Here Calvin then concludes: "But if
Page 29 and 30: Calvin on the children of disobedie
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Page 37 and 38: "I again ask how it is that the fal
Page 39 and 40: Calvin condemns the Anabaptist Serv
Page 41 and 42: Castellio would therefore also be q
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Page 45 and 46: The Early Calvinist Confessions on
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Page 49 and 50: The above is also our own perceptio
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Page 53 and 54: Wigglesworth: early-dying infants o
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Page 59 and 60: Explained Toplady: 407 "Christ died
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Page 65 and 66: Rev. Drs. Bethune and Bockok on the
Page 67 and 68: Rev. Professor Dr. R.S. Candlish: a
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"Who broke for ever, out of Christe
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After seeing the great usefulness o
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Standard [namely the Westminster Co
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Also the noted Presbyterian Theolog
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the martyrdom of prophets and other
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"It was instrumentally the result o
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Rev. Professor Dr. Philip Schaff: t
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the salvation of all infants dying
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"Before pronouncing this judgment,"
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"' ChristJesus came into the World
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They also give very little hope tha
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XI. OUR OWN VIEW ON THE SALVATION O
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Church regards those whom it admits
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For example. The Declaratory Statem
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Article I of the Australian Declara
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In the book of Ecclesiastes (4:2f &
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critics) that Calvinists teach chil
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Zechariah 13:7; and Malachi 2:10-14
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VII. JOHN CALVIN ON THE SALVATION OF - The Works of F. N. Lee

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