Reformation Life

BIBLICAL | REFORMED | THEOLOGICAL | HISTORICAL | DEVOTIONAL

Reformed Commentary

God’s Two Judgments

By

Calvin points out the differences in the judgment of God.

“One judgment we call, for the sake of teaching, that of vengeance, the other, of chastisement.

Now, by the judgment of vengeance, God should be understood as taking vengeance upon his enemies; so that he exercises his wrath against them, he confounds them, he scatters them, he brings them to nought. Therefore, let us consider this to be God’s vengeance, properly speaking: when punishment is joined with his indignation.

In the judgment of chastisement he is not so harsh as to be angry, nor does he take vengeance so as to blast with destruction. Consequently, it is not, properly speaking, punishment or vengeance, but correction and admonition.

The one is the act of a judge; the other, the act of a father.”

(Inst. 3.4.31)

Evidence of God’s Love

By

Calvin has some beautiful comments on God’s discipline of his people in his Institutes (Inst. 3.4.32).

“the chastening of God carries his blessing with it, and is an evidence of love, as Scripture teaches.” (see Job 5:17; Prov. 3:11; Heb. 12:5)

“All the calamities which the wicked suffer in the present life are depicted to us as a kind of anticipation of the punishment of hell. In these they already see, as from a distance, their eternal condemnation…the Lord chastens his servants sore, but does not give them over to death (Ps. 118:18).”

Only Jesus

By

Calvin points out in his work on justification in the Institutes that Scripture affirms that:

“Christ is both righteousness and life, and that the blessing of justification is possessed by faith alone.”
(Inst. 3.14.17)

Evidence of God’s Love

By

Calvin has some beautiful comments on God’s discipline of his people in his Institutes (Inst. 3.4.32).

“the chastening of God carries his blessing with it, and is an evidence of love, as Scripture teaches.” (see Job 5:17; Prov. 3:11; Heb. 12:5)

“All the calamities which the wicked suffer in the present life are depicted to us as a kind of anticipation of the punishment of hell. In these they already see, as from a distance, their eternal condemnation…the Lord chastens his servants sore, but does not give them over to death (Ps. 118:18).”