Imperative that the Redeemer be true God and man

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 12 - Christ had to become Man in Order to Fulfill the Office of Mediator

Sections 1-3 - Reasons why it was necessary that the Mediator should be God and should become man

Section 1 - Only he who was true God and true man could bridge the gulf between God and ourselves

God decreed this necessity, not some natural law apart from God.

No man could mediate, as all are sinners - Gen 3:8.

So God had to come down to be with us - Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23.

1 Tim 2:5; Heb 4:15.

Section 2 - The Mideator must be true God and true man

His task was to make men the children of God once again.

He took on our nature - Eph 5:29-31; Gen 2:23-24 - 

to give to us what was His: sonship with God - John 20:17; Rom 8:17.

Only the author of life could swallow up death.

Only the righteous one could conquer sin.

Only a power above worlds and principalities could defeat them.

Section 3 - Only the God-man could be obedient in our stead

He could only pay the penalty of death in human flesh;

He could only conquer that death in divine power.

Accommodating to our capacity

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 13-14 - Reply to objections regarding God's justice and consistency in these differences of administration

Section 13 -Why, in general, the differences?

Parents aren't inconsistent because they parent differently according to the age of the child. Neither is God in dealing with us.

Rather, He "accommodated Himself to men's capacity, which is varied and changeable."

Section 14 - God's freedom to deal with all men as He wills

"God has done everything wisely and justly."

It is up to Him if, where and when to reveal His salvation.

He may "deprive the world, because of its ungratefulness, of the knowledge of his name for such ages as He wills."

Engrafted into Abraham's family

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 11-12 - OT referred to 1 nation; NT to all nations

Section 11 - The wall is torn down in Christ

The covenant was at first confined to Israel.

Deut 32:8-9; 10:14-15; Acts 14:16.

All nations brought in, and the distinction removed, in Christ.

Eph 2:14-17; Gal 3:28; 6:15; Col 3:11; Ps 2:8; 72:8.

Section 12 - The calling of the Gentiles

This astonished the NT Jews, though the OT foretold it.

Even Jesus waited until later to begin this - Matt 15:24; 10:5.

Their call and ingathering shown: Phil 2:9-10; Col 1:26-27; Eph 3:8-9.

[Also Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8]

Stretching our minds to Christ

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 9-10 - Bondage of the OT and freedom of the NT

Section 9 - Paul's teaching

Romans 8:15; Heb 12:18-22; Gal 4:22-31.

"The OT struck consciences with fear and trembling, but by the benefit of the NT they are released into joy."

OT saints were still saved as we are, by faith to God's gospel promises.

But they still had to keep the ritual law, too - Gal 4:2-3.

Section 10 - Law and gospel

OT is not law, and NT gospel; the OT contains grace and mercy, too.

Children of promise in the OT lived by faith in the coming Mediator.

Romans 9:8.

Not able to change or correct our depravity of heart

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 7-8 - The OT is literal; the NT is spiritual

Section 7 - Biblical origin and meaning of this difference

Jer 31:31-34; 2 Cor 3:6-11

The OT is literal, written on stone, merely commanding and rewarding obedience (forbidding and punishing disobedience), and not able "to change or correct the depravity of heart," as the spiritual NT can.

Section 8 - The difference in detail, according to 2 Cor 3

The NT is spiritual, because God wrote it on our hearts - 2 Cor 3:6.

The cermonial law had to "die & vanish" while the NT lasts forever - 3:10-11

It was weak in itself, while the moral law's weakness was in the people's sin, not in itself.

Twinkling afar off

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 4-6 - Truth in the OT conveyed by images & ceremonies, typifying Christ

Section 4 - The meaning of this difference

Christ fulfills the OT ceremonies, as priest in a new order (Heb 7:11; Ps 110:4): eternal (Heb 7:23), established by oath (7:21), changing the covenant (8:6-13). The OT ceremonies were a shadow of the good things to come - Christ (10:1).

The covenant went from old to new when established in Christ's blood:

"This cup is the new covenant in My blood" - Luke 22:20.

Section 5 - Childhood and manhood of the church

The truth was understood unclearly, as a child understands, in the OT

Gal 3:24; 4:1-2.

The Law and Prophets pointed to Christ, the truth, "twinkling afar off."

Lk 16:16; Col 2:3.

Section 6 - Even the great men of faith remained within OT limits

It is still true that few surpass Abraham in faith, but no OT saints discerned the object of faith - Christ - clearly.

Luke 10:24; Matt 13:16; 1 Peter 1:12.

Nourishing heavenly hopes with earthly benefits

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559) - John Calvin

Book 2 - God the Redeemer

Chapter 11 - The Difference between the Two Testaments

Sections 1-3 - Representation of spiritual blessings by temporal

Section 1 - Stress on earthly benefits which, however, were to lead to heavenly concerns

Section 2 - Earthly promises corresponded to the childhood of the church in the Old Covenant; but were not to chain hope to earthly things

Gal 4:1-2 - the child heir Israel, receiving spiritual promise in earthly form.

Gen 15:1 - God Himself is the reward, the promise.

Ps 73:26; 16:5; 142:5; 133:3.

Section 3 - Physical benefits and punishments as types (pictures)

... of spiritual blessing and judgment to come.