25. There would have be little use to us if Jesus did not make the atonement. We must be assured of this benefit that God has assured us of this saving knowledge. Jesus has purchased the blessing of redemption for us. Some cast away the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I suggest to you that the Romanists cast away the sufficiency of the grace of Jesus Christ by works of satisfaction. It is as though Jesus never came into the world because there are other advocates in the Roman system. They do not have Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and Lord. They only give a little taste of Jesus but more of the world's way of doing things touching spiritual salvation. They get no benefit from the gospel because of the added things to it.
26. Those not purchased by our Lord Christ do not receive the blessing of being a witness. Without Jesus the Gentiles were blinded and unbelievers, and it seemed Jesus only came for the Jews. Someone would have thought that at the time of the law; however, there were non-Jews helped by God in the OT as well. God gave it to one particular people whom He held as the church of God and they were the Jewish people.
27. It pleased God to give the law to the OT saints and He held them apart from the rest of the world. This world is full of cruelty but Jacob is His inheritance. God chose for Himself a particular people from the stock of Abraham but kept others as strangers. However, now the knowledge of the Most High Jesus is brought to all the world! God is the Father and Savior of the Gentiles and Jews who believe.
28. The death and passion of Jesus Christ comes to us in the gospel. It is profitable to us in the testimony of the glad tidings of the good news of Jesus Christ. However, it is faith that puts us in possession of spiritual salvation. This is a very profitable dogma of the Christian faith. We must partake of the spiritual redemption of our Lord and Redeemed Jesus Christ. The gospel is purchased by Jesus Christ. There are not many who take advantage of the Word of God and come by faith. The gospel is despised and men plug their ears and run away from the good news of Jesus Christ. They refuse to hear about the love of Jesus Christ in His death and passion, but God proclaims His good news to the whole world.
29. There are only a few people who become reconciled to God. Many deprive themselves of the witness of Jesus Christ. Some cast it away or others profit it so little that they have no faith. Jesus is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. We ought to be grafted into Christ. It is a true blessing indeed if Jesus is ours by faith! He became our brother and He has made a great exchange for us that we may become rich in His glorious grace! He has given us His imputed merit alone that declares us right before God.
30. God always bore witness of Himself and He even bore witness to Himself to the heathen, but they had neither the law nor the prophets. He has made them without excuse. The law of nature would be enough to convince sinners of their unthankfulness and ungratefulness to God. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. The law of nature sets forth His goodness. We can be convinced of this without any instructor. It is plain to us and we ought to glorify God for this awesome thing in His beloved creation.
I hope you enjoyed my notes from Calvin's sermon. I will continue to write on this for next week. May the grace and peace of Jesus be with your spirit. Amen.
I am founder or chairman of Lord of Glory Ministries. I have provided my materials as a few "fishes and loaves" to attempt to exalt the Holy Trinity alone and debase the idolatry of man. I hope and pray to provide sound and free online books (although they are not cheap!) and Reformed sermons related to biblical apologetics and theology or regular Reformed "blog posts".
