Book 3, Chapter 1

Calvin begins by describing our bond in Christ through the Holy Spirit. For as long as we are separated from Christ we are without the benefits of salvation, which he conferred through the work given to him by the Father and fully accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection. “To communicate to us the blessings which he received from the Father, he must become ours and dwell in us” (3.1.1).

The redemptive accomplishment of Christ is, in a sense, not at work until the Spirit works in us. “[U]ntil our minds are intent on the Spirit, Christ is in a manner unemployed, because we view him coldly without us, and so at a distance from us” (3.1.3). And the Gospel itself will fall on our deaf ears until the Spirit turns our hearts and minds to hear the God’s call. 

“To the same effect Paul says to the Ephesians, ‘Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,’ (Eph. 1:13); thus showing that he is the internal teacher, by whose agency the promise of salvation, which would otherwise only strike the air or our ears, penetrates into our minds” (3.1.4). Thus, it becomes apparent that the perverse heart of any believer who has faith in Christ must first experience the regenerative work of the Spirit and is therefore brought into relation with Christ. 

Modern Evangelical vernacular unfortunately at times limits the beauty of this Gospel truth by incorrectly placing the emphasis on the will of the unbeliever to “make a decision” and “invite the Holy Spirit into their heart.” We are reminded here in this first chapter that it is wholly the work of God through the Holy Spirit to ignite faith in our hearts so that we may know and have union with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, at the outset of this Book, the believer should be reminded that all faith should point, not to the individual, but to the work of the Spirit and the employment of Christ in the believer’s heart (about which we will learn more in Chapter 2). A discussion will be raised later during the reading of Book 3 on the nature and priority of receiving the benefits of Christ (see previous post by Baus). 

Argument of Book 3

In the Argument, Calvin simply outlines his plan for the third book.

He styles his discussion, as he does the entire Institutes, as an exposition of the Apostle's Creed. So, in the third book he is elaborating on the work of the Holy Spirit in redemption applied.

It's interesting that he seems to move from a general consideration of saving faith and repentance, to the Christian Life or Sanctification as the life of repentance in mortification (of the flesh/sin) and vivification (in the Spirit), to prior Justification, to prayer as the "principal exercise of faith" and daily means of grace, to Election, to the Resurrection.

The logic of his discourse might not be immediately obvious.  But, there is a discernible flow that becomes more apparent as you go in the way these topics are inter-related elements of God's application of salvation to sinners.