Calvin believed in justification by
faith only or also in justification by works?
---Did Calvin believe in work-righteousness
as a necessity for the Christian? Yes or No? ---Kevin Philip Emmert ended his
dissertation in 2019 with the answer yes. ---He found that Calvin’s teaching on
work-righteousness more complex than what most people thought. ---Most studies focused on Calvin’s
negative statements in order to establish his teaching on Justification sola
fide. ---While it is true that he was negative
about the role of work as a means to salvation, he affirms work-righteousness
at other times in his statements. ---Emmert investigated not only whether
Calvin believed in work-righteousness but how he believed it. ---If there is a proper theological
context, Calvin felt, one can believe in work-righteousness. ---If faith has already been
established, one should believe in work-righteousness. ---Now I can understand why Jakobus
Arminius remained a Calvinist until his death in 1609. ---People called Arminius an apostate
from Calvin but he was not. He focused on these positive statements of Calvin
of work-righteousness. ---It was the black sheep in people’s
thinking in the 17th century, and he felt it should not be. ---That is what Adventism is. Adventism
tries to give a balanced view of faith only and work-righteousness and it does.
It is biblical and it is accepted by John Calvin but not by later Calvinists. ---Later Calvinists were your Orthodoxy
misreaders of Calvin. They were eclectic Calvinism. ---Eclectic Calvinism only clings on the
positive statements of Calvin how one is saved solely by Christ but they do not
dwell on the aspect of holiness and sanctification and work-righteousness which
is both biblical and Calvin’s understanding. ---They pick and choose only those
statements that will make religion easy and not will not require much changes
in one’s life. Not so with Calvin. ---It is a kind of form of justification
by works. ---Not only does Calvin view good works
as helping a good relation with divine acceptance. Calvin also said that good
works has salvation value for believers. Wow. Hello Adventists. ---Now Calvin and Ellen White is
speaking the same language. ---The topicsthat are important for a
study of this kind is: Calvin’s understanding of divine-human activity Calvin and the nature of good works Calvin and divine grace and benevolence Calvin and the union with Christ Calvin and the relation between
justification and sanctification Calvin and the relation between good
works and divine acceptance Calvin and the role of good works in the
Christian’s life Calvin and the content of good works ---Sources: Institutes, Commentaries,
Theological Treatises, Catechisms, Sermons. ---Sources: Kevin Philip Emmert, “The
Righteousness of Works in the Theology of John Calvin” (PhD Thesis, Middlesex
University/London School of Theology, 2019).