A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…

22 In the body of his flesh.) A speech in kind strange and absurd: but the body of flesh, is as much (as if he had said) ⟨p. 21⟩the humane body which the Son of God hath common with us. His mind than was to declare that the Son of God hath put on the like nature that we have, that is to say, that he had taken on him a body that was base and lowly, earthy and endangered to many infirmities, that he might be our mediator. When he addeth by death, he calleth us back to the consideration of the sacrifice. For the Son of God must become man, and partaker of our flesh, that he might be our brother: by dying he must become a sacrifice, that he might pacify the Father unto us. That he might make you stand holy. The second principal part of our salvation, namely newness of life. For in these two members or pieces chiefly consisteth the whole power of redemption: viZ. in forgiveness of sins, and spiritual regeneration. Jere. 31.33. That which already he said, was a great matter, that righteousness was purchased unto us by the death of Christ, that sin being done away, we might be acceptable unto God. But now he teacheth that another thing cometh withal that is as notable, namely the giving of the holy Ghost, whereby we are newly fashioned after the Image of God. And it is a place worth the marking, that free righteousness is not given unto us in Christ, unless we be borne anew also by the Spirit into the obedience of righteousness: as he teacheth 1. Cor. 1.30, that Christ is made unto us righteousness and sanctification. And we obtain righteousness by being freely accepted: but sanctification we obtain by the gift of the holy Ghost, while we become new man. and of both these graces there is an unseparable knot. But let us note that this holiness is but begun in us only, and that it doth daily profit and go on: but that it shall not be perfect, until Christ shall appear to the building up of all things. For naughtily and frowardly did the Celestines and Pelagians in time past abuse this place, to exclude the grace of forgiveness of sins. For they did shine a perfection in this world, which mought satisfy the judgement of GOD, so that mercy should be superstitious and more than needs. But Paul doeth not here teach what is fulfilled in this World: