A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

For God is not unjust, &c.] These words import as much as if he should have said, Objection. that of these good beginnings, he hopes there will be a good ending. But here ariseth a difficulty; for it seems as if he meant to say that God is beholding unto men, in regard of that they have done for him. I hope well saith he, of your salvation, why? because God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your works. By this it may seem that he builds their salvation upon works, and brings in God as one indebted unto them. Thus the Sophisters who oppose the merits of works to the grace of God, do debate this point, and insist upon it very much; God, say they, is not unjust. For from hence they gather, that it should be unjust with God, if he give not to the merit of works, the reward of eternal salvation. Answer. I answer in few words, that it is not the Apostles meaning, expressly to deal here about the cause of our salvation; and therefore we are not to judge of the merit of works by this place: neither yet can we hence resolve, ¹what it is that is due to works. The Scripture every where shows none other cause of our salvation, than the free mercy of God. Now whereas God in many places promiseth reward to works, this depends upon his free promise, by which he hath adopted us for his children, and reconciled us unto himself, not imputing ⟨p. 121⟩our sins unto us. Reward then is appointed unto works, not for any merit that is in them, ²but by the mere liberality of God. Yea even this free recompense of works proceeding from the free bounty and liberality of God, hath no place till we be received into favour by the means of Christ. We gather from hence then, that God in doing this, pays nothing that he owes us, but keeps and fulfils that promise, which of his free good will he hath made, ³because he beholds both our selves and our works with favour and pardon; or to speak yet more properly, he considers not our works so much, as his own grace in our works. Now ye see how it is, that he forgets not our works, because in them he acknowledgeth both himself, and the work of his Spirit. This is also that righteousness which the Apostle meaneth, to wit, because he cannot deny himself. Thus this place is agreeable to the sentence of S. Paul, where he saith, he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it to the day of Christ, Philip.