Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

Now, since it is so, that Jesus Christ became so humble, as to make him self the servant of men, it is not for naught then that he is here called the servant of God. And to say the truth, he could not otherwise have redeemed us. I speak now in respect that God his Father had so decreed it, as we have already heretofore said. For, I know that God could, if it had pleased him have saved us without any mean, But we are always to presuppose that it was Jesus Christ which must purchase life for us. And therefore, for the bringing of this matter to pass, it was eftsoons meet that he should become a servant: because he could not otherwise have yielded his obedience unto God his Father: and without this obedience, it was impossible for him to have repaired our transgressions and iniquities. Thus then we see why he was called a righteous servant. To be short, the Prophet doeth us to wit, that because we were, and yet are, rebels to God, until such time as he hath reformed us by his holy spirit: and again, although after he hath given us the touch of a good mind, yet are we unprofitable servants, and trip and stumble every hand while: and besides, when we shall think that the service which we do him, should be well accepted of him, yet may it be very well amended, yea & worthy to be rejected: and therefore for the blotting out of our offences, it was meet that the service and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ should please God: and that it should also carry with it a right and full satisfaction. This then is the sum and effect of his meaning. And hereupon we are to gather, that Jesus Christ did not only justify us in that he was God, but through the power of his obedience, in that he took upon him our nature, and therein would accomplish and fulfil the law, which was impossible for us to do, because it was such a burden as would have pressed us all down, and have broken our necks. Forsomuch then as our Lord Jesus Christ forsook himself for our salvation, and became obedient unto God his Father, we see in what sort he hath justified us. Now, he speaketh also namely of his knowledge, meaning thereby to express, that it was not enough that our Lord Jesus Christ performed in his own person, all whatsoever that was necessary for our salvation, but that we also should take fast hold thereof by faith.

Nowe, since it is so, that Iesus Christ became so humble, as to make him selfe the seruant of men, it is not for naught then that hée is here called the seruant of God. And to say the truth, he could not otherwise haue redéemed vs. I speake now in respect that God his Father had so decréede it, as we haue alredie heretofore sayde. For, I know that God could, if it had pleased him haue saued vs without any meane, But we are alwayes to presuppose that it was Iesus Christ which must purchase life for vs. And therefore, for the bringing of this matter to passe, it was eftsoones méet that he should become a seruant: because hee could not otherwise haue yéelded his obedience vnto God his Father: and without this obedience, it was impossible for him to haue repaired our transgressions and iniquities. Thus then we sée why he was called a righteous seruant. To be short, the Prophet doeth vs to wit, that because we were, and yet are, rebels to God, vntill such time as he hath reformed vs by his holy spirit: and againe, although after he hath giuen vs the touch of a good mind, yet are we vnprofitable seruants, and tryp and stumble euerie hand while: and besides, when wée shall thinke that the seruice which we doe him, should be well accepted of him, yet may it be verie well amended, yea & worthie to be reiected: and therefore for the blotting out of our offences, it was méete that the seruice and obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ should please God: and that it should also carry with it a right and full satisfaction. This then is the summe and effect of his meaning. And herevpon we are to gather, that Iesus Christ did not onely iustifie vs in that he was God, but through the power of his obedience, in that he tooke vpon him our nature, and therein would accomplish and fulfill the lawe, which was impossible for vs to doe, because it was such a burthen as would haue pressed vs all downe, and haue broken our neckes. Forsomuch then as our Lord Iesus Christ forsooke himselfe for our saluation, and became obedient vnto God his Father, we sée in what sort he hath iustified vs. Now, he speaketh also namely of his knowledge, meaning thereby to expresse, that it was not inough that our Lorde Iesus Christ performed in his own person, all whatsoeuer that was necessarie for our saluation, but that wee also should take fast hold therof by fayth.