Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

Paul meaneth to exclude all the desert & worthiness that men suppose or imagine themselves able to bring with them unto God. When they will needs go through with the matter by their own power and virtues: It is all one as if they would cut off a piece of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he cannot be rent in pieces or divided. Therefore all the working of our salvation must come of him alone, and we must not skulk here and there, nor seek byways, but come right forth unto him by the strait way of faith. Hereupon S. Paul addeth, that being baptised in Jesus Christ, we have put him on. And this is too take away a doubt that might be cast here, namely how it is possible that we should become the children of God, seeing that that dignity is peculiar to our Lord Jesus Christ.¹ For whereas he is called the Son of God, the Apostle showeth that that title cannot be verified of the very Angels of heaven. True it is, (as I have said heretofore) that they be named the children of God: howbeit, that is not without an addition. So is it out of doubt, that there is not any creature to whom that dignity belongeth. But now seeing that Jesus Christ is the only son of God, how doth the same extend unto us? S. Paul declareth that it is by reason of the union that is betwixt him and us,² according as it is said in the .xvij. Chapter of. S. John. Then if we were not one with our Lord Jesus Christ, surely we should have none acquaintance at all with God: for we be quite cut off from all hope of life by sin. Yea and we must needs be as deadly enemies unto him, and he unto us, till he have altered and renewed us. Howsoever the world go, being separated from Jesus Christ, and considered in our own nature, we be unworthy too be called men, and therefore much less can we boast that God is our father. ⟨p. 172⟩But here (as I said) Saint Paul intended to assoil that question, saying that by Baptism we be clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ. And this similitude of clothing is very rife in the holy Scripture, and it betokeneth in effect, that Jesus Christ is our apparel or raiment, whereby all is covered and buried that might make us to be rejected at Gods hand, and grace is purchased unto us, so as he doth not any more sift us and search us in our selves, but accepteth us as if we came in the very person of his own Sonne.