The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Calvin's take on Romans 5:15

I wonder what your thoughts are?

I read where John Calvin thought that their would be many more Christians than what most thinks because of the Romans 5:15 passage.

"But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many." (Romans 5:15 NASB)

John,

Whether Calvin used that text to conclude that there will be "many Christians", whatever that means?? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" /> I'll leave that for you to decide. But the text isn't speaking about "how many" and simply cannot be for it would prove too much for even John Calvin to accept. The text says, "For if by the transgression of the one <span style="background-color:yellow">the many</span> died . . ." which we know refers to everyone without exception; i.e., the entire human race throughout history from Adam to the last man alive when Christ returns. Thus the "<span style="background-color:yellow">much more</span> did the grace of God . . .[/i]" isn't a comparison of "quantity of people", you can't exceed the "many" for it represents everyone, but rather what the text is emphasizing is the "efficaciousness" of the act done by the respective parties. Adam's sin effected the entire human race and brought upon them all alienation from God, a depravity of nature and the prospect of eternal punishment. Christ's atonement not only satisfied the demands of the law which Adam failed to do but also paid the penalty due to those for whom He died, provided an alien righteousness which is imputed to them and even the Holy Spirit to dwell in them thus effectively transforming them, albeit in part, into His likeness. Thus, Christ's act of a vicarious substitutionary atonement not only eradicated all that which Adam's act of sin brought about but it transcended it by providing all that was required and more.

I would like to suggest that if but one man was atoned for by Christ's death, it would have far exceeded the fall of the entire human race brought on by Adam's disobedient act. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,