Calvin on the Redemptive Necessity of the Resurrection

I came across the following quote from John Calvin in his Institutes regarding the resurrection and why it was necessary for our salvation.  The reason for this inquiry was that very little, it seems, is said about the redemptive work of the resurrection today.  It seems that many Christians assume it without really discussing it.  Most want to argue the proof of the resurrection and thereby miss the necessity of the resurrection (apart from making a point about Christ's diety).  Others want to discuss our future resurrection and so move straight to eschatology.  Certainly this is extremely important and is Paul's main point in 1 Corinthians 15.

But what does the resurrection have to do with our justification?  Many lay out how it affects our sanctification and glorification, but few really, in great detail, discuss how it affects our justification.

Here is what Calvin had to say:

The nature of it is better expressed in the words of Paul, 'Who (Christ) was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification," (Rom. 4:25) as if he had said, By his death sin was taken away, by his resurrection righteousness was renewed and restored.  For ow could he by dying have freed us from death, if he had yielded to its power?  how could he have obtained the victory for us, if he had fallen in the contest?  Our salvation may be thus divided between the death and the resurrection of Christ:  by the former sin was abolished and death annihilated; by the latter righteousness was restored and life revived, the power and efficacy of the former being still bestowed upon us by means of the latter . . . 


In these words we are not only urged by the example of a risen Saviour to follow newness of life, but are taught that by his power we are renewed unto righteousness.

I believe that the great Reformed theologian hits it dead on in this section.  The phrase, "By his death sin was taken away, by his resurrection righteousness was renewed and restored," is an excellent summation of why the resurrection was necessary and how it fulfilled the work necessary for our salvation.  Calvin rightly points out that the atonement accomplished on the cross dealt primarily with sin (justification) while the resurrection deals with repentance and obedience (sanctification).  We see here that the two are not separable.  Those who are justified are also repentant and obedient.

I encourage Christians everywhere to look more into this theological area of the resurrection.  As Protestants we oftentimes place so much emphasis on the cross that we forget the resurrection or at the very least speak very little on it.  We must emphasize both.  The cross deals with sin while the resurrection deals with our righteousness.

Merry Easter and let us pray that the gospel, the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, be proclaimed and sinners repent and bear fruit of that repentance.