Given that the title of Book III, chapter IV is "How Far from the Purity of the Gospel Is All that the Sophists in their Schools Prate about Repentance; Discussion of Confession and Satisfaction," I went into it expecting some choice put-downs of Calvin's whipping-boys, the Scholastics and Peter Lombard, but not a whole lot of positive teaching on the doctrine of repentance. Cheerfully, however, I've discovered the exposition of error can lead to some helpful clarification.
Towards the end of the chapter, Calvin takes up a matter which perenially troubles believers: namely, whether we should expect God to punish us for our sins in this lifetime. Building primarily on Augustine and Chrysostom, Calvin points out that the wicked experience punishment for their sins in this life, but the children of God experience chastisements from their heavenly Father. These latter cannot be punishments because Christ has already paid full satisfaction for our sins. A summary of his argument comes in section 33.
But the children are beaten with rods, not to pay the penalty for their sins to God, but in order thereby to be led to repentance. Accordingly, we understand that these things have to do rather with the future than the past. I would prefer to express this thought in the words of Chrysostom rather than my own: "On this account," he says, "he imposes a penalty upon us–not to punish us for past sins, but to correct us against future ones."
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