In Bk 2, ch.9 Calvin begins to explore the continuity between the Old Testament and the New; in particular the connection between law and gospel.
Here is the summary.
1. The Old Testament Scriptures reveal God’s work of creation, his promise and covenant, his election of Israel, his sovereignty over history, and his wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Do they hide Christ from us? No
2. Moses bore witness to Him (Jn 5:46; Heb 11:25-26), Abraham saw Christ’s day and was glad (Jn 8:56), and the prophets proclaimed Him (Mal 4:2; Lk 24:25).
3. Yet, “while the law serves to hold the godly in expectation of Christ’s coming, at His advent they (the godly) should hope for far more light” (Pg., 423). [1 Pet 1:10-12]
4. The saints of the old covenant glimpsed at those mysteries of the gospel “in shadowed outline” (Pg., 424). Every law and ordinance pointed to the coming Christ just as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:6.
5. The new covenant, promised even by God in the old covenant clearly reveals Christ. [Matt 4:17, 23; 9:23; 2 Tim 1:10; 2 Cor 1:20, 22; Jn 1:51]
6. The gospel in a broad sense “includes those testimonies of His mercy and fatherly favour which God gave to the patriarchs of old” (Pg., 425).
7. The gospel in its fulfilled sense refers “to the proclamation of the grace manifested in Christ” (Pg., 425).
8. As the law does not hid Christ from us, so the law also gives promises, which are not taken away because of the full revelation of the gospel. Again, we see that law and gospel are connected, not separate entities.
9. “The gospel did not supplant the entire law as to bring forward a different way of salvation. Rather, it confirmed and satisfied whatever the law had promised, and gave substance to the shadows.....where the whole law is concerned, the gospel differs from it only in clarity of manifestation” (Pg., 427). [Rom 1:16 cf, Rom 3:21; 16:25-26)
10. The law reveals Christ. It was the finger pointing hearts toward the great Lawgiver and Law-keeper Himself - Jesus Christ.
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