Life in Christ

In three wide-ranging case studies Mark A. Garcia offers a comprehensive yet focused analysis of the centrality of union with Christ in Calvin's thought. It explains not only the distinctive nature of Calvin's response to Rome on justification, but why this response must be carefully distinguished from that of his Lutheran counterparts. The fruit of these investigations is the first extensive demonstration that Calvin's exposition of union with Christ in relating justification and sanctification points to an emerging Reformed theology of justification that diverges from the Lutheran tradition. Calvin's exegetical and theological model of union with Christ accents the importance in the early Reformed tradition of the relationship between Christology and salvation.
""[T]his is one of the more perceptive recent accounts of the difficult problem of faith and works in Calvin's theology. It also sheds much light on issues such as his quarrel with Osiander. A highly commendable first book.""
--Irena Backus, Professor of History of Christianity, Institute for Reformation History, University of Geneva
""Thoroughly researched and clearly written, this book makes an important contribution to Calvin studies. It explores in depth and often with unprecedented insight the central place of union with Christ in his applied soteriology and demonstrates convincingly, with significant implications, just how controlling is its basic union/twofold grace (of justification and sanctification) structure.""
--Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Charles Krahe Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary
""This is a superb study and warmly to be recommended to all who are working with Calvin's theology.""
--Anthony N. S. Lane, Director of Research and Professor of Historical Theology, London School of Theology
""Mark Garcia here does handsome justice to the significance of union with Christ in John Calvin, and does so in a book which displays a masterful familiarity with contemporary Calvin scholarship, alongside other grounds for high praise.""
--David F. Wright, Emeritus Professor of Patristic and Reformed Christianity, New College, University of Edinburgh
Mark A. Garcia (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is Pastor of Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in West Allegheny (Oakdale), Pennsylvania.