It is not proper, says Calvin, to seperate the 'Law' and 'Gospel' too stringently. 'Gospel' encompasses all the ways that God reconciles people. This does not exclude the Law, it involves the Law. Of course, the Old Testament patriarchs may not have been aware of the role they played in the Gospel, but they were aware that they were part of a divine eternal plan to rescue people.
But, watch out for 'the diabolical imagination' of Servetus! Servetus would lead us to believe that we have already 'passed from death unto life' (I John 3:14), and that the promises of God have already been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Calvin thinks this is nonsense. How can we have the fulfillment of Christ's promises when we still struggle with our 'mortal flesh'? Sure, there is plenty in the NT about how all things have been fulfilled in Christ, but this represents a promise, says Calvin, that has effects on our present reality.
Once again, it sounds like God has given us enough grace to condemn us, but not enough to actually improve our situation(s). How kind.
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