The Church Reformed, Always being Reformed
According to the Holy Spirit through Scripture
Reformed describes our Beliefs & Lifestyle.
“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by [supposedly] new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men” (6.006).
“We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent [all-powerful], invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory” (3.01, Scots Confession).
Reformed doctrine is a teaching of the sovereignty (lordship, power, rule) of this God.
He is the omnipotent creator.
He is the omnipotent ruler of His creation for His own glory and for the good of those who love him. God is in control. He often works out His purpose through people:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen 50:20).
God’s purposes were good – He is not the author of sin. God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.
The Sovereignty of God is the reason for the doctrine of predestination, by far the most controversial Reformed teaching.
“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death” (6.016).
Some have taken this teaching to conclusions that are not good and necessary consequences of Scripture. The Second Helvetic Confession notes on the topic of predestination unto everlasting life:
“Therefore we do not approve of the impious speeches of some who say, “Few are chosen, and since I do not know whether I am among the number of the few, I will enjoy myself.” Others say, “If I am predestinated and elected by God, nothing can hinder me from salvation, which is already certainly appointed for me, no matter what I do. But if I am in the number of the reprobate, no faith or repentance will help me, since the decree of God cannot be changed. Therefore all doctrines and admonitions are useless.” Now the saying of the apostle contradicts these men: “The Lord’s servant must be ready to teach, instructing those who oppose him, so that if God should grant that they repent to know the truth, they may recover from the snare of the devil, after being held captive by him to do his will” (II Tim. 2:23 ff.)” (5.057).
In other words, those who repent and reform their ways are the same as those who are elect unto eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Redemption Accomplished & Applied:
The TULIP summary explains how the sovereignty of God relates to the accomplishment and application of redemption.
Total Depravity – Fallen man is spiritually dead:
“by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of God, but prone to rebel against his Word, to repine and murmur against his providence, and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, and of the devil” (7.302).
Unconditional Election –
“From eternity God has freely, and of his mere grace, without any respect to men, predestinated or elected the saints whom he wills to save in Christ” (5.052);
“God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life,” (7.020).
Limited Atonement – Christ died only for the elect and not for every man in the same way:
“The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him” (6.047).
Really the alternative (atonement for all) is atonement for none, just the possibility of salvation. Therefore, the alternative view is really the limited view.
Irresistible Grace –
“All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ: enlightening their minds, spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace” (6.064).
Acts 13:48 “and all who were appointed for eternal life believed”
Perseverance of the Saints –
“They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved” (6.094).
Union with Christ:
Union with Christ by Faith is more fundamental than justification or sanctification. We cannot be justified without also definitive sanctification. We cannot be adopted without also being justified and sanctified. All these come under union with Christ and are inseparable.
“Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification, yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love” (6.069).
“Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone” (7.033).
“Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put on them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, and under his Fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Christ in glory” (7.184).
“Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness” (7.035).
Reformed (definitive sanctification) and always being Reformed (progressive sanctification)
“What is your only comfort, in life and in death? That I belong-body and soul, in life and in death-not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him” (4.001).
Such Reformed teaching should lead to revival.
“Because just as Christ has redeemed us with his blood he also renews us through his Holy Spirit according to his own image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves grateful to God for his goodness and that he may be glorified through us; and further, so that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by its fruits and by our reverent behavior may win our neighbors to Christ” (4.086).
Thus one of the most important contributions of the Book of Confessions is commentary on the Ten Commandments. Our way of life is different when we are reformed and always being Reformed according to Scripture.
“But can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly? No, for even the holiest of them make only a small beginning in obedience in this life. Nevertheless, they begin with serious purpose to conform not only to some, but to all the commandments of God” (4.114).
This is Reformed (converted) and always being Reformed (begin conforming) according to Scripture (the commandments of God). The second reason it gives for the strictness of the Ten Commandments is
“that we may constantly and diligently pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that more and more we may be renewed in the image of God, until we attain the goal of full perfection after this life” (4.115).
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