For convincing a man of sin, righteousness, and judgment, by the gospel.
As for convincing a man of sin, and righteousness, and judgment, by the gospel, or covenant of grace, he must understand three things:
1. That not believing in Jesus Christ, or refusing of the covenant of grace offered in him, is a greater and more dangerous sin than all other sins against the law; because the hearers of the gospel, not believing in Christ, do reject God’s mercy in Christ, the only way of freedom from sin and wrath, and will not yield to be reconciled to God.
2. Next, he must understand, that perfect remission of sin, and true righteousness, is to be had only by faith in Jesus; but God requires no other conditions but faith; and testifies from heaven, that he is well pleased to justify sinners upon this condition.
3. He must understand, that upon righteousness received by faith, judgment shall follow, on the one hand, to the destroying of the works of the devil in the believer, and to the perfecting of the work of sanctification in him, with power: and that, upon refusing to take righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, judgment shall follow, on the other hand, to the condemnation of the unbeliever, and destroying of him with Satan and his servants for ever.
David Dickson & James Durham, The Sum of Saving Knowledge (Edinburgh, 1650; repr. Crown & Covenant Publications, 2022), 20–21.
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Interesting quote, but the language seems to imply that justification is conditional when even our faith is a gift from God.
João,
I’m sure that’s not what the authors are saying. The Sum was intended as a brief synopsis of the Standards and it’s well known for it’s clear articulation of the doctrine of justification and salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
The condition described in the third point is a consequence of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone and not as a precondition of obtaining salvation.
We say that Christ has fulfilled the antecedent conditions, i.e., the covenant of works, for us. He has imposed on us consequent conditions, not in order to retain what has been given but so we know what is expected of us who have been redeemed.
The Sum here is only saying what Heidelberg 2 saying, there are three things we must know:
For more on this see these resources: