Sanctification

Heidelberg 70: Washed With Christ’s Blood And Spirit—The Double Benefit Of Christ

by on May 21, 2015 | 1 Comment

Baptism testifies and seals to us believers that we have been declared clean on the basis of Christ’s perfect righteousness and condign merit imputed to us. We have come “to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:24). It also testifies and seals to us believers that we are being cleansed, i.e., that we are being progressively, graciously sanctified by Christ’s Spirit, that Christ’s sprinkled blood not only justifies but it is unto (toward) actual “sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:2). Continue reading →

Heidelberg 64: Sanctification By Grace Versus Sanctification By Scolding (2)

by on May 10, 2015 | 7 Comments

64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane? No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness (Heidelberg Catechism 64) In part 1 we began to look . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 64: Sanctification By Grace Versus Sanctification By Scolding (1)

by on May 9, 2015 | 2 Comments

Usually, if a boss wants greater efficiency and productivity from her employees, she sets up a system of incentives for her employees. If the boss is of the ordinary, uncreative sort, those incentives are likely to be negative. Fail to meet this goal and x (e.g., loss of pay, demotion etc) shall happen. A more creative boss might set up a series of positive incentives: meet this target and you shall receive y reward (e.g., extra paid vacation, flexible scheduling, company car etc). Whatever the nature of the incentive, the very structure is a covenant of works. Continue reading →

Heidelberg 63: Rewards Merited For Us By Christ And Given Freely To Believers

by on May 8, 2015 | 4 Comments

When the medieval church thought about rewards, it thought about merit. They distinguished between two kinds or aspects of merit. That which we most frequently discuss was called “condign merit” (meritum de condigno). Condign merit is intrinsically worthy. The second category was “congruent . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 65: Faith, Union With Christ, And The Means Of Grace (3)

by on May 7, 2015

Neither Holy Baptism nor the Holy Supper create the realities they signify and seal but they are gospel sacraments. They are promises of good news to believers. Faith receives what they promise. Faith knows, assents, and trusts and receives all that they promise. The sacraments do not replace faith. They supplement faith. They confirm faith the way a registered letter embossed or stamped with a government seal confirms a declaration. Continue reading →

Heidelberg 59: What Good Is Faith?

by on March 2, 2015 | 7 Comments

One of the more disturbing aspects of the reaction to antinomianism in recent years, whether that antinomianism is real or perceived does not matter for the purposes of this discussion, is how quickly some have been willing to write, speak, and act . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 53: We Believe In The Holy Spirit (2)

by on January 15, 2015 | 3 Comments

53. What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit ? First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son. Secondly, that He is also given to me, by true faith makes me a partaker of Christ and all His . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 43: How Does Christ’s Death Benefit Our Sanctification?

by on November 25, 2014 | 2 Comments

When the Scriptures seek to illustrate the nature of the Christian life, the nature of sanctification, it uses two images: death and life. Note the order, death then life. In the covenant of works, made with Adam as the federal representative of . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 42: Why Must We Die Too?

by on November 23, 2014 | 3 Comments

We have our evangelical superstars but none of these luminaries have reached the brightness of Sister Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944). Most of them can walk the streets in any city undisturbed by crowds but not Sister Aimee. At the height of her . . . Continue reading →