Canons of Dordt (5)

It is God's work to bring sinners to believe in Him. However, He uses messengers, sinful people in themselves, to bring the most joyful tidings of the gospel, and to call man to repentance and to faith in Christ crucified. The Lord does not need men, but it pleases Him to make use of them. How great is also the need in our congregations, with so many pulpits without ministers. The Lord has told us to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may give laborers to work in His vineyard.

True conversion is so necessary, because by nature we lie under the curse of God, and without faith we remain under His wrath. That is what our fathers have expressed in the fourth article.

Article Four

The wrath of God abideth upon those who believe not this gospel. But such as receive it, and embrace Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith, are by Him delivered from the wrath of God and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them.

Messengers of the gospel

Here we read of our wretched condition because of our disobedience to God. The wrath of God is upon us, and the worst part is that we do not realize it. How different it becomes when the Lord opens our eyes and we begin to see the reality. Then we see the separation between God and our souls, but also that He is angry with us. We can no longer stay in the city of destruction, but we begin to flee and hasten for our lives' sake. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that there is deliverance from the wrath of God. Therefore the Lord sends these messengers to preach the gospel. However, it is not a light thing to live under the proclamation of this gospel. It is either a savor of life unto life or a savor of death unto death. The prophet testified in Isaiah 55:11, "So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

No, it is not true that when we have heard God's Word, we leave the church building the same as we came into it. The preaching of God's Word will either break and humble our hearts and cause us to surrender to God, or we will harden ourselves under it.

If we continue to harden our hearts, the wrath and the judgment of God remain upon us. We read in Romans 2:5, "But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." It is indeed a great privilege to live under the preaching of the way of salvation. If we do not believe the gospel, if we remain in our unbelief, it will be true what we read in John 3:36, "And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

True saving faith

How indispensable is this faith, so that we believe God's own Word, His gospel.

However, this is not a historical faith, which is only in our understanding without a renewing of the heart. King Agrippa knew the Scriptures and believed them, but his heart was still the heart of an enemy.

It also is not a temporary faith, which affects our feelings and emotions, but also is without a renewing of our life and heart. We see this faith illustrated in the seed sown on stony ground.

It also is not the faith of miracles, which believes that God can do miracles, but which is content with the miraculous deeds of God and does not need or love the God who performs these miracles. The nine lepers had this faith and did not return to their Benefactor.

The faith spoken of in this article is true, saving faith. This faith is a gift of God: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). The Lord plants this faith in the hearts of sinners when He regenerates them. He also brings it into exercise, so that it may flee and take refuge, may hunger and thirst, and like an empty beggar's hand will be stretched out to Him in whom is everything that the sinner needs. So the Canaanitish woman came by faith to Christ and said, "Son of David, have mercy upon me."

The exercises of faith, however, can be very weak. That faith can be so small, that the disciples asked, as we read in Luke 17:5, "Lord, increase our faith."

Saying "Amen"

Believing is saying "Amen" to the Word of God. Then we learn to say "Amen" when His Word condemns us and we bow under it. At God's time also we say "Amen" when the gospel is opened to us and proclaims a suitable and willing Savior, who says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

This faith sees the necessity of this Christ and of His righteousness, and it cannot rest in the promises and encouragements alone, although these may strengthen this faith. It seeks to receive and to have Christ and His righteousness as its own portion. How precious it is when a soul, discovered and stripped from all his own righteousnesses, having nothing in himself, may behold Him who receiveth sinners and eateth with them.

The Lord is still working

Our young people hear so little of the work of Christ, as glorified in the life of others. However, the Lord is still working. Not that long ago somebody in another country called me and told me how the Lord had brought him for the first time to His table. No, not as a converted person in himself, not as one who is qualified. But do you know how the Lord makes a sinner prepared for Christ? He makes him what he really is: an enemy in whose heart the whole world, with all its wickedness, can be found. What a wonder for such a one when the gospel message is brought home with irresistible power and faith is given to believe what we read in John 6:51, "And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." That is the gospel: a living Christ, a perfect Savior, for a complete and lost sinner. What gladness for those who have experienced what we read in Psalm 116:3, "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow." Then they may truly say, "Rehoboth, the LORD has made room for us."

True faith embraces Christ

Our fathers spoke of what this faith does. It receives what the Lord gives. It embraces Jesus the Savior. This is done by a true and living faith, not with mere contemplation and intellectual reasoning. This living faith makes the sinner humble, and it exalts God. It will also show fruits to the honor of God. We read in Psalm 130:4, "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." No, this will not give an Antinomian, careless life. The Samaritan woman, after having seen the Messiah by faith, left her water pot and became an evangelist. She could no longer be silent about Him who had revealed Himself to her as the Messiah. She sought to be used to bring others to Him and said, "Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"

People of God, why are you often so quiet? How little do our children hear who the Lord is for an undeserving sinner. Is He then not worthy to be exalted, and His service to be recommended to everyone, young and old?

His yoke is easy and His burden is light. There is yet place, also for young people. That gift of eternal life can also be received by you. Ask the Lord for it, and seek Him early. He is so worthy to be served.

— to be continued —

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