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Canons of Dordt (40)

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Canons of Dordt (40)

9 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

It is a wonder of God’s mercy that sinners and rebels are called to return unto Him. Fallen man is sincerely called to turn to his Maker. No one would ever do this, however, if left to his own will. Conversion is God’s work. He enlightens the understanding, renews the will, so that the fruits of this inward renewal will be manifest. There is love to God, sorrow about sin, and longing to serve and honor Him.

How the Lord works this wonder of the renewal of man, we read in the Third and Fourth Heads, Article 12.

And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture and denominated a new creation: a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid. But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed His part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted; but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the Author of this work declares; so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe. Whereupon the will thus renewed is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence becomes itself active. Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.

This work of regeneration is a wonder, a mystery. The question is whose work it is: God’s or man’s? Or perhaps is it God’s work with our aid, so that God and man cooperate? Man is a proud creature. He wants to get credit even for what is not his own work. In Paradise we became robbers of God’s honor, and this robbery you find in all false teachings. They are man-centered, and even if they speak of grace, it is never grace alone. Man also contributes something. Therefore it is so necessary that our fathers explain what regeneration really is according to Scripture.

Names in Scripture

The names given to regeneration in Scripture already indicate that it is not man’s work at all.

It is called a new creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Another definition from Scripture is a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, as we read in Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

Scripture calls this work a circumcision of the heart. “And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live” (Deuteronomy 30:6).

It is called a giving of a new heart and a new spirit. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26).

It is a new birth from the Spirit, as the Lord Jesus says in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

We see that Scripture uses different expressions when it speaks of regeneration. Also when God’s Word speaks about regeneration, it does not always have the same meaning.

Sometimes it means the renewing of the human heart by a quickening act of God, as Christ spoke to Nicodemus. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This is the regeneration in the narrow sense. We read of it also in 1 Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Sometimes, however, Scripture speaks of regeneration as the renewing of our whole life, which is the work of conversion, as a result of regeneration. This is an ongoing work of God, sanctifying the believer. This we read in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Our Confession of Laith speaks in Article 24 of this regeneration, in the broader sense, as the renewing work of the Spirit, which is a process which takes place during our whole life.

Scripture also speaks of regeneration as the renewing of the whole creation, of the heaven and the earth. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

It is not the work of man

Although the word regeneration may have different meanings, it is evident that first of all we and our children need a new heart, a new birth, a regeneration in the narrow sense.

This regeneration is definitely not the work of man. It is not that he chooses to believe and then becomes a new creature. No, prior to regeneration there is no true spiritual life, no preparation from the side of man. As man does not contribute in any way to his natural birth, so no one will ever contribute to his regeneration, although the use of the means is required.

It is not the preaching alone that will quicken the dead sinner. It is a wonderful privilege if we may sit under the preaching of the gospel, but this preaching itself will not regenerate us. Neither will any persuasive powers of the preacher accomplish this wonderful, mysterious work.

The Arminians taught that the grace by which man is converted to God is only a gentle suasion, which in itself would be sufficient to change man. No, only a powerful, irresistible application’s work of the Holy Spirit will effect this renewing.

It is also not enough to become different, a changed person, for King Saul was changed, too. However, he did not have a new heart that loves and seeks to serve the Lord.

The Remonstrants taught about a weak God who tries to persuade a strong man, so that the final decision concerning his salvation lies with this man. What a comfortless teaching this is!

The Lord teaches His children by His Spirit that they would never have laid down their weapons, never have surrendered unto Him, if it had been left to their will and choice. Yes, we are commanded to surrender and to believe, and we are accountable to the Lord for what we do with the sincere callings of the gospel. We need, however, what our fathers call “a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the Author of this work declares.”

It is the work of an almighty God

It is important to know what this regeneration is not, but we also should know what it really is.

It is supernatural, not a fruit of our human nature, but from the work of the Holy Spirit.

It is most powerful, for it is the irresistible work of an almighty God, so that the most bitter enemy will lose the battle before God.

It is most delightful. It is a very sweet work. The Lord sheds abroad His love into the sinner’s heart. Therefore he will weep about his sins and know that longing for God’s favor and His communion. This longing, this hungering and thirsting is already so sweet that he would not like to exchange it for the whole world. Not that he can rest in it, because those longings must be fulfilled, but yet an awakened soul would rather weep and seek after God all his life than to have all the treasures of the world without Him.

It is astonishing and mysterious. It is mysterious because it is beyond our understanding. We cannot explain it because it is God’s work.

It is also ineffable, that is, it cannot be expressed; there are no words to explain it.

It is a power not less than which was necessary to raise Lazarus from the grave. It is a work not less powerful than the work of creation. In fact, God met no resistance when He created heaven and earth. There was nothing, but He called the things that were not. In regeneration, however, God meets an unwilling, rebellious enemy, and He conquers him and gives him new life.

The fruits of this work

This renewing work will also be evident in the fruits. When the will is renewed, the regenerated sinner becomes willing and active; he believes and repents “by virtue of that grace received.”

It is not true that God, reverently speaking, gives the dead sinner a push that puts him on his feet upon the right way, and that then this person will, by the use of his own will and abilities, continue on this new way. No, God quickens him, places him upon the narrow way, and makes him walk in the paths of His commandments. And the person does this with delight, with a longing to honor the God whom he has so wickedly offended.

God Himself will also complete this work, as the poet sings, “He will finish perfectly what He for them has undertaken.” It is such a wonder and comfort that salvation, from the beginning to the end, is God’s work alone. Believers are kept by the power of God unto salvation.

Young and old, fall on your knees and beg the Lord to prevail in your life, to place you upon that narrow way, so that you may serve Him, although imperfectly and with many shortcomings, with all the love of your heart. You will never regret it if you may forsake the world and cleave unto Him. God is so worthy to be honored.

— Rev. C. Vogelaar
(Kalamazoo, MI)

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