Canons of Dordt (46)

The Lord builds His church in spite of all opposition and enmity against Him, and it is His work alone, not that of man. This does not mean, however, that we do not have to use the means of grace diligently. Place yourself under the proclamation of God’s Word, through which the Lord will work faith and repentance. God’s servants may be discouraged at times, but God in His good pleasure will bless diligent labors in spite of all their shortcomings. The cause of the church and the coming of God’s kingdom is not ours, but it is the continuing work of the exalted Mediator at the right hand of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, who calls, gathers, guides, and keeps His church. God’s church will be kept by Him to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth. Therefore they will not perish, but persevere. Of this perseverance of the saints we read in the last part of our Canons of Dordt. Christ delivers from the dominion and slavery of sin.

This we find also in the Fifth Head, Article 1.

Whom God calls, according to His purpose, to the communion of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, He delivers also from the dominion and slavery of sin in this life; though not altogether from the body of sin and from the infirmities of the flesh, so long as they continue in this world.

What an eternal wonder it is that God calls sinners and enemies. He calls them out of nature’s darkness into His marvelous light. He brings them from the bondage of sin and Satan to the communion of the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be no reason to boast in anything of the creature. It will be free grace alone.

Saints

That which is a cause of adoration to those who learn to understand the mystery of grace, however, will be an offense to others. The Remonstrants not only taught the free will of man, thus making man the deciding factor concerning eternal salvation, but they also believed that the perseverance of saints depends on human efforts and diligence.

The Arminians believed that it is possible to lose grace once received. In other words, there could be a falling away, an apostasy of saints. Their accusation was that the Reformed doctrine of the perseverance of saints would make people careless. It would not matter how they lived, because God would never let them go, and salvation would be sure regardless of how they had lived on earth.

It is the old accusation against the doctrine of free grace. It is a false accusation, however, because grace does not make a sinner careless, but humble, dependent, and sincere. Grace causes him to fear that he would offend and grieve a gracious God who has looked upon a wretch like him.

When we speak about the perseverance of the saints, we must not imagine that this implies that God’s people will reach a stage of perfection while on earth. They will remain miserable sinners in themselves. By discovering light they learn to know themselves as leprous, corrupt, inclined to all evil, and unable to do any good. No, when they look at themselves, there is only unholiness. Are not their best works, their righteousnesses, as filthy rags? Yet, they are a holy nation, a peculiar people, as the apostle says. They are holy in Another, in the perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. When God looks upon them, He views them in the finished work of His dear Son, and then the black bride is pure, spotless, without blemish or anything that would dishonor Him. How else could the holy God have communion with such sinners as they are? But in the work of Christ He sees no sin in His Jacob and no iniquity in His Israel.

Rich privileges

It should be clear that our fathers speak here about the children of God. The Lord has given them rich privileges. They, like others, under the dominion of sin, were slaves. It is true, they did not realize this when they lived in the darkness of ignorance. They even thought they knew what freedom was. Young people, do you ever look at others, who perhaps do not go to church, and imagine that they have much more freedom than you do? Maybe you even envy them and listen to the voice of the liar, who portrays a life without God as a paradise of pleasure and liberty.

The reality is so different. Sin enslaves us, and the path we have chosen by nature leads to destruction. We do the will of the father of lies, the prince of darkness, and we believe what he says to us. In our foolishness we reject the counsel and the invitation which the Lord in His goodness still sends to us. Then our picture can be found in Proverbs 1:24-25, “I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof.”

That is the depth of our fall. We are sold under sin, and the service of sin is really a tyranny. How necessary it is that the Lord takes away the delusion, the vain dreams in which we live and which we believe, and brings us to the knowledge of our state of misery. Then we see ourselves as Manasseh, bound with chains in a dungeon, having no hope and being without God in the world.

But the wonder of grace is that the Lord has appointed a Savior, who Himself took the place of His people. He was bound that they would be set free. He paid the price to redeem them and has a right to them. In the hour of His good pleasure, He opens their prison, breaks the bonds of sin, and makes them willing followers in the way which He goes before them. Nobody will pluck them out of His hand. They are dethroned and become beggars at His mercy seat. He ascends the throne in their hearts and becomes their King, and they may bow under His easy yoke and light burden.

Whom do we serve, and who is our Master? The service of Christ is not a tyranny, but a service of love. King Jesus cares for His subjects, and He is a wise and merciful Captain.

A battle

It is true that God’s children are rich and are truly blessed. They are free indeed, and salvation is sure for them. We read in 1 Peter 1:5, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The salvation of God’s church is secured in God’s unchangeable counsel. What a comfort it is for a changeable people that the Lord says in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

However, there is a battle to be fought. God’s children are delivered from the dominion of sin. This, however, does not mean that they are delivered “from the body of sin, and from the infirmities of the flesh.” There is still the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. We read in 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.”

The new life, born from God, cannot and is not willing to sin. Yet, there is still the old man, Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” That is the reality which they still experience, after all grace received, a reality which will humble them. The highly privileged apostle Paul even cried out in Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Even the most holy ones have but a small beginning of the perfect obedience required in God’s law. It is true that there may be times in the lives of God’s dear children when it seems that the evil lusts and their corruptions have been conquered, but with sadness they will experience that the old root still brings forth iniquities, and that they continue to grieve the Lord. In Christ, the resurrected Prince of Life, lies the holiness for the entire church of God. In Him His people possess everything that the holy God requires of them.

Yet this sanctification, merited and obtained by Christ, must also become a renewing power within His people. Therefore Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection.”

No, God’s children will never reach a stage of perfection while in this life. They will never be sinless here, but this will make them long for the time when they may be completely delivered from all power and pollution of sin, and glorify Him who bought them with such a price.

An encouragement

There is no reason for God’s children to feel that they have “arrived” or to be pleased with themselves. We read in Zephaniah 3:12, “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people.” The prophet adds something to it, however, and that is, “And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.”

Poor sinners will yet trust that they shall not remain sinners, but that the time will come when they will be delivered from the body of sin and death. They will receive their desire—deliverance “from the infirmities of the flesh.”

These infirmities will cleave to them “so long as they continue in this world.” But there will be an afterward. Then, at the end of their pilgrims’ journey, after this life, they will perfectly exalt God without sin, and without going astray. Then their bodies will be perfect temples of the Holy Ghost. There will be absolute harmony and glory, and with body and soul they will give God all the honor and the praise for what He has done for them.

— Rev. C. Vogelaar
(Kalamazoo, MI)

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