Canons of Dordt (53)

The Lord preserves His children. They may stray far away so that His Name is dishonored, but God will revive His own work. He renews them to repentance and to a sincere and godly sorrow for their sins. Such a sorrow will drive sinners to Christ. They will flee to the fountain that the Lord has opened for sin and for uncleanness. Those that turn to Him will not come in vain. They will experience the faithfulness of Him who never forsakes the work of His own hands and adore Him for His mercies.

These are beggars at the throne of grace who seek His help and keeping. In dependence upon Him they strive against sin and desire to walk in His ways while realizing that it is only because of God’s mercy that they did not perish. It is certainly not by their own perseverance or strength that they may continue in His ways. Of this we read in the Fifth Head, Article 8.

Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings; which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen; but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since His counsel cannot be changed, nor His promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.

Man is a proud creature even after having received grace; there is the inclination to exalt ourselves. How bold, yet how presumptuous Peter was when he said that he was ready to die for his Master even if everyone else would flee. Through painful ways he had to learn how weak he was. This is a lesson which is so necessary to be learned, in order that we look away from ourselves and our own works or strength and expect our preservation alone from God’s gracious mercy.

Not our merits

The teachings of the Remonstrants are so pleasant to the flesh; at least, they seem to be so. In their view the determination and steadfastness of believers are the decisive factors for their perseverance. They agree that there are the means provided by God to help them but say that whether or not they will succeed depends on their own will. Thus the praise which belongs to God alone is taken from Him and given to man, the sinful creature. In reality this is such a comfortless doctrine. God teaches His children that were He to withdraw His preserving hand for a moment, they would fall and perish. No, their own efforts, strength, or faithfulness are not the reasons for the perseverance of the saints. This perseverance is one of the privileges of God’s church and is a gift of God’s free mercy; it is a comfort in the midst of all their struggles, cares, and sorrows. We cannot speak of any merits from man’s side; he deserves only to be left over to himself and to his own foolishness.

Our form for the Lord’s Supper says so beautifully what true believers are in themselves: “For we do not come to this Supper to testify thereby that we are perfect and righteous in ourselves; but on the contrary considering that we seek our life out of ourselves in Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that we lie in the midst of death...”The painful experience of their own weakness will humble God’s children, make them poor in spirit, and cause them to seek protection and preservation in God alone. We read in Zephaniah 3:12, “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”

The knowledge of their poverty and weakness will cause them to be afraid of themselves. David was not in the greatest danger when he was on the battlefield during his many wars against his enemies but when he was on the roof of his palace, resting in contentment and joy because of all his victories. Believers are called to a holy warfare, and it is most dangerous when they begin to rest on their laurels, at which time the prayer room is left empty. It is true that the battle can be heavy, and in them there is no might against the enemy that comest against them, but their eyes may be upon Him, the Author and Finisher of their faith. He has said in John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

The cause of their perseverance lies outside of themselves in a Triune God alone.

The work of the Father

No, it is not possible that they will perish in their misery and sin, in the battle against their mighty enemies. Our fathers have stated so beautifully why this is impossible. They speak of the work of a Triune God. Man is changeable, but God does not change. We read in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

The certainty of weak and, in themselves, foolish people lies in the good pleasure and the unchangeable counsel of the Father. We read of this in Psalm 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.” It is stated in Proverbs 19:21, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

The prophet also declares in Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” God’s counsel cannot be changed, nor His promise fail, but His purpose in calling sinners to life will be fulfilled. Whatever may come up against it— all the power of hell, the enmity of the world, and the foolishness of their own heart— God will keep and preserve His own work.

We read in Isaiah 54:10, “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” The Father’s good pleasure will prosper in the hand of Christ. Paul speaks of the firmness of God’s promises and the certainty of His work in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” This is a better foundation than in changeable man’s efforts.

The work of the Son

Christ has redeemed His church with a price. At His table the tokens of His dying love are displayed. By His passive and active obedience He has merited eternal life for them. He Himself has comforted His church with the word of His promise in John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

He did not merit this life and then give it to them in order that His people themselves would keep and preserve it. Christ merited not only life for them but also their perseverance. This is also sure in His intercession. The Lord Jesus spoke to Peter in Luke 22:32, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” What a blessing it was for Peter that his perseverance was not sure in his own bravery, firmness, or courage but in the prayer of His Savior. He is the good Shepherd who goes after His wandering sheep and brings them back into the fold. He will finish perfectly what He for them has undertaken. Oh, this faithful Savior for unfaithful creatures—how worthy He is to be served and trusted.

The work of the Holy Spirit

It was the Holy Spirit who began to work in their heart when He accompanied the call of the gospel with His irresistible power. The Spirit planted faith in their heart and gave love to God; He inclined their heart to fear His Name. The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of the true believers; this indwelling of the Holy Spirit guarantees eternal life and is a sure pledge of the inheritance preserved for them.

Lord’s Day 20 of the Heidelberg Catechism says that the Holy Ghost “is also given me to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits, that He may comfort me and abide with me forever.” The Scriptures speaks also of the Holy Spirit as a seal. This is what we read in Ephesians 1:13b, “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,”

This seal is imprinted into all God’s children. It is as a stamp which certifies that they belong to the Lord. This does not mean that all God’s children have the blessed assurance of this, but God has marked them as His property. He will not allow their mortal enemies to snatch them out of His hands. It is a great privilege if this may be a personal knowledge of faith in our own heart. It is also the Spirit who gives this assured knowledge according to Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

However, although this knowledge is a great blessing, all those who have received the Holy Spirit’s saving work in their heart including those with a weak faith will be kept as His property. Therein is the guarantee of the safe arrival of all pilgrims, small and great, the sojourners through this wilderness, into the land of rest. There no enemy will harass or attack them. They will praise a Triune God, for He has done it.

— Rev. C. Vogelaar
Kalamazoo, MI

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