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Canons of Dordt (57)

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Canons of Dordt (57)

9 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Believers sometimes struggle with doubts and fears and may miss the comfort of knowing that their safe arrival is certain in spite of their powerful enemies. However, the God of all consolation will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able. He will make a way of escape, and by the Holy Spirit He will confirm His own work in them. He restores unto them the joy of His salvation. The Holy Spirit will never depart from God’s children. When they have gone astray, He brings them back, gives them sorrow about their sin, and leads them as guilty ones to the complete and perfect work of the Savior.

In the continual intercession of their heavenly Advocate lies the guarantee of the preservation of a weak and often unfaithful people. This certainty will not make them careless but will humble them and cause them to walk in the tender fear of God’s Name. Of this we read in the Fifth Head, Article 12.

“This certainty of perseverance, however, is so far from exciting in believers a spirit of pride or of rendering them carnally secure, that on the contrary, it is the real source of humility, filial reverence, true piety, patience in every tribulation, fervent prayers, constancy in suffering, and in confessing the truth, and of solid rejoicing in God; so that the consideration of this benefit should serve as an incentive to the serious and constant practice of gratitude and good works, as appears from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints.”

True believers can be sure of their perseverance, for the Lord will keep them. He never forsakes the works of His own hands. People may, in a burst of enthusiasm or with careful planning, begin a project, for instance a building, but never finish it. There are many uncompleted goals in human life. Man is changeable and often unable to do what he has promised; however, it is not so with God. What a rich comfort this is for God’s children. When faith is in exercise they, in spite of all human impossibilities, may say, “And yet He will do it.”

False accusations

The Remonstrants had serious objections against the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. They reasoned that if one could be sure of his salvation, it would lead to carelessness and a carnal security. For ultimately, if salvation were certain, it would not matter how a person lived. It would lead to indifference. People might become proud and rest on the certainty of their salvation; it would be a pillow for the flesh and thus “injurious to godliness, good morals, prayers and other holy exercises” (rejection of errors V, paragraph 6).

Every doctrine can be misused, but this does not mean that such a teaching is not truthful. There is nothing new under the sun; already in his days, Paul had to warn against slanderous accusations. He said in Romans 3:8, “And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.”

Our fathers have also answered those objections in our Heidelberg Catechism in Lord’s Day 24, question 64, “But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?” They gave a very clear answer, “By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.”

There are indeed the devices of Satan to tempt one to carnal security, proud self-contentment, and carnal ungodliness. A sad example of sinful pride can be seen in the life of the disciples who were arguing with one another as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Let us never say that grace, also the grace of assurance of perseverance, makes man careless and proud. No, grace and pride exclude each other; pride is always a fruit of our flesh, but humility is a fruit of God’s grace.

Humility and true piety

When speaking with little children, you will never make them happy if you remind them how small they are, but they will be pleased when you tell them how big they are. This should not surprise us because it is ingrained in our human nature to try to be greater, bigger, more important, or whatever it may be, to excel above others. God’s work of grace is entirely different; it humbles and makes one small before God and man. God’s divine education is the opposite of what parents’ aims are for their children. Grace fills the heart with filial fear so that there is a humble bowing and asking, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”


God’s work of grace is entirely different; it humbles and makes one small before God and man.


We all know the history of Mephibosheth. When the son of Jonathan was invited to David’s table to eat there, he was so overwhelmed by the king’s mercy that he said, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” It became a wonder to him that King David showed such kindness to one of the house of his archenemy, coming from Lodebar.

This will also be the fruit in the life of God’s children when He looks in mercy upon such wretched sinners as they are. Grace humbles, and the assurance of salvation leads to filial reverence and true piety. This filial reverence is entirely different from slavish fear, which may also cause us to try to live a good life and to avoid many sins. However, the motive is then the fear of punishment and perhaps the desire to earn something so that we may go to heaven. Filial fear gives one the desire to serve and honor God, and because He is so worthy, to obey Him for His sake. If we live a life close to the Lord, in fellowship with Christ by faith, fruits will be evident such as “humility, filial reverence, true piety, patience in every tribulation, fervent prayers, constancy in suffering, and in confessing the truth.”

The apostle speaks of this in Romans 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” Certainly, there was still a battle going on in his life. There was another law in his members; there was the flesh that lusteth against the Spirit. This was a great sorrow in the life of the apostle which made him cry, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). The apostle sighed under this burden and longed for deliverance, and this will be the prayer of all those who fear God’s Name—the prayer to be kept and to be delivered so that they may serve the Lord without sin.

Fervent supplications

The certainty of perseverance will also bring a person on his knees with fervent prayers. However, if you are certain that God will keep you unto salvation, is such prayer then necessary? The poet of Psalm 138 did not have this problem at all, for he sorely felt his need and brought it before the Lord in prayer. We read in verse 8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.” He may boast in the faithfulness of God. Faith may be in exercise, and he believes that the Lord will finish His work for him. However, he realizes that, when left to himself, he cannot stand for one moment. Therefore he ends this Psalm with a prayer, “Forsake not what Thy hand has begun.” God’s children will always cling to this prayer. Discovering grace teaches them how weak they are and how prone to halt and stumble; this will drive them to the throne of grace.

This assurance will also give constancy in suffering. In the world they will have tribulation. The path to the heavenly Canaan leads through the desert, but the Lord prepares them, also in the way of suffering, for eternal glory. All things will work together for their good. By moments the Lord gives them an eye to look to Him of whom we read in Hebrews 12:2b, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When by faith they may see Him, “Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith,” then this will also open their mouth to speak of Him and confess the truth. You may ask, “What truth is this?” The answer is, “Nothing in us, but all in Him; so the Church goes to Jerusalem.”

The walk of pilgrims

The walk of such pilgrims will be with gratitude and the desire to glorify God in their life. The warfare may be heavy, the road may be long and difficult, the impossibilities on their side many, but the Lord is faithful to the end and will bring them home. Here in this world their obedience is so imperfect. The apostle speaks of this in Philippians 3:12, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I also am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Paul knew whom he had believed, but this did not make him careless at all. As he said in verse 14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Young and old, you may have many goals and plans in your life. However, without grace, there is so much self-promotion and self-pleasing. Grace provides another goal, namely, to please, honor, and glorify God. This desire will once become perfect reality when the Church of God may give Him all the honor for what He has done. May the Lord work such a desire in the hearts of us and our children.

Rev. C. Vogelaar
Kalamazoo, MI

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Canons of Dordt (57)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 juli 2007

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's