Steps in the Life of Grace (1)

Rev. J.M.D. de Heer, Middleburg, the Netherlands

There are subjects in church life which attract more than the customary interest. They often, on average, cause more than just an isolated reaction. One of such subjects is the steps in the life of grace. In several articles we wish to contemplate this subject. The immediate reason for these articles was motivated by a recently published book by the Puritan Ralph Venning. We will come back to that in a succeeding article. First, we would like to look at what is meant by steps in the life of grace and what is taught about this subject in our congregations.

The ways of the Lord are unsearchable. The Apostle Paul expresses this confession at the end of Romans 11. The Lord directs the history of the world in a manner which we cannot understand. God’s wise leading is shown in a special way in the life of grace. God’s Spirit leads each of the elect in a way which he has not known. It is also a way which he cannot fathom with his own understanding.

That is why the way of conversion of a child of God should never be a model for others. Rev. G.H. Kersten expressly pointed this out when he published a biography of the life of Rev. H. Roelofsen. In the preface he wrote, “This publication is not meant to provide a model for those who are traveling to Zion. The standard is God’s Word and not the way the Lord has led others. That which is not according to God’s Word may not see the light of day. Our way should be depicted in that Word, and all of our experiences should be subject unto it. In addition, the Lord grants to each of His people his own pathway. There are twelve gates in the walls of Jerusalem, and each of the elect shall enter in through one of them. Yet, however different their pathway may be, travelers to the heavenly Zion here below tread one and the same way.”

Rev. Kersten then points to the beginning—conversion and saving faith. He also points to the spiritual strife and spiritual victory. “What others have experienced can be for comfort and strengthening upon the way of life.”

Instruction

The only hallmark is God’s Word; therefore, it is such a great blessing that the Lord gives instruction in His Word about spiritual life. The instruction also reveals that spiritual life has a beginning, a continuance, and an end. The Apostle Peter writes, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). In another place the same apostle writes, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). That increase is summarized by the Apostle John with a hearty desire, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In his epistle the Apostle John directs himself to the little children, fathers, and young men, and with each of them he relates a characteristic of grace (1 John 2:12-14). It is just these words that the Puritan Venning contemplates in his book.

Cannot be missed

When the Bible speaks of an increase in grace, it is good to consider from that same Word in what way the Lord leads His children. The instruction found in the epistles of the apostles is, therefore, important. The words of the Mediator Himself are also indispensable in understanding this way. In summarizing it, the Lord Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

It is also striking that the Lord Jesus did not give instruction on every occasion. There was a time that He did not yet speak of His suffering and death (Matthew 16:21). He also did not expressly speak about the Person of the Holy Spirit and His work during His entire sojourn here upon earth. He did do that toward the end of His life. He then also gave the disciples the tokens of His broken body and shed blood. At an earlier time He had said, “For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed” (John 6:55), but the multitude were annoyed with His saying, and the disciples understood little of it.

Continuance

In the life of the Church of the Old Testament, it is also apparent that there is continuance in the life of grace. There came a day in the life of Abraham that he began to long with gladness for the day when he would see Christ’s coming in the flesh. Through faith he saw this day and was glad (John 8:56).

For Jacob there came a day in Bethel that through faith he might see the Mediator in the ladder which was placed upon earth (Genesis 28:12,16&17; John 1:51). Twenty years later, the day came when he might know that his guilt was atoned. Then, in holy wonderment he could say, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30b).

In summarizing, Rev. A. Moerkerken states in his book Genadeleven en genadeverbond (The Life of Grace and the Covenant of Grace) that when considering the steps of the life of grace the question is whether there are matters in the lives of God’s children which are still hidden but which others have experienced and of which they have a holy knowledge. That is the question! In other words, are there certain moments in the life of grace which are singular and point to “distinguishing benefits”?

Marks

We would gladly refer you to the above-mentioned book for further instruction where the subject of the steps in the life of grace is viewed and illuminated from several sides. In this article we will not repeat what is written there. We do want to show that within the Netherlands Reformed Congregations there is a scarlet thread which continues in the instruction about the steps in grace. In the more-than-one-century existence of our denomination this has also set a mark upon the preaching, and that is a fact of which we may not be ambiguous.

“Be ye reconciled to God.” The necessity of this reconciliation is heard over and over again in the preaching. It is also true of the possibility of this reconciliation and the way in which it receives value and is granted to those who have been placed upon this way. In this way of reconciliation there is progress, there are exercises in grace, and there are also steps in grace. From of old, these subjects have been a part of the preaching within our congregations.

In 1936, Rev. Kersten visited the sister congregations in North America. When he returned home to his fatherland, he wrote about his experiences. He was overjoyed about the desire for the “old tried truths,” also among the upcoming generation. The meetings with God’s people refreshed him greatly. “Among the people of God, it struck me that from place to place there was a clear insight into the steps of grace, and the realization of the necessity to be found in Christ through faith, and to be reconciled with God.” These two subjects, the reconciliation with God through Christ and the steps of grace, marked the preaching of Rev. Kersten.

In De Saambinder of August 24, 1939, Rev. Kersten answered a question about the concerned Church. “Not all of God’s people experience the joy of coming to the full assurance of faith. Many do not have such a complete faith as it is expressed in the Form for the Lord’s Supper. In short, there are steps in grace in the life of God’s people. Scripture speaks of babes, young men, and fathers. Paul also writes: ‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.’”

Two years earlier, on August 27, 1937, the readers of De Saambinder had read the following in a meditation by Rev. Kersten about Galatians 3:29: “Regrettably, many in these days can still speak of the necessity of conversion (which many others no longer feel is necessary because of their imagined enlightenment) but do not know of the steps in grace. With them converted is converted, and the converted person must believe that he/she possesses everything. They do not identify with God’s people in their strife, and very many rest more upon their experiences than upon Christ. It is to be feared that many deceive themselves. Can our tears, our humility, changes, or prayers ever be the evidences of our interest in Christ?”

In a sermon about Hebrews 7:24&25, the minister from Rotterdam remarked, “There are two things to which we should pay attention, specifically, both of these things. In the first place, there are distinct steps in the life of grace of God’s children; they are not all led equally as far. In the second place, we should note that every step in the life of grace must reveal its own characteristics. When a child is horn, it cries; when a person is born of God, he weeps.”

Rev. Kersten considered it important that these steps in the life of grace resound in the preaching. When his strength was failing, he wrote to his son, J.W Kersten, who was then a student, “You can see that our people are not critical as long as you bring the pure unadulterated truth along with the steps in the life of grace with their characteristics.”

Education

We can safely accept the fact that these accents have resounded with firm conviction in the instruction which Rev. Kersten gave at our theological school. In this manner he has educated and formed a generation of ministers.

This is apparent in the preaching and the written meditations of those who were instructed by Rev. Kersten. We will mention only a few examples. In the March 2, 1950, issue of De Saambinder, Rev. W. de Wit writes, “So there remains, in all of the steps of grace, a mourning people to whom salvation is conveyed, who are blessed in Christ from all eternity, and who are administered to out of God’s sovereign good pleasure. The Lord is free in leading His people in the exercises and acts of faith. Salvation is not bound to a certain step in spiritual life, but to spiritual life itself. That spiritual life flows out to the elect according to God’s counsel, out of the Covenant of Grace in the time of love (the time of God’s good pleasure; see Ezekiel 16:8) through renewing grace in communion with Christ. It is not a good sign when the sorrow in the life of the Lord’s people comes to an end, for it demonstrates a missing of the discovering work of the Spirit. It flows out of a complacency and shows a declension in the life of grace. May the Lord teach His own to mourn continually, for in this mourning the Lord is always pleased to pour out the comforts of His covenant.”

In De Saambinder of October 4, 1951, we can read the following from the pen of Rev. F. J. Dieleman:"... It is different when God’s Word declares the order of salvation in the fruits of conversion, and how necessary it is that growth is seen. No, then God’s Word does not build up a person outside of Christ, even though the steps of grace from the smallest to the greatest are both described and displayed in them. There remains a great difference, therefore, whether a person has just been placed on that way or if the Lord, through grace, has uncovered more guilt and thereby also leads one deeper into the secrets of His covenant.

“That good work can be visible only in the fruits. Those fruits appear in the growth in grace, when they may receive other portions merited by the sacrifice of the Great High Priest. How great it is to receive a portion in Christ, with the certainty of faith.”

Proliferation

Finally, the preaching of Rev. Kersten’s student and soul-friend Rev. W.C. Lamain always resounded with the fact that there was growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It gave him a heavy heart if the ways in which the Lord leads His people would be missing in the preaching. In De Saambinder of May 4, 1972, he wrote, “What a proliferation there is of fleshly and self-willed religion. Barely anything is said any more about the steps in grace. Those are old-fashioned concepts. People are lost and saved in one day. They accept Jesus and are at ease for eternity. They have taken it themselves, and they convince themselves that they are saved.”

It is very clear how the Lord was pleased to use Rev. Kersten to set certain accents upon the preaching from the Word of God. Is that still the case within the Netherlands Reformed Congregations? We hope to consider that in a future article.

(to be continued)

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