Steps in the Life of Grace (1)

Rev. C. Sonnevelt, Alblasserdam, the Netherlands

We know, of course, that there is a great difference between our church and the modern liberal churches where the Bible is no longer accepted as God’s infallible Word. We also know that there are churches where nothing or barely anything is spoken of the necessity of being born again and of having an upright faith in Christ. We do not feel an attraction toward such churches, but there are other churches who seem to be so doctrinally close to us. They use the same Bible, the same Confessions, and, at times, even the same words, yet they seem so different. What is the reason for this?

In this and three subsequent articles we will try to seek for an answer to this question. We do not wish to denigrate other people or churches, but we want to direct ourselves to the truth and how it is experienced in the heart. Let us get right to the heart of the matter; one of the greatest differences has to do with the steps in the life of grace.

The ABC’s of faith

As is well known, the Heidelberg Catechism is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the misery of man, the second with deliverance through Christ, and the third with the life of thankfulness. This threefold division is thoroughly biblical. We can also find it in the Bible (see, for example, Psalm 130 and Romans 7:24&25). In God’s Word, time and again, we read about these three matters. In order to enjoy the only comfort in life and death, we must learn to know these three parts—not with a purely intellectual knowledge but with a heartfelt experiential knowledge.

The benefits which are named here are as a continuous chain, which is sometimes called “the golden chain.” At one end the chain is fastened in God’s eternal counsel, and at the other end it lies firm in eternal glory. This chain can never be broken. It embraces God’s children and holds them firmly right up until the end. What a wonder!

It is upon the school of God’s grace that we learn the “ABC’s of faith.” Many skip over the first part because they do not wish to hear of sin and misery. Others change the order and say that you can only see your sinfulness when you have come to the cross of Christ. It is to be feared that their Jesus is one of their own making, a Jesus of five letters. They pass by the fact that in Paradise we did not sin against Jesus but against God.

When the Lord converts us, our eyes are opened to see our fall in Paradise and the breach between God and our soul. We come to realize what we are missing. At that moment we know nothing of Jesus as “our Mediator.” What we do know is that we must die, and we cannot die. We are placed before the mirror of God’s holy law and come to stand there as a condemned one because of our great guilt. We feel the burden and pain of sin. We do not have a penny to pay the demands of God’s holy justice. It is along this way that the Holy Spirit makes place for Christ as the only foundation of salvation.

The chain of salvation

Are such persons to be pitied? Not in the least! The Lord does not do a partial work. He has opened their wounds in order to heal them. He shall bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ. Yea, He has loved them with an eternal love. This is expressed very beautifully and tenderly by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29&30: “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

The benefits which are named here are as a continuous chain, which is sometimes called “the golden chain.” At one end the chain is fastened in God’s eternal counsel, and at the other end it lies firm in eternal glory. This chain can never be broken. It embraces God’s children and holds them firmly right up until the end. What a wonder!

God of order

Have you ever seen the beauty of this chain? In his catechism book, Rev. Hellenbroek names the links in this chain one by one: election or predestination–calling– rebirth–justification–faith–sanctification–glorification. There is an order in the saving work of the Lord. Why is that? It is because He is a God of order. The devil had brought disorder into the Creation, but God performs His recreating work in an orderly manner. How blessed we are when we may receive knowledge of this order of salvation.

(To be continued)

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