Canons of Dordt (56))

There are many temptations, assaults of the enemy, and warfare in the life of the true believers. Yet, there is a solid comfort for them in knowing that they shall finally obtain the victory. Christ, the Captain of salvation, has conquered all the enemies. Victoriously He cried out on Golgotha, “It is finished.” It is true, Gods children are weak and helpless in themselves, but He says in Isaiah 41:14,” Fear not, thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” The God of all comfort will strengthen His people in the battle and preserve and revive His own work in them. Of this we read in the Fifth Head, Article 11.

“The Scripture moreover testifies that believers in this life have to struggle with various carnal doubts and that under grievous temptations they are not always sensible of this full assurance of faith and certainty of persevering. But God, who is the Father of all consolation, does not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that they may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13), and by the Holy Spirit again inspires them with the comfortable assurance of persevering.”

It is the Lord who plants faith in the hearts of those whom He calls with an irresistible, powerful calling in the time of His good pleasure so that they may begin to walk in His ways. In faith itself there is no doubt, only certainty; in the believer, however, there can be many doubts, fears, and questions. We find an example of this in the life of Thomas, one of Christ’s disciples. He was not an unbeliever, but this doubting Thomas was kept in the bonds of unbelief even after Christ had risen and appeared to the other disciples. Only the Lord could break those bonds, which He did a week later when He revealed Himself to His doubting disciple. Then faith broke through, and Thomas said, “My Lord and My God.”

Rebuke of unbelief

Often the Lord has to rebuke His children as He did His disciples in Matthew 14:31, “and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” We read of Asaph in Psalm 73:2, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” If God had not kept Asaph, he would have perished; however, when he went into the sanctuary of God, everything changed. Then Asaph confessed, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.” He could feel once again God holding him by his right hand and guiding him with His counsel until the day the Lord would receive him to glory.

We need not be proud of unbelief and doubt both of which dishonor and grieve God. It is true that many who call themselves Christians have such a “strong faith” they never seem to doubt. They may even look down on a poor, struggling soul who does not seem to have as strong a faith.

We need not be proud of unbelief and doubt both of which dishonor and grieve God.

Our fathers were well aware of the practice of the life of true believers when they said that “believers in this life have to struggle with various carnal doubts.” They are not always sensible of the full assurance of faith. What is God’s child when left to himself if the Lord withdraws Himself for just a moment? Numerous doubts rise in his heart. This is the fruit of our listening to the devil in Paradise when he said, “Yea, hath God said... ?” Often the adversary comes as an angel of light and questions God’s love and faithfulness, His truth, and what He has promised to His church. Satan comes with those ifs as he came to Christ in the wilderness in Matthew 4:3,6.“If Thou be the Son of God...”

Temptations

God’s Church is subject not only to doubts but also to temptations. The doubts may be caused by looking inward at their sin and guilt, but the temptations and assaults are often caused by the tempter, the adversary of the church. The devil knows the weak spots in the life of God’s children; he has been a student for more than 6000 years. We could say that he is a master in psychology, and he knows where to attack the spiritual warrior on the way to glory. Paul also knew the devices of the enemy when he wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Therefore he urged believers to put on the whole armor of God. The archenemy of God’s Church hates not only God but also what belongs to God. He knows that he cannot keep God’s people out of heaven, but he will do all he can to keep heaven out of their heart, to distress and harm them. Too readily God’s children listen to the adversary, begin to reason with him, and are soon defeated. Only in the strength and power of the Lord, through faith in Christ, will they be able to withstand the day of temptation and fight the good fight of faith.

Comfort

God does not leave His people alone in the strife but will carry and deliver them. He is the Father of all consolation as we read in 1 Corinthians 10:13,“...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” It is a rich comfort to know that God measures their shoulders and will not put too much on them. He knows that they are weak creatures, prone to halt and stumble. Often they fear, like David, that they will perish by the hand of Saul, but God will not allow it. We read in Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”

David was no stranger of the temptations and assaults of the enemy. Yet his faith was strengthened, and his hope was revived so that he could praise God for His deliverance. The disciples also experienced this when the Lord Jesus was with them in a ship. There arose such a great tempest in the sea that the ship was covered with the waves. Their Master was asleep so they awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we perish.”

God will deliver

The Lord will send salvation. He will not allow His frightened Church to perish in the waves, but, at the right time, He will come to their aid. The apostle comforts the Church in their strife as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” He comforts them in all their tribulation “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” How does the Lord do this? It is by the Holy Spirit that He “inspires them with the comfortable assurance of persevering.” The Lord is a surprising God. Although when God’s children often grieve the Spirit by their sins and unbelief, He withdraws Himself, He will not be taken away from them. David prayed for this in Psalm 51:11 “Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.”

God confirms His own work

When the Lord by His Spirit confirms His own work, He restores unto His people the joy of His salvation. The work that He has for them begun, will by His grace be fully done. He did not begin His work on a “trial basis” to see what they would do with His gifts. If that were so, they all would fail the test. He never forsakes the works of His own hands; He is faithful to His own promise. The wise preacher says in Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.”

The Holy Spirit will never depart from God’s children, but He will bring them back, give them sorrow about their sin, and lead them as guilty ones to the complete and perfect work of the Redeemer. If they have sinned, they have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. In His continual intercession is the guarantee of the preservation of a weak and often unfaithful people. At the end of their journey, therefore, they may say with Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Paul could express himself in such a manner because the Lord stood with him and strengthened him. In this strength alone God’s people are kept unto salvation. They will sing not of their own perseverance but of Him who has given them the victory. Wholeheartedly they will say, “It is through Thee, through Thee alone, for Thy good pleasure’s sake.” Then they will honor and glorify the precious Savior and see Him as He is. Their tears will be wiped away; there will be no night there and no sin, but only perfect communion and fellowship. There they will praise Him for all His gracious work, for His faithfulness, care, and love.

— Rev. C. Vogelaar
Kalamazoo, MI

Who, O Lord, shall dwell with Thee
In the temple of Thy grace?
Who Thy constant guest shall be
In Thy high and holy place?

He who walks in righteousness,
All his actions just and clear;
He whose words the truth express,
Spoken from a heart sincere.

— Psalter 26 vs. 1 & 2

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