Take heart struggling, fearful believer...
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Take heart struggling, fearful believer...
Q. 56. What do you believe concerning the "forgiveness of sins" (Apostles' Creed)?
A. That God, because of Christ’s satisfaction, will no longer remember my sins, NOR MY SINFUL NATURE, AGAINST WHICH I HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALL MY LIFE; but He graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never come into condemnation.~Heidelberg Catechism
No judgment will be meted out on any Christian who is "in Christ." By virtue of his/her union with Christ, the believer's judgment was meted out on Christ 2000 years ago at Calvary. ALL our condemnation was nailed to the cross. As Paul says in Colossians 2:13-15, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN US ALL OUR TRESPASSES, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."
ALL OUR TRESPASSES ARE FORGIVEN! ALL OF THEM! NOT A ONE WILL CONDEMN US ON THE LAST DAY!!!
ALL OF THIS FORGIVENESS IS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE ALONE! SOLUS CHRISTUS!
The fearful sinner's questions are answered with Paul's words in Colossians and then quoted the Apostles' Creed to show them this is what the church has confessed for centuries. What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins? What do you believe? That your sins were forgiven except your sinful speech? NO! A thousand times NO! ALL your trespasses have been forgiven and whatever impurity remains in you and your good works have been buried (Christ's burial is of FIRST IMPORTANCE! 1 Cor. 15:3-4) in Christ's purity FOREVER.
Take heart struggling, fearful believer. You are more sinful than you could ever imagine. But, you can rest in the comfort that you have come into union with Christ and received from Him the substance of the covenant of grace, the double benefit of justification and sanctification. You are free from sin's guilt and sin's power. Look to Christ by faith and trust Him for both! Live by faith in your union with Christ and pray to and trust the Holy Spirit to produce in you holiness, obedience to God's moral will.
114. Can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience;1 nevertheless, with earnest purpose they do begin to live, not only according to some, but according to all the commandments of God.2
1 Ecc 7:20; Rom 7:14-15; 1 Cor 13:9; 1 Jn 1:8; 2 Ps 1:1-2; Rom 7:22-25; Php 3:12-16
115. Why then does God have them preached so strictly if in this life no one can keep them perfectly?
First, that throughout our life we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and therefore seek more earnestly the forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ;1 second, that we may be zealous for good deeds and constantly pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that He may more and more renew us after God’s image, until after this life we reach the goal of perfection.2
1 Ps 32:5; Rom 3:19-26, 7:7, 24-25; 1 Jn 1:9; 2 1 Cor 9:24; Php 3:12-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3
I cannot stand it when Evangelical celeb pastors and conferences confuse listeners with uncertain sounds and put fear and doubt into believers' lives. Fear and doubt are terrible MOTIVATORS for evangelical obedience.
Do you know what will be seen on the day of judgment for the believer? Christ! His imputed righteousness! We are in union with Christ and therefore His righteousness covers us and makes us white as snow. "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." The Day of the Lord- Christ's Second Coming- is a day of vindication for all who are "in Christ." It is not a day to be feared. It is a day of celebration! It will be a great feast! The consummation of every Holy Communion we have participated in.
Instead of putting fear and doubt into struggling believers lives, we need to be telling them the good news, namely that though sin still resides in them, though they will forever struggle with the desires of their flesh (Gal. 5:17), sin no longer has dominion over them! They are fighting NOT for victory over their remaining indwelling sin. Rather, they are fighting from victory because their flesh has been crucified with Christ (Gal. 5:24, "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."). Tell them this! Give them good news! This and only this will produce obedience, holiness!
~ John Fonville ~ Paramount Church ~ Proclaim Radio Group
Q. 56. What do you believe concerning the "forgiveness of sins" (Apostles' Creed)?
A. That God, because of Christ’s satisfaction, will no longer remember my sins, NOR MY SINFUL NATURE, AGAINST WHICH I HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALL MY LIFE; but He graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never come into condemnation.~Heidelberg Catechism
No judgment will be meted out on any Christian who is "in Christ." By virtue of his/her union with Christ, the believer's judgment was meted out on Christ 2000 years ago at Calvary. ALL our condemnation was nailed to the cross. As Paul says in Colossians 2:13-15, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, HAVING FORGIVEN US ALL OUR TRESPASSES, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."
ALL OUR TRESPASSES ARE FORGIVEN! ALL OF THEM! NOT A ONE WILL CONDEMN US ON THE LAST DAY!!!
ALL OF THIS FORGIVENESS IS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE ALONE! SOLUS CHRISTUS!
The fearful sinner's questions are answered with Paul's words in Colossians and then quoted the Apostles' Creed to show them this is what the church has confessed for centuries. What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins? What do you believe? That your sins were forgiven except your sinful speech? NO! A thousand times NO! ALL your trespasses have been forgiven and whatever impurity remains in you and your good works have been buried (Christ's burial is of FIRST IMPORTANCE! 1 Cor. 15:3-4) in Christ's purity FOREVER.
Take heart struggling, fearful believer. You are more sinful than you could ever imagine. But, you can rest in the comfort that you have come into union with Christ and received from Him the substance of the covenant of grace, the double benefit of justification and sanctification. You are free from sin's guilt and sin's power. Look to Christ by faith and trust Him for both! Live by faith in your union with Christ and pray to and trust the Holy Spirit to produce in you holiness, obedience to God's moral will.
114. Can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience;1 nevertheless, with earnest purpose they do begin to live, not only according to some, but according to all the commandments of God.2
1 Ecc 7:20; Rom 7:14-15; 1 Cor 13:9; 1 Jn 1:8; 2 Ps 1:1-2; Rom 7:22-25; Php 3:12-16
115. Why then does God have them preached so strictly if in this life no one can keep them perfectly?
First, that throughout our life we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and therefore seek more earnestly the forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ;1 second, that we may be zealous for good deeds and constantly pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that He may more and more renew us after God’s image, until after this life we reach the goal of perfection.2
1 Ps 32:5; Rom 3:19-26, 7:7, 24-25; 1 Jn 1:9; 2 1 Cor 9:24; Php 3:12-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3
I cannot stand it when Evangelical celeb pastors and conferences confuse listeners with uncertain sounds and put fear and doubt into believers' lives. Fear and doubt are terrible MOTIVATORS for evangelical obedience.
Do you know what will be seen on the day of judgment for the believer? Christ! His imputed righteousness! We are in union with Christ and therefore His righteousness covers us and makes us white as snow. "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." The Day of the Lord- Christ's Second Coming- is a day of vindication for all who are "in Christ." It is not a day to be feared. It is a day of celebration! It will be a great feast! The consummation of every Holy Communion we have participated in.
Instead of putting fear and doubt into struggling believers lives, we need to be telling them the good news, namely that though sin still resides in them, though they will forever struggle with the desires of their flesh (Gal. 5:17), sin no longer has dominion over them! They are fighting NOT for victory over their remaining indwelling sin. Rather, they are fighting from victory because their flesh has been crucified with Christ (Gal. 5:24, "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."). Tell them this! Give them good news! This and only this will produce obedience, holiness!
~ John Fonville ~ Paramount Church ~ Proclaim Radio Group
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