Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda 7/37/23
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To Reform
To Reform
improve by the removal of faults or abuses, improved in conduct and character
Phrases first seen in a devotional writing by Dutch minister Jodocus van Lodenstein 1674, used in parts often before and after.
van Lodenstein inherited a church in the Netherlands that was already reformed in the external sense; doctrine, worship, government (church order, ecclesiology)
Speaking about internal reform based off Matt. 15:8 “8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;”
desiring to be like Is. 66:2
2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
in biblical terms, we are reforming in order to move along in our sanctification, being made holy, like Christ
7th century German Lutheran named Friedrich Balduin of Wittenburg. [6] He was a doctor and professor of theology at Wittenberg (Luther’s university), and a church overseer. In 1610 he wrote a commentary on the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, and in his comments on Malachi chapter one, he wrote this, “Admonemur nos hac inscriptione, semper in Ecclesia opus esse Reformatione, quia semper occurrunt corruptelae morum et doctrinae,” which I’ve translated: “We are admonished by this inscription, the work of Reformation in the Church is always needed, because the corruption of morals and doctrine there always occurs.” [7] Notice the reason for reform is not out of a need for continual tweaking of the faith, but because of the continual digression of morals and doctrine. He goes on to point out the various reformations in the scriptures as proof that the church will always be in need of reform– before the Babylonian captivity: Joash, Asa, Hosea, Hezekiah, Josiah; post captivity: Joshua and Zerubabel; the reformation Malachi was instituting in his prophecy; and the Great Reformer Jesus Christ who sought to reform the church in Jerusalem.
Balduin offers a fascinating observation that shows us that the church will always be in need of reform due to continued corruption of morals and doctrine. And if the Church in the time of the Bible always needed reformation, shouldn’t we expect that the Church in our time will need it as well? Reformed Christians believe that sin and corruption will remain in us until the return of Christ. Indeed, Luther’s first of the ninety-five theses was, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent,” he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Applying this doctrine more broadly, I think Balduin gives us the answer: the Church always needs reforming because the Church is always deforming. In other words, due to the sin and corruption of its members, the entire life of the Church is to be one of repentance. - Tim LeCroy
Progressive Sanctification
Progressive Sanctification
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
sanctify - aorist active imperative verb form - because of a past action a present action is to be taken
Rom 6:1-22, 2 Cor. 3:18
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Being sanctified
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
what is the standard or definition of this holiness, perfection?
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Who is He?
Who is He?
9838 If I exalt sanctification, I preach people into despair; but if I lift up Jesus Christ, people learn the way to be made holy.
Oswald Chambers
Col. 1:15-23 “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
How may we see Him? He must be revealed...
Matt. 16:13-17 “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
John 14:8-9 “8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
Matt. 11:25 “25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;”
45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
Therefore...
Therefore...
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
and if you love Him...
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Love God, love one another
we must take a position of understanding that sanctification, reform, is happening always until glorification
event and breakthrough obsessed and based culture, immediate gratification, sanctification is a lifelong process, rejoice in the progress, not the perfection.
Sanctification is glory begun. Glory is sanctification completed.
F. F. Bruce