Belgic Article 24 into 25
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WARNING: use doctrines as directed, summarize experience and purpose - but if confuse - if mix wrong two at wrong time… when we confuse justification and sanctification–our consciences are not freed from terror, fear and dread, and that such a conscience prevents us from doing good works as a fruit of faith, because it seeks to earn a reward from God. The focus remains upon the self, rather than upon bringing glory to God.don’t base salvation on good works, - a conscience enslaved to fear, terror and dread (Jesus liberates us from) will not porduce truly good works … stained with fear, doubt, ubelief - either distract or distort conscience, or Pharisee who self-righteousness thinks God’s pleased… offesne..
Therefore, not doing good works to free our cosience, that’s Christ work - justification, but these good works flow from the new nature given us by God - and those works are sanctified by the perfect righteouness of Chrsit himself; evenaglical good works, vs. legal = he delights in our struggle to obey his law with Spirit manfiest fruits of lvoe in our hearts, accepts as perfect imporerfect attempts…
Justified by faith alone, doesn’t mean that faith is alone = faith working through loveOpening Art 24 = justified by faith are regenerated to live a new life in being set free from sin - but good works even grace empowered never could even be part of our righteouness that justifies. even best works flawed! but must and will bring forth fruits of thankfulness from GOOD ROOT Rm 5:20-21
Romans 5:20–21 ESVNow the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
QA 64 HC- Paul asking if continue in sin, grace abound, no how we who died to sin in Christ, STILL LIVE IN IT!!!! we don’t need to live in bodnage not only to sin, but also to human laws, rules Article 24: justifying faith alone can get us living pious life, since only way to do good works - out of true love of God and not fear of damnation . 2nd paragraph”Therefore, far from making people cold toward living in a pious and holy way, this justifying faith, quite to the contrary, so works within them that apart from it they will never do a thing out of love for God but only out of love for themselves and fear of being condemned. Belgic Confession Article 24Therefore justifying faith excites us to practice those works which God has commanded!Not an empty faith, but faith working through love… leads a man to freely by himself do what pleases God! = why wouldn’t you want vs. earn sanctification, justification, standing with God@! Justification is the most liberating and ENLIVENING DOCTRINE THERE IS - neither RC nor Anabaptists could put FREE GRACE AND LIFE OF GOOD WORKS TOGETHER! True RC and Munster Anabaptists, say to preach Christ for compelte justifiction make men careless - really need justification at least part if not hwole by works too… but listen to de Bres’ response to them: but on the contrary to preach Christ who died for our sins, and that he gave himself out of perfect love a sacrifice for our Redemption, is the way to be stirred up with burning zeal to good works.11Really a question of how great and effective Christ’s work on Cross is - and when yopu see that and the enlivening of your spirit by the HOly Spirit that comes in trusting that sactrfice - WOW real zeal for whatever God wants - If Hedid that for me, if He’s opened up a space for me to live as His child, for His kingdom - not a questino of I have to in order to - but why live in bondage old habits - for self - if live as free born Son or Daughter of God! = right with God only on basis of Christ’s merits, only receive it by faith = now only way to love God and enabled to serve him freely and gratefully as a living sacrafice…
CRUX interp of Gal 5:6 justifying faith, faith that justifies apart from works Rom 3:28, ALSO EXCITES man to SANCT… faith working through lvoe. Luther says, not combo to justify, but also that faith INVARIABLY ACCOMPANIED justifying faith working through love IN SANCTIFCATION… True believer - has a faith that is exercising in love … Luther: This is that faith, true and lively, which exerciseth and requireth good works through love. It is as much as to say, he that will be a true Christian, must be a true believer. Now he believeth not truly, if works and charity follow not faith. = shuts out hypocrites from Kingdom = since faith without any trust in works or merti availeth before God! Shuts out on right those relying on salvation they have worked, and on left those who say, faith justifies, so let us work nothing, and only believe and do whatever we want! = enemies of grace! Only faith justifies but IT IS NOT IDLE, but occupied and exercised in working through love! Gal 5:6 Paul therefore: setteth forth the whole life of a Christian, namely, that inwardly it consisteth in faith towards God, and outwardly in charity and good works towards our neighbor. Inwardly before God, who hath no need of our works; and outwardly before men, whom our faith profiteth nothing, but who have need of our charity and of our works.15 WOW<,, KEY character. We, again, refuse to admit that, in any case, faith can be separated from the Spirit of regeneration; but when the question comes to be in what manner we are justified, we then set aside all works. (though talking of justification elsewhere, our love not attached to what justifies)IN CHrist, Faith accompanied by love - which has nothing to do with obtaining righteousness! So we’ve covered obtaining righteousness without working , but based on Christ’s work … but when Spirit kindles faith in your heart, you embrace Christ - not just sjsutificatino once for all with conitnuing results , but also made alive in HIM!
So we teach necessity of good works, but not as grounds or co-instrument of justification … no fruit of true, living faith. - so now can please God out of love not fear!
Once we weren’t accepted by God, then justified, and now good works which before done in self love and fear, now can be acceptable to God, since sanctified…
Is 64:6
Isaiah 64:6 ESVWe have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Temporal argument, can’t do truly good work unles by faith and out of love… illustration of tree, roots first, bad tree bears no good fruit… NEW TREE< NEW LIFE begin to bear fruit after living reality of Faith in Christ, abiding, raised to new life!
Trent saying - justification not once for all gift, but has to be preserved and increased by our good works: If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof: let him be anathema.17
Belgic Confession quoting Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10 ESVFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Phil 2:12-13
Philippians 2:12–13 ESVTherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Sanctifcation is not our work - Spirit who works in and through us = we are indebted to God for good works enabled to do , and not he to us! - our working out slavation in this sense is working out our sanctification…