Psalm 103:2

Spurgeon’s devotion for this Morning of July 9 titled “Forget not all His benefits”, copied and pasted below, reminds us of the importance of being more aware of the benefits that God gives to each of us personally. 

 

The Shorter Catechism teaches:

“Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? 

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.”

 

This reminder to “Forget not all His benefits” causes us to glorify God more, to enjoy God more, and to trust God more which will lead us to act personally on our faith more. 

                                                                         

“Forget not all His benefits.”

It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe his goodness in delivering them, his mercy in pardoning them, and his faithfulness in keeping his covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of his goodness and of his truth, as much a proof of his faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that he wrought all his mighty acts, and showed himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare his arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favors? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath he never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things,” hath he never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave his mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David’s harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth forever.

Here is the link to Spurgeon’s devotion in case you want to read it in its original format and/or save it as a “Favorite”.  If you read it later than this morning of July 9, another devotion will appear, and you will need to click on “Prev” blue link at the left top of the devotion to go back to this “Morning, July 9″ devotion. 

Click here: Morning and Evening: Daily Readings | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

 

Thank you.

My devotion for today included Revelation 16:7-11.  This post focuses on the justice of God’s judgments, the pouring out of God’s wrath and punishment on the wicked, and the failure of the wicked to repent.  

 

^“And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

                                        

The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.  Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

                                                     

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.”  Revelation 16:7-11.

You will note that despite this fierce punishment, the wicked did not repent. 

However, maybe, God will use this Revelation to draw you by His grace to repentance and salvation.

Maybe, this Revelation (that God is just and fiercely punishes the wicked) will cause you to act like the jailer who trembled with fear, humbled himself by falling down before Paul and Silas, and asked how he could be saved. 

We are called to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. 

Here is the story of the jailer in Acts 16:29-31:  “And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:29-31.  

And yet, if we have repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, let us also recognize Scripture which teaches us that we repent and believe through the grace of God.  We don’t do so, because we are wiser or are more humble or have more willpower.  Ephesians 2:8-9 states:  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Jesus said in John Chapter 6, verses 44 and 65:  “  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  …  And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”   

This is the summary and conclusion.  Repent!  Believe in Jesus!  Praise God for His gift of salvation!

My devotion for today covered Revelation Chapter 15.  This post focuses on ”The Song”.

                                                  

The Song                                                                                

^“And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
         ”Great and marvelous are Your works,
         O Lord God, the Almighty;
         Righteous and true are Your ways,
         King of the nations! 
         “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
         For You alone are holy;
         For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
         FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”  Revelation 15:3-4. 

 

On his commentary of Revelation Chapter 15, Rev. Herman Hoeksema in his book Behold he Cometh!  An Exposition of the Book of Revelation at page 525 compares the leading by Moses of the people out of the bondage of Egypt with the leading of Christ of the people out of the bondage of sin.  Rev. Hoeksema furthermore compares the song of Moses with this song and states:  “And for that same reason they now sing the same song, exalting the power of Jehovah, the salvation of His people, and the wrath visited upon the wicked power of opposition.”

In conclusion, the first post talked generally about God’s TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.  The second post talked about a specific example of TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH:  THE REVELATION OF THE REAPERS, and like this song, the Revelation of the Reapers also exalted the power of God, the salvation of His people, and the wrath visited upon the wicked.   This third post “sings” The Song of this TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.

As some of you may know, I am reading through the Book of Revelation.  You may have noticed that my posts have become more infrequent and that I have not written much, if anything, on my devotions.  Revelation is difficult for me to understand.  Nevertheless, it is an important book.  Revelation 1:3 states:  “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;  for the time is near.”

 

It is time to write.  My devotion for today concerned Revelation 14:14-20.  This concerns the story of the Reapers.

                                                    

The Reapers   

                                         

^“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.  Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”  So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.  And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”  Revelation 14:14-20.

On his commentary of Revelation 14:14-20, Rev. Herman Hoeksema in his book Behold he Cometh!  An Exposition of the Book of Revelation at page 505 states:  “… he who supervises the reaping of the earth, is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord”.  Rev. Hoeksema at page 510 states:  “And the gathering of the wheat is a symbol of the removal of God’s people from the earth.  So also the harvest of the wicked is more than once referred to in the Word of God as the cutting of the grapes and the gathering of them in the winepress, to be pressed and trodden.” 

In conclusion, the prior post talked generally about God’s TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.  Here in Revelation, we see a specific example of TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.  We see the harvest of God’s people.  We see the harvest of the wicked.  God is in absolute control, accomplishing all of His purpose.   

Today, I came across the following verse in Spurgeon’s Devotion for this morning.

 

^“The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him,
         And He will make them know His covenant.”  Psalm 25:14. 

 

In a footnote to this verse, I found the following verse:  ^“For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
         But He is intimate with the upright.”  Proverbs 3:32. 

 

Then, the following verses came to my mind: 

 

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:15.

 

” … But we have the mind of Christ.”  I Corinthians 2:16. 

 

There was a time that I was taught a “god” who would wait and wring his hands as to whom would accept him.  This “god” loved everyone equally and would suffer the loss of most of his beloved children in hell forever.   

 

With great joy, I was reminded of the Sovereign God of Scripture who loses none of His Elect Beloved Children.  I was reminded of the Almighty God of Scripture Who alone can save, Who alone does save, not as a gentleman knocking on the door of your heart, but rather as a Mighty Warrior. 

 

“¹⁶  And He saw that there was no man,
         And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
         Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
         And His righteousness upheld Him. 
 ¹⁷  He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
         And a helmet of salvation on His head;
         And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
         And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. 
 ¹⁸  According to their deeds, so He will repay,
         Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
         To the coastlands He will make recompense. 
 ¹⁹  So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
         And His glory from the rising of the sun,
         For He will come like a rushing stream
         Which the wind of the LORD drives. 
 ²⁰  “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
         And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD.

 ²¹  “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.”  Isaiah 59:16-21. 

TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9: 23-24.

God has made a perfect plan:  total in scope, perfect, and designed for His pleasure, glory, and triumph.  God plans to demonstrate His lovingkindness, His justice, and His righteousness.

                                                                    

God perfectly executes his plan: totally accomplishing every detail, perfectly accomplishing every detail, and triumphantly accomplishing every detail, all in a way which perfectly brings God total perfect triumph.  God demonstrated His lovingkindness by saving every single one of His Elect.  God demonstrated His justice both by punishing the reprobates by sending them to hell but by also sending His precious only begotten Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die on the cross, because Christ took on Himself the sins of the Elect.  If ever there was a time for God to refrain from justice, it was when Christ was on the cross.  But, God perfectly demonstrated His justice by even punishing Christ who took on the sins of the Elect.  God demonstrated His righteousness by imputing the righteousness of Christ to the Elect and by sanctifying the Elect, causing them to be slaves of righteousness. 

                                                          

God delights in lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, and God perfectly exercises them.  We exult in total perfect triumph in Christ.

 

Consider Isaiah 46: 9-11:
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘ My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

God accomplishes all of His good purpose.  Total Perfect Triumph.

Consider John 6: 28-29:
“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’ “ 

God changes the focus from what man should do to what God has done.  God changes the focus from works to faith.  God changes the focus from man generating his own faith to God even giving faith.  Total Perfect Triumph.

In summary: Psalm 115:3 states:
“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.“

(Emphasis added to the foregoing verses by bold italic.).

In conclusion, God does whatever he pleases, which includes that He exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for He tells us that He does so and delights in these things.  Total Perfect Triumph.

 

 

I read this following article with great joy.  I am pleased to mention news stories about places wherever Calvinism flourishes, but it is particularly pleasing to learn of the flourishing of Calvinism in China where my grandfather Richard H. Pousma, M.D. was a Christian Reformed Church (”CRC”) medical missionary in Nanking, China from 1926 to 1927 until forced out by civil unrest.  My Grandpa brought my Grandma and my Mother (who was then a one year old baby) with him to China.  He wrote the book An Eventful Year in the Orient, and he later was also a medical missionary to Navajo Indians at the CRC mission at Rehoboth (near Gallup, New Mexico) for many more years.   

 

Here is the article -

Click here: Chinese Calvinism flourishes | Andrew Brown | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

 

Thank you.

Today, I was blessed to read the following article titled “The Keeping Power of God” by John Samson. It contains  Scriptural support for the Fifth point of Calvinism which is ”Perseverance of the Saints” a/k/a “Preservation of the Saints” (The “P” in “TULIP”).

 

Although I have “copied and pasted” (with the permission of John Samson) herein the entire article, here is the link to the article in case you want to read it in its original format at the Reformation Theology web site and/or to make comments.

 

http://www.reformationtheology.com/2009/06/the_keeping_power_of_god_1.php

 

The Keeping Power of God

                                                           

Jude: 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (ESV)

This small but powerful letter is Jude’s only contribution to the New Testament. He was the brother of James (head of the Jerusalem church), and half-brother of Jesus. His full name was Jude Thaddeus.

As He concludes his letter, Jude expresses his total confidence in God’s ability in keeping the believer in Christ secure in his salvation. It is certainly interesting to note that Jude both begins and ends his short letter with this same theme about God’s keeping power. In verse 1 he describes believers as “kept for Jesus Christ” and here in verse 24, he describes God as the One “who is able to keep you from stumbling…” In starting and finishing his short letter with this theme, it is clear he did not wish for this point to be missed. Obviously the fact that God keeps His children safe in salvation is something frequently highlighted in the Scripture. Jesus expressed it clearly in many places, perhaps most clearly in John 6:39 where He described the will of the Father for Him as that of losing nothing of all His Father had given to Him. In John 10: 27, 28, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Then in John 17: 11, Christ prayed for this same group (those that the Father had given to Him), “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11), and again “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

The ESV Study Bible notes shed light on this by stating, “Just as the false teachers are “kept” by God for judgment (see 2 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; 3:7; Jude 6), so also he has infinite power to keep from stumbling those who have put their faith in him. By “stumbling” Jude means falling into sin or error (Gk. aptaistos, “without stumbling”; cf. ptaiō, “stumble,” in Rom. 11:11; James 2:10; 3:2; 2 Pet. 1:10). If such stumbling is left unchecked it will eventually lead to falling away from the faith. Yet Jude says God will never let his own fall away but will “keep” them by his grace…”

God is the instrumental cause of our standing in His presence. It is something He does. He places us in a position or location described as “in the presence of His glory.” This could very well awaken all kinds of legitimate fear in us, because there were men like Isaiah who saw this glory and came apart at the seems, so to speak. I am sure you remember him declaring, “woe is me for I am undone” (Isaiah 6), and until God stepped in with the remedy for him, he was in total disarray. Yet in contrast to Isaiah’s experience, this standing in God’s presence puts us forever in a blameless condition.

The consequence of this is an immense and overflowing joy in us which results in great glory being given to God. “The only possible response to the work of God on behalf of believers is great joy (Gk. agalliasis, “great joy, exultation”), which suggests an exclamation of joy and praise.” (1)

The fact that God is “able to keep” us in this way would not be a source of joy if He was merely able to do this but not willing to do so. Though the text does not say this explicitly the obvious implication of these words is that God is not only able to do this, but that He is willing and that He actually does this. Imagine the opposite. Imagine God was only able to do this but chose not to. Would this be the source of our great rejoicing (which is what Jude is seeking us to understand and appreciate)? I hardly think so. No, the text is a thundering statement about the keeping and sustaining power of God. He keeps us from stumbling and presents us before Him blameless for all eternity, and this is what causes us to have such great joy. God is to be greatly praised for this salvation for it is entirely His work from start to finish. Salvation is of the Lord!

(1) ESV Study Bible notes

Posted by John Samson on June 10, 2009 02:42 PM

The Daily Confession for today (which site is under the “Links” in the right margin) is Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 23.

 

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 23

June 7, 2009

23. Lord’s Day

Q. 59. But what does it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
A. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. [a]

Q. 60. How are thou righteous before God?
A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; [a] so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, [b] and am still inclined to all evil; [c] notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, [d] but only of mere grace, [e] grants and imputes to me, [f] the perfect satisfaction, [g] righteousness and holiness of Christ; [h] even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; [i] inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. [j]

Q. 61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
A. Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God; [a] and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only. [b]

———————————

We need to be reminded that we are not acceptable to God (or righteous) on account of the worthiness of our faith, because we are inclined by our sinful nature to be proud of ourselves.  We want to think that we are wiser than most.  We want to think that we are more faithful than most.  We want to do something, even if it can’t be works, to distinguish ourselves as better than the rest.  We want some credit for “our” faith. 

Yet, this Lord’s Day reminds us that our faith is only the means by which we can receive and apply the  ”satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ” to ourselves.  But, it is the “satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ” that makes us righteous.

Faith is not a product of our own wisdom.  Faith is a gift of God.  The Canons of Dordt, SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE – Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby, Article 8, make it clear that faith is one of the ”saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he (Christ) purchased for them by his death”.     

Article 8. “For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added). 

My devotion for today included Jude 22-23.  “And have mercy on some, who are doubting;  save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”  Jude 22-23.

 

I know this man with whom I have a meal about four times a year.  At first, the conversations were interesting.  Now, the conversations are more filled with descriptions of health problems of himself, his wife, and others.  I put him off for a while thinking that he would ask me to have a meal together.  But, I decided that it was the right thing to do to ask him to have a meal together.

 

Today, when I read these verses, they seemed to fit this situation.

 

There are people that cross our paths that we can ignore and pass by.  We can do so pretty adeptly without even appearing to others to be haughty or smug.  We can even convince ourselves that we are good stewards of our time by not taking the time to stop and interact with these people.

 

But, is this having mercy?  Is this what Jesus would do? 

 

We know the answer.  I don’t need to search out Scripture to give you the book, chapter, and verse citation.  You remember Jesus stopping to respond to the cries of the blind, the lame, and the lepers.  You remember the woman touching Jesus’ garment seeking to be healed of the blood flow.  You remember the children coming to Jesus.  You remember how Jesus stopped each time to heal and to teach. 

 

If anyone had the right to pass by these people, it was Jesus who was truly on a mission to save the world.  But, Jesus tenderly stopped each time “to touch and to teach” (what a nice phrase) even the most disgusting and repelling and doubting people.  Jesus even was slandered for associating with the drunks and prostitutes.

 

We are Reformed and believe in the “Total Depravity” of man.  We should be consistent with that belief and be willing to “to touch and to teach” even the most disgusting and repelling and doubting people.  However, we too often act as if we are thinking:  “I am Elect;  you are reprobate.”   

 

There is hope.  There is the encouragement of a reward in James 5:19-20:  “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.  There also is the encouragement that the Holy Spirit will help us show mercy by producing fruit within us of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”.  See Galatians 5:22-23.   

 

So, when that person seeks contact with you, have mercy.  

Arminians hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone (”Universal Atonement” – The Third Point of Arminianism) and they love to speak and sing about the power in Christ’s blood.  But, Arminians realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved. Arminians claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save. They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective. According to this logic of these Arminians, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor and as to whether or not one will be saved.  Thus, Arminians really focus and give the real credit and praise to those people who believe through their own free will.    

 

Today’s post shows that for the Calvinist, there truly is “Power in the Blood”.  The Third Point of Calvinism is “Limited Atonement”, the “L” in “TULIP”.  This point teaches that Christ died only for the Elect, not for everyone.  But, all for whom he died, namely the Elect, will be saved.  Christ gets the credit and procures faith for those for whom he died (namely, the Elect) among the saving benefits of his blood.  The following quote from the Canons of Dordt comes from Daily Confessions web site linked here – Click here: Daily Confession

 

Here is the Daily Confession for today -

 

Canons of Dordt, week 22

 

May 29, 2009

The Second Head of Doctrine: Christ’s Death and Human Redemption Through It

“Having set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those

III

Who teach that Christ, by the satisfaction which he gave, did not certainly merit for anyone salvation itself and the faith by which this satisfaction of Christ is effectively applied to salvation, but only acquired for the Father the authority or plenary will to relate in a new way with men and to impose such new conditions as he chose, and that the satisfying of these conditions depends on the free choice of man; consequently, that it was possible that either all or none would fulfill them.

For they have too low an opinion of the death of Christ, do not at all acknowledge the foremost fruit or benefit which it brings forth, and summon back from hell the Pelagian error.

Having set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those

IV

Who teach that what is involved in the new covenant of grace which God the Father made with men through the intervening of Christ’s death is not that we are justified before God and saved through faith, insofar as it accepts Christ’s merit, but rather that God, having withdrawn his demand for perfect obedience to the law, counts faith itself, and the imperfect obedience of faith, as perfect obedience to the law, and graciously looks upon this as worthy of the reward of eternal life.

For they contradict Scripture: They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ, whom God presented as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood (Rom. 3:24-25). And along with the ungodly Socinus, they introduce a new and foreign justification of man before God, against the consensus of the whole church.”  (Emphasis added).

 

 

For a more detailed description of “Limited Atonement”, you can see the link ”TULIP” in the right margin under Links”.  If you want to read more of the Canons of Dordt, you can see the link “Reformed Creeds”.  The Canons of Dordt focus on these Five Points of Calvinism also known as “TULIP” also known as “the doctrines of grace” (which I also call the “doctrine of salvation”),   The Canons of Dordt is much shorter than the other Reformed Creeds and is an easy read.  Thank you.