The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 417

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CERTAINTY OF OUR JUSTIFICATION way alone

In this

of justification in

ception of

it,

it is

all its

377

possible fully to understand the doctrine

wealth and glory.

justification is

Without this deep conmerely the pardon of sin, after which,

being relieved of the burden, we start out with newly animated And this is nothing else than genuine, fatal zeal to work for God.

Arminianism. But, with this deeper insight, man acknowledges and confesses " Such pardon of sin does not avail me. For I know " ist. " 2d.

my

That I shall be again daily defiled with sin; That I shall have a sinful heart within me until the day of

death; " 3d.

That

until then, I shall never be able to accomplish the

keeping of the whole law "

4th.

That, since

I

am

already condemned and sentenced,

Kingdom

God

I

can

man." The answer of justification, such as Scripture reveals and our Church confesses it, covers these four points most satisfactorily. It accepts you not as a saint, with a self-assumed holiness, but as one who confesses: "My conscience accuses me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and have kept none of them, and that I am still inclined to all evil"; and yet, you are not cast out. It tells you that you can not depend upon any merit of your own, but must rely on grace alone. Wherefore it begins with putting you in the ranks of the law-abiding, of them that are declared good and righteous, " even so as if you never had had nor committed any sin." As the ground of godliness it does not require of you the keeping of the law, but it imputes and imparts

not do business in the

of

as an honorable

you Christ's fulfilment of the law; esteeming you as if you had accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for you. And effacing hereby the difference of your past and future sin, it imputes and grants unto you not only Christ's satisfaction and holiness, but even His original righteousness, in such a manner that you stand before God once more righteous and honorable, and as tho the whole history of your sin had been a dream only. But the closing sentence of the Catechism should be noticed " Inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart." And that "believing heart," and that "embracing" behold, that is the very work of the Holy Spirit.

to

fully

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