The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 365

IMPLANTING IN CHRIST rigid

among

unto mystica,

325

them has presented this union with Christ, so incessantly, so

the reformers, yet not one of this spiritual

tenderly, and with such holy

fire

as he.

And

as Calvin, so did all

the Reformed theologians, from Beza to Comrie, and from Zanchius " Without Christ nothing, by this mystical union to Kohlbrugge.

And even now a preacher's value all," was their motto. be strictly measured by the degree of prominence accorded to the mystical union with Immanuel, in his presentation of the truth. The strong utterance of Kohlbrugge. " One may be born again, one with Christ

is to

may

be a child of God, one

may be

a sincere believer, yet without

nothing in himself, nothing but a lost and wicked sinner," was always the glorious confession of our In fact, it is what our form for the administration of churches. the Lord's Supper so well expresses; "Considering that we seek

this mystical

our

we

union with Christ he

is

outside of ourselves in Jesus Christ,

life

lie in

we acknowledge

that

the midst of death.'

—

ground to teach as some of our younger and derogatory to the work of the Holy Spirit, that regeneration accomplishes nothing in us, and that the whole work is performed completely outside of us as some have said, " That we need not even be converted, for even that has been done for us vicariously by the Lord Jesus Christ." To say that there is no difference between a regenerate person and an unregenerate is to contradict Scripture and to deny the work of the Holy Wherefore we strongly oppose this notion. There is inSpirit. deed a difference. The former has entered into the union with And upon this union everythifig deChrist, and the latter has not. pends it makes a difference in men as between heaven and hell. Nor may it be said, on the contrary, " That a regenerate person, even without the union with Christ, is other or better than an unbeOutfor this puts asunder what God has joined together. liever side of Christ there is in man born of a woman nothing but darkness, corruption, and death. Hence we firmly maintain the indissoluble oneness of these two " There is no regeneration without establishing the mystical union with Christ", and again: " There is no mystical union with Immanuel but in the regenerate." These two may never be separated and on the long way between the first act'of regeneration and completed sanctification, the unio mystica may not for a moment be

But

it is

wrong on

this

ministers are reported to teach

—

.

.

'

,

:

;

lost sight of.

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