The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 504

IX.

Implanted Dispositions. **

Perfecting holiness in the fear of the

Lord."

To deny is

Holy

that the

Spirit creates

equivalent to a return to

Romish

—2

new

Cor. vii.

i.

dispositions in the will

error; even tho

Rome

argues

that

its dis-

the matter in a different way.

Rome position

denies the total corruption of the will by sin is

wholly

wholly useless, implanting of a

it

;

Hence, the will of the sinner not being

evil.

follows: (i) that the regenerate does not need the

new

disposition (2) that in this respect there is no between the regenerate and the unregenerate. They who introduce into the Reformed churches this and similar teachings ought to consider that they impair one of the foundations of the ;

difference

Reformation, and, however unintentionally, lead us back to Rome. The principal question in this controversy is whether man is :

something or nothing. If

man

is

absolutely nothing, as

can not work in him

He

some fondly proclaim, then God

can not work in nothing.

In nothing one can make nothing. In nothing nothing can be implanted. To nothing nothing can cleave. Nothing can not be a channel for anything. If man is nothing, there can be neither sin nor justification, for the sin of

;

for

nothing

is

nothing, and nothing

is

no

sin.

Noth-

ing can not be born again, or be converted, or share the glory of

And

no need of a no atonement. Then there is no need of discussing sanctification at all. This shows that the idea that man is nothing can not be taken in the absolute sense. Since man is a being, he must be something and they who maintain that he is nothing show by their actions that they consider themselves far from nothing. But if we put it, "Man is nothing before God," it becomes at once intelligible. Then every good Christian subscribes to it unthe children of God.

Savior to atone for sin

;

if

there

is

no

sin,

there

for to atone for nothing

is

is

;

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen