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“What suffices to convict all the Elect in the world of the greatness of the sin of not believing in Christ, or the sin of refusing to flee to Him for relief from sins done against the Law and from wrath due to such refusal?” [“Whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”40]
“What suffices to convict all the Elect that righteousness and eternal life are to be had by faith in Jesus Christ, that is, by consenting to the Covenant of Grace in Him?” [“Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”]
“What suffices to convict all the Elect of the judgment to be exercised by Christ for destroying the works of the devil in a person, and sanctifying and saving all who believe in Him?” [“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”]
“These same things might suffice to convict me also. But what the Spirit has said in the Scriptures quoted above or other like Scriptures suffices to convict the Elect world of the aforesaid sin and righteousness and judgment. Therefore what the Spirit has said in these and other like Scriptures, does serve to convict me thereof also.”
Navigation, Practical Use:
Past: Quotations from the Word of God, the Holy Bible form the foundation of logical reasoning by which the reader may be convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment, leading to saving faith and repentance to eternal life, away from eternal hellfire
Present: Closing a personal covenant with Jesus Christ for eternal life
Future: Logical reasoning from Scripture designed to strengthen new and old believers in their faith and walk with God
Therefore, let the repentant person who desires to believe take with him words,41 and say heartily to the Lord: “Because you say, ‘seek my face,’ my soul answers to you, ‘your face, Lord will I seek.’ I have read the offer of an everlasting Covenant of all saving mercies to be had in Christ, and I do heartily embrace your offer. Lord, let it be a signed and sealed covenant. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Behold, I give myself to you to serve you in all things forever, and I hope your right hand will save me and the Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, O Lord endures for ever; forsake not the works of your own hands.” Thus a person may be made an unfeigned believer in Christ.42
Navigation, Practical Use:
Past: Closing a personal covenant with Jesus Christ for eternal life
Present: Logical reasoning from Scripture designed to strengthen new and old believers in their faith and walk with God, in two parts:
The apparent conflict between God’s sovereignty in bringing all things to pass and the believer’s personal responsibility is practically resolved by:
God’s command to exercise faith by being diligent to obey all God’s commands
God’s provision of the Holy Spirit to the believer to direct and empower the believer to walk in the Spirit, in divinely given strength
It can be difficult to be assured that God wants you to be His lovingly adopted child, yes, you individually and personally, with all your sins, weaknesses, and defects. Four warrants from God’s Word are presented to show that God really means it.
Future: Logical reasoning from Scripture by which a believer can examine himself and validate the existence of true saving faith in himself, or the contrary.
40 In the original Sum, these three questions were not answered. The editor thought it prudent to answer them from Scriptures quoted above.
41 This phrase comes from “Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips’” (Hosea 14:2 NKJV). The Hebrew translated sacrifices of our lips is difficult, but in this New Testament age: “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15 ESV). “Take with him words” tells the repentant person to seriously consider beforehand what he will say to God, to seriously say what he means and mean what he says.
42 This and similar sinner’s prayers do not themselves save anyone. But when prayed truly and from the heart, however imperfectly, they are outward evidence of having been inwardly born again from above by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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