The World's Ruined: Sanctification, Sin, and Old Guys...

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sanctification, Sin, and Old Guys...

My friend, Gerda Inger, sent me this wonderful quote of John Owen's (Overcoming Sin and Temptation). It's from the web site The Old Guys, a blog with the self-described purpose of putting "others in touch with helpful quotes, books, and resources concerning Christian life and thought from a specific group of people…. The Old Guys."

To mortify a sin is not utterly to kill, root it out, and destroy it, that it should have no more hold at all nor residence in our hearts. It is true this is that which is aimed at; but this is not in this life to be accomplished. There is no man that truly sets himself to mortify any sin, but he aims at, intends, desires its utter destruction, that it should leave neither root nor fruit in the heart or life. He would so kill it that it should never move nor stir anymore, cry or call, seduce or tempt, to eternity. Its not-being is the thing aimed at. Now, though doubtless there may, by the Spirit and grace of Christ, a wonderful success and eminency of victory against any sin be attained, so that a man may have almost constant triumph over it, yet an utter killing and destruction of it, that it should not be, is not in this life to be expected.

~John Owen~

This understanding of Owen's dovetails nicely with another quote that was posted today by Scott Clark's at The Heidelblog, that of another old guy - Caspar Olevianus:

The Son of God, having been appointed by God as Mediator of the covenant, becomes the guarantor on two counts: 1) He shall satisfy for the sins of all those whom the Father has given him; 2) He shall also bring it to pass that they, being planted in him, shall enjoy freedom in their consciences and from day to day be renewed in the image of God.

It seems to me that the older reformed writers were quite comfortable with the idea that Christians, who seek to live godly lives, still continue to sin. One of their main concerns appears to be with clearly communicating the benefits of the gospel, as in the quote above; the provisions of Christ’s work in order to comfort the conscience (wouldn’t need that if sin weren’t a reoccurring reality) and the truth that it is God who sanctifies by His grace. To me, these dual provisions are indispensable, as well as extremely encouraging, given our weaknesses/struggles and given that the law of God is still the moral standard required of God’s people – “Be ye perfect, therefore, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)

“For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren…” (Heb.2:11)

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The Mere Mercy of God

This calling of Abram is a signal instance of the gratuitous mercy of God. Had Abram been beforehand with God by any merit of works? Had Abram come to him, or conciliated his favour? Nay, we must ever recall to mind that he was plunged in the filth of idolatry; and God freely stretches forth his hand to bring back the wanderer. He deigns to open his sacred mouth, that he may show to one, deceived by Satan's wiles, the way of salvation.

But this is done designedly, in order that the manifestation of the grace of God might become the more conspicuous in his person. For he is an example of the vocation of us all; for in him we perceive, that, by the mere mercy of God, those things that are not are raised from nothing, in order that they may begin to be something.

-John Calvin, Genesis, (Banner of Truth), p. 343

"Nor the faith also does not shut out the justice of our good works, necessarily to be done afterwards of duty towards GOD (for we are most bounden to serve GOD, in doing good deeds, commanded by him in his holy Scripture, all the days of our life): But it excludes them, so that we may not do them to this intent, to be made good by doing of them. For all the good works that we can do, be imperfect, and therefore not able to deserve our justification: but our justification doth come freely by the mere mercy of God..." (Thomas Cranmer - Homily of Justification)

Justification-Sanctification/Law-Gospel

In short, I affirm, that not by our own merit but by faith alone, are both our persons and works justified; and that the justification of works depends on the justification of the person, as the effect on the cause. (John Calvin, Acts of the Council of Trent with the Antidote)

The law guides, directs, commands, all things that are against the interest and rule of sin. It judgeth and condemneth both the things that promote it and the persons that do them; it frightens and terrifies the consciences of those who are under its dominion. But if you shall say unto it, “What then shall we do? this tyrant, this enemy, is too hard for us. What aid and assistance against it will you afford unto us? what power will you communicate unto its destruction?” Here the law is utterly silent, or says that nothing of this nature is committed unto it of God: nay, the strength it hath it gives unto sin for the condemnation of the sinner: “The strength of sin is the law.” But the gospel, or the grace of it, is the means and instrument of God for the communication of internal spiritual strength unto believers. By it do they receive supplies of the Spirit or aids of grace for the subduing of sin and the destruction of its dominion… (John Owen, A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace)

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sanctification, Sin, and Old Guys...

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