The World's Ruined: Anglicanism/The Church of England Topics

The English Reformation: Glass Half Empty (5 Part Series)

Cranmer, martyred for Justification by faith... Nov. 1, 2009

Just some random thoughts on the Faith... Jan. 28, 2010

Worship & The Book of Common Prayer... Jan. 29, 2010

Reflections on Justification March 5, 2010

Paul versus James: Justification and Works... March 16, 2010

Anglican Problems... July 22, 2010

Cranmer on The Salvation of Man, Pt. 1 Aug. 16, 2010

Cranmer's Sermon of Salvation Pt. 2 Aug. 17, 2010

Cranmer's Sermon of Salvation Pt. 3 Aug. 18, 2010

Cranmer's Sermon on the Reading and Study of Scripture Aug. 24, 2010

Cranmer's Sermon on the Knowledge of Scripture Part 2 Aug. 25, 2010

Miserable Offenders... Sept. 16, 2010

Anglican Reformation Dissonance... Sept. 27, 2010

Restoration and the Word... Oct. 22, 2010

Concluding thoughts on Cranmer... Nov. 19, 2010

What's the problem? Feb. 9, 2011

Predestination: 39 Articles of Religion Feb. 10, 2011

Calvin and the Church of England Feb. 14, 2011

Apostolic Succession Pt. 1 - John Jewell March 29, 2011

Apostolic Succession Pt. 2 - Hooker and Jerome April 12, 2011

Apostolic Succession Pt. 3 - A Cranmer postscript April 18, 2011

Apostolic Succession Pt. 4: Addendum to the Postscript... April 21, 2011

"And there is no health in us"... total depravity? May 5, 2011

Continuing Anglican Contentions... May 23, 2011

See-Saw Reform: The Church of England's confused course... Oct. 21, 2011

Eucharistic witness of the early fathers, part 1... June 21, 2012

Rome's transubstantiation: There's a disturbance in the force (tradition) Part 2 June 25, 2012

Partaking of Christ's flesh and blood; Augustine instructs - how to understand - Part 3 June 26, 2012

Reformed Liturgical Confession and Absolution Sept. 13, 2012

Thomas Cranmer's legacy... Sept. 28, 2012

Cranmer, Continental Reformer? Feb. 13, 2013

Cranmer: Continental reformer - an addendum... Feb. 18, 2013

Gleanings: Puritanism and the Book of Common Prayer, Part 1 Feb. 23, 2013

Gleanings Part 2: The Regulative Principle of Worship and the Book of Common Prayer March 9, 2013

Justification explained... March 16, 2013

The Papal paper trail... May 3, 2013

Thomas Cranmer's Last Letter... May 29, 2013

Is Rome a True Church? Jan, 14, 2014

The Requirement of the Law Might Be Fulfilled in Us... Feb. 20, 2014

Law/Gospel Distinction According to Cranmer: Law & Mercy May 12, 2014

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - Brother in Christ May 13, 2014

Marks of a True Anglican Church Feb. 3, 2015

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)

The World's Ruined

Anglicanism/The Church of England Topics

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