Ronald van overloop11/14/2022 ![]() We ask, How will I know when the great day of judgment comes that I can stand before that judgment seat without terror? Then everything that I have done, said, and thought will be exposed. Every believer is aware of his sins and of the presence of great sinfulness within. And every believer has times when he wonders how he can stand before the holy God whose eyes will not behold iniquity. The result is that justification is not by faith alone!Īnd the importance of the truth of justification by faith alone is experienced. They will speak of the fact that justification is by faith and that it is through grace, but they add that justification is not only by faith, but also by the works which flow from faith. Most often Satan attacks the use of the word “alone.” Those who identify their position as “federal vision” are attacking this fundamental and precious truth, doing so in a most deceptive way. Some of his most deceptive attacks have been and are made when he distorts the language, using the words “justification by faith,” but making them mean something different. Throughout the history of the church Satan has attacked the truth of justification by faith alone. The importance of this truth can also been seen in the kind of attention Satan gives to it. The importance of the truth of justification by faith alone is also evidenced in the fact that thee two creeds which arose out of the Reformation, the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism, maintain and defend this truth, and they do so in precise, powerful, and comforting terms: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Days 23, 24, 51 and Belgic Confession 22-24. If a church upholds the truth of justification by faith alone, then in Luther’s judgment it was a standing church. Martin Luther maintained that this truth was the difference between a standing and a falling church. It is subjectively important for every child of God because it is knowing how I am right before God. It is objectively important because it was the material principle of the Protestant Reformation of the 16 th century, and it remains such in Reformed churches. It is my privilege to speak to you this evening on a most important subject. May it serve His glory, as well as the salvation and comfort of His people.įirst Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, MIģ641 104 th Avenue, Zeeland, Michigan 49464 May God be pleased to use this as a means to keep us steadfast in the faith. We trust that making these speeches available in booklet form will serve to remind the reader of the importance of holding to this truth-a truth which is, indeed, at the very heart of the gospel of God’s grace and salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We express our appreciation to the three speakers for their timely lectures, which clearly confront and combat the errors with regard to the doctrine of justification. It is said that man is justified by faith and by works. This theme was chosen in light of the fact that many today, even in conservative Reformed circles, are denying a fundamental truth of the Reformed faith, namely, justification by faith alone. The theme for this conference was “Justification: The Heart of the Gospel.” This booklet presents, in printed form, three speeches that were given at the 2006 Winter Conference sponsored by the Evangelism Committee of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, MI. Justification and Our Relationship to God: God-Glorifying Worship and a Thankful Holy Life Justification and Our Relationship to God: Peace Justification and Our Relationship to the World: The Natural Creation Justification and Our Relationship to the World: Our Flesh and Sin Justification and Our Relationship to the Church Justification Establishes the Righteousness of God and Our Legal Relationship to All Things The Relation Between Justification and Works The Attack on Justification on Behalf of Good Works ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |