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List from Grudem
(Handout: e, d, c, a, j, I, b, h, g, f)
Remember that this class is “Introducing the Trinity Confession of Faith.” It’s not an exhaustive teaching of the confession.
Our church has always had a “Statement of Faith,” which covered many of the aspects of what we believe about God, salvation, and the church.
From one perspective, not much is different at all.
From another perspective things are a little different.
Does having a Confession of Faith cause division or schism in the Body of Christ?
Why don’t we just say, “I just believe the Bible!” Or “I have no creed but the Bible!”?
Does having a Confession mean we can never gain a new understanding of scripture and change our mind?
We are not aiming merely for doctrinal fidelity to a “system” but want to say out loud what we think the Bible teaches.
What is the relationship of these sections to the Doctrines of Grace (TULIP)? One thing that you’ll realize as you read the Trinity Confession of Faith (as well as WCF or LCF) is that they are not organized according to the Doctrines of Grace (TULIP).
We recently offered a discipleship class to explain the Doctrines of Grace.
We don’t have organization headings in the TCOF, but these upcoming chapters are dealing with many of the aspects of the Ordo Salutis.
The ordo salutis describes the process by which the work of salvation, wrought in Christ, is subjectively realized in the hearts and lives of sinners. It aims at describing in their logical order, and also in their interrelations, the various movements of the Holy Spirit in the application of the work of redemption. The emphasis is not on what man does in appropriating the grace of God, but on what God does in applying it.
- L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co., 1938), 415–416.
Other Systematic Theologies:
Compared to the Ordo Salutis we established with our quiz, the TCOF is different. It begins with four aspects that God Does, and then moves on to what Man does.
1. Those whom God has predestined to life, he is pleased in his appointed and accepted time effectually to call to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. He effectually calls them by his Word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills and by his almighty power causes them to do what is good. He effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
2. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man nor from any power or agency in him. Being dead in sins and trespasses, he is wholly passive in this until being born again and renewed by the Holy Spirit. He is thus enabled to answer this call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. This is by no less a power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.
1. Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifies, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins and by accounting and accepting them as righteous. This is not for anything done in them or done by them but for Christ's sake alone. God justifies them not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other gospel obedience to them. God justifies them by imputing Christ's active obedience to the whole law and passive obedience in his death, and he does this through faith. This faith they have is not of themselves. It is the gift of God.
2. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness is the only instrument of justification. Yet it is not alone in the person justified but is always accompanied with all other saving graces. It is not a dead faith but works by love.
Romans 3:24–26 (ESV) — and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:1 (ESV) — Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 2:26 (ESV) — For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
1. In and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, God has graciously granted the gift of adoption to all those who are justified. By this, they are numbered with and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God. They have his name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, and have access to the throne of grace with boldness. They are enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.” They are pitied, protected, provided for, and disciplined by him as by a father. They are never cast off but sealed to the day of redemption and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) — he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Romans 8:15 (ESV) — For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
1. Those who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection. They are also further sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them. The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and its various lusts are more and more weakened and put to death. Those who are united to Christ are more and more enlivened and strengthened in all saving graces so that they practice true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
2. This sanctification is throughout the whole person, yet imperfect in this life. Some remnants of corruption still abide in every part, from which arises a continual and irreconcilable war—the desires of the flesh against the desires of the Spirit and those of the Spirit against those of the flesh.
John 17:17 (ESV) — Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Galatians 5:17 (ESV) — For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
We began with four activities done by God. Now we turn to four actions belonging to us. However, we will see in each of these that they are enabled and empowered by the Spirit’s work in the believer’s life.
1. The grace of faith is a work of the Spirit of Christ in the hearts of the elect, by which they are enabled to believe for the saving of their souls. This grace of faith is ordinarily brought about by the ministry of the Word. It is also increased and strengthened by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed by God.
2. By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatever is revealed in the Word as the authority of God himself. A Christian also perceives an excellency in it above all other writings and all things in the world. For the Word bears forth the glory of God in His attributes, the excellency of Christ in His nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in His workings and operations. So the Christian is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth that he believes. He also acts differently based on what each particular passage contains: obeying the commands, trembling at the warnings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) — For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Romans 10:17 (ESV) — So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Psalm 19:7–10 (ESV) — The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
1. The faith that leads to salvation is also a faith that leads to true repentance. There is no saving faith that does not lead to true repentance and no true repentance that does not spring from saving faith. In their effectual calling, God gives the elect repentance unto life. This includes even those who have lived some time in the state of nature, and served various lusts and pleasures while in it.
3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace by which a person by the Holy Spirit is made aware of the numerous evils of his sin and, by faith in Christ, humbles himself for his sin with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence for it, praying for pardon and strength of grace. By the supply of the Spirit, this person aims and endeavors to walk before God in a well-pleasing way in all things.
4. Repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives on the account of the body of death and its sinful desires and actions. So it is every man's duty to repent specifically of his particular known sins.
Mark 1:15 (ESV) — and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 11:18 (ESV) — When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
2. These good works done in obedience to God's commandments are the fruits and evidence of true and lively faith. By them, believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God. They are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that having the fruit which leads to holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.
6. Nevertheless just as the persons of believers are accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him. Their works are not accepted as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's sight. But God, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, even though it is accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
7. Although works done by unregenerate men may be things which God commands and of good use to both themselves and others, yet because they do not proceed from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the Word, nor to a right end, to the glory of God, they are therefore sinful and cannot please God. Nor can they make a man ready to receive grace from God, and yet the neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
James 2:18 (ESV) — But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
1 John 2:3 (ESV) — And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1. Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace but will certainly persevere to the end. They are eternally saved, for the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Consequently, he continues to produce and nourish in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit which incline to immortality. Though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, these shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock on which they are fastened by faith. Notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God for salvation. There they shall enjoy their purchased possession, having been engraved upon the palms of his hands and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
2. This perseverance of the saints depends not on their own free will but on the immutability of the decree of election, which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father.
John 10:28–29 (ESV) — I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) — And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:30 (ESV) — And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
August 2 — You: Made in the Image of God; Empowered by the Spirit
August 9 — What Do I Do Now?
Here are some other recent messages.
We are a church built on the Bible, guided and empowered by the Spirit, striving to make disciples, and pursuing holiness in the context of robust biblical relationships.
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