500 years of Protestant reform
To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Return to the Gospel will present weekly articles and biographies of several reformers: Girolamo Zachi (January), Theodore Beza (February), Thomas Cranmer (March), Guilherme Farrel (April), William Tyndale (May), Martin Bucer (June), John Knox (July), Ulrico Zuonglio (there), Joo Calvino (set)
- This must be explained in detail.
- So that we know that.
- By faith.
- We have a sufficient remedy to ensure full eternal life; according to what is written: “Will the righteous live by faith?(Habacuc 2.
- 4; Romans 1.
- 16-17; Galatians 3.
- 11).
- Then we say that everything that prevents man from communicating with God.
- Which is perfectly right and good.
- Resides in three But for each of them we find the cure.
- Not in ourselves.
- But in Jesus Christ and in all that he possesses.
- As long as we are united and connected to him in the communion of all blessings (John 17.
- 9-11.
- 20-26).
That is why the church, which is said to be the congregation of believers, is called the wife of Jesus Christ, her husband (Romans 7. 2-6, 8. 35; 2 Corinthians 11. 2; Ephesians 5. 31-32); it is to show more clearly the greatness of the union and communion that exists between Jesus Christ and those who, by faith, have entrusted the thee to Him, because by virtue of this union and this spiritual marriage by faith, He takes all our misery. upon himself, and we receive from him all his treasures, for his pure goodness and mercy.
So let us now see how we find safe remedies against all Satan’s temptations and all the problems of our conscience, only in Jesus Christ.
First of all, Satan and our conscience, to show that we are truly unworthy to be saved and worthy to perish, let us angry at the nature of God, who is perfectly just and great enemy and avenger of all iniquity. we are covered in infinite sins. Therefore, there is nothing else to do but wait for the wages of sin, that is, eternal death (Romans 6. 23).
What can men argue against this conclusion of Satan and his conscience?Definitely nothing useful, unless that’s what I’m saying, because if you resort to God’s mercy, forgetting His righteousness, you’re wrong. One thing is certain, Dios. La is such that, however, his righteousness must also be fully considered, which we have already declared.
So if, to cover our sins, we desire to invoke the merits of the saints:
This is how, believing that we honor the Saints, we truly dishonor them as much as possible. Now, if the works of the Saints have nothing to deserve in this area, what will we find in ourselves or any other living man enough to strengthen us against this attack by Satan?But, to put an end to all those false imaginings, consider the following:
First, don’t we think one man doesn’t make sense if he convinces himself that he is free from a creditor under the pretext of imagining that he has paid or that another has paid?For him? Thus we always act toward God when we are not satisfied with the exclusive satisfaction of Jesus Christ. On what basis does everything else have except the fantasy of men, as if God had to find everything that seems good to us?Instead, let us listen to what Jesus Christ says: “But in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines that are precepts of men?”(Matthew 15:9). And, in another passage: “When you come to introduce yourself to me, who asks you?(Isaiah 1:12).
Secondly, when we say that we rest only on God’s mercy, but we imagine that we ourselves have paid for it, in whole or in part, is it not simply a mockery of His mercy (Romans 4. 4)?
Third, he is not only satisfied with the merit of Jesus Christ, but wants to add others, it is not as if we say that Christ is not Jesus, that is, our Savior, but only in part (Galatians 2:21). ?
Fourth, it is not a question of stripping God of his perfect righteousness (Romans 3:26) and, therefore, of his divinity (as far as we can!), Daring to oppose his wrath against the works of men, against which it could be said, however good they may be (Luke 17:10). David said, “Don’t go to court with your servant?”(Psalm 143. 2).
So let’s learn to respond differently to Satan’s argument mentioned above: “You say, Satan, that God is perfectly just and avenger of all iniquity. ” “I admit it; but I add another feature of your justice that you have neglected; since it is fair, are you convinced that you were paid only once?” Then it says that I have infinite iniquities that deserve eternal death. “Admit it; but I add what you have maliciously omitted: the iniquities in me were widely avenged and punished in Jesus Christ, who suffered God’s judgment in my place (Romans 3: 25; 1 Peter 2:24) I come to a very different conclusion than yours, because God is just (Romans 3:26) and does not require payment twice, like Jesus Christ, being God and man (2 Corinthians 5:19) , satisfied with infinite obedience (Romans 5. 19). ; Philippians 2. 8) has the infinite majesty of God (Romans 8. 33); therefore, my iniquities can no longer ruin me (Colossians 2:14), because they have already been blotted out and washed from me counts for the blood of Jesus Christ, the one who was cursed for me (Galatians 3:13) and the one who is righteous and who died for the unrighteous (1 Peter 2:24)?
Therefore, it is certain that Satan will put our afflictions before our eyes, and especially death (Romans 5:12). He will claim that these are many testimonies that show that God has not forgiven our sins.
But when it comes to afflictions, we must first respond that although all afflictions and death have entered the world because of sin, God does not always take into account our sins when He afflicts us, we establish it from the whole history of Job. and other passages (John 9. 3; 1 Peter 2. 19, 3. 14; James 1. 2). But, He has several other goals in sight that tend to his glory and our benefit [?].
On the other hand, when God afflicts those who are grieving for their sins, even if He makes them taste the pains of death (Job 13:15), He does not become angry with them as a judge to condemn them, but as a Father who punishes your children to prevent them from perishing (2 Corinthians 6. 9; Hebrews 12. 6; 2 Samuel 7. 14), or to set an example to others (2 Samuel 12. 13-14).
This is the second attack that Satan can provoke against us because of our indignity: it is not enough that we have no sin, nor that we are satisfied with sins, but more is necessary: that man must abide by the whole law, that is. , who loves God and his neighbor perfectly as himself (Deuteronomy 17. 26; Galatians 3. 10-12; Matthew 22. 37-40). So, bring this justice? says Satan to our poor conscience, or know that they cannot escape the wrath and curse of God.
Now, in the face of this attack, what will all men, except Christ only, benefit from?Because it is perfect obedience, which is found not anywhere else but in Jesus Christ. Let us therefore learn here to claim by faith another treasure of Jesus. Christ: his righteousness We know that he was the one who did all righteousness (Matthew 3:15; Philippians 2: 8; Isaiah 53,11), offered perfect obedience and love to God his Father, and loved his enemies perfectly (Romans 5:6-10), so much so that they were cursed, as Paul says (Galatians 3:13), that is, he suffered, for them, the judgment of the wrath of God (Colossians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21) Thus, clothed in this perfect righteousness which has been given to us by faith , as if it were ours (Ephesians 1:7-8), we can please God (Jn 1:12; Romans 8,17), as brothers and co-mayors of Jesus Christ.
At this point, Satan must necessarily shut his mouth, as long as we have faith to receive Jesus Christ and all the advantages he has in communicating them to those who believe in him (Romans 8:33).
Satan still has an attack with this temptation on our indignity: although you are satisfied with the punishment of your sins in the person of Jesus Christ, and also, by faith, you are covered with your righteousness, you are always corrupted in your nature; the root of all sin still lives there (Romans 7:17-18) How dare you present yourself to the majesty of God, who is the enemy of all impurities (Psalm 5. 5) and who sees the depths of the heart (Psalm 44. 21); Jeremiah 17. 10)?
Now, in this case, we find an immediate remedy only in Jesus Christ. We have to trust him. We are really still trapped in this mortal body (Romans 7. 24), so we do not do the good we desire, we always feel the sin that dwells within us (Romans 7. 21-23) and the flesh that fights the Spirit (Galatians 5. 17). Therefore, in relation to ourselves, we are still stained with body and soul (1 Corinthians 4. 4; Philippians 3. 9), but to the extent that we have faith, we are united (1 Corinthians 6. 17), bound (Ephesians 4. 16, Colossians 2. 19)), rooted (Colossians 2. 7) and grafted into Jesus Christ (Romans 6. 5); in it, from the first moment of its conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1. 20; Luke 1. 35), our nature has been more fully restored and sanctified (Hebrews 2. 10-11), than has been created pure in Adam, since the creation of Adam only in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 15. 47), while Christ is the true God, who took our flesh for Him, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This sanctification of human nature in Jesus Christ is considered ours, by faith, so the rest of the natural corruption that, even after regeneration, still dwells in us, cannot be accounted for in our account (Romans 8. 1-3). covered and enveloped by the holiness of Jesus Christ, who is much more powerful in sanctifying us before God than natural corruption cannot contaminate us.
In a second temptation, Satan will respond that Jesus Christ is not dead by all sinners, for not all will be saved. Let us then return to our faith and respond that in truth only believers will receive the fruit of this suffering and satisfaction of Jesus. Christ, but instead of bothering us, it gives us security; because we know that we have faith (Romans 8. 15; 1 Corinthians 2: 12-16; 1 John 4. 13). As we have already said, it is not enough to have a general and confusing belief that Jesus Christ came to take away sins. of the world, but it is necessary for all to apply and appropriate Jesus Christ by faith, that all may conclude in Himself: I am in Jesus Christ by faith, that is why I cannot perish and I am sure of my salvation (Romans 8. 1: 38 -39; 1 Corinthians 2. 16; 1 John 5. 19-20).
So, to confirm that we have repelled Satan in the three previous attacks of the first temptation, and to resist this second, it is necessary to know whether we have this faith or not. The way is to return the effects to the cause that produces them. Now, the effects that Jesus Christ has on us, when we take possession of him by faith, are two: First, there is the testimony that the Holy Spirit gives to our spirit that we are children of God and allows us to cry out with confidence. 😕 Parent tab? (Romans 8. 16; Galatians 4. 6). Second, we must understand that when we apply Jesus Christ to ourselves, by faith, it is not by foolish and vain fantasy and imagination, but in truth and fact, albeit spiritually (Romans 6:14; 1 John 1. 6, 2. 5, 3. 7 ). . In the same way that the soul produces its effects when it is naturally united to the body, so when, by faith, Jesus Christ dwells spiritually in us, his power works and reveals in him his graces, which are described in the Scriptures with words. regeneration? and “sanctification”, and to become new creatures in the qualities that we may have (John 3: 3; Ephesians 4: 21-24).
This regeneration, that is, a new beginning and a new creation, is divided into three parts: as well as natural corruption, which holds our person captive, both in soul and body, produces sins and death in us (Romans 7. 13), so the power of Jesus Christ, who flows and enters us effectively, possesses us and produces in us three effects : the death of sin, that is, this natural corruption that the Bible calls the “elder”, his burial and, finally, Paul’s resurrection, in particular, describes these things in detail (Romans 6, and in almost all his writings; see 1 Peter 4. 1-2).
The death of corruption, or sin, is an effect of Jesus Christ on us, which gradually destroys this damn corruption of our nature, so that it becomes less powerful to produce in us its effects: impulses, consents, and other actions contrary to God. Be.
The burial of the elder is an effect of Jesus Christ himself (Romans 6. 4; Colosssenses 2. 12, 3. 3-4). With his power, the old man, who received his mortal blow, is gradually annihilated. The burial of our bodies is a progression of death, so our elder’s burial is a progression and a consequence of his death, so the afflictions with which the Lord visits us every day (2 Corinthians 4:16) are also of great use It also entails spiritual and physical trials, which we must use diligently, to increasingly kill the rebellion of the flesh , which militates against the Spirit (1 Corinthians 9. 27; Galatians 5. 17). conclusion of this mortification and burial of sin, because it puts an end to the war of the flesh against the Spirit (Philippians 3:20-21).
The resurrection of the new man, of that man whose qualities and faculties are truly renewed, is the third effect of Jesus Christ himself who lives in us. Having mortified in our nature what was corrupted, he gives us a new power and recreates us. Then our understanding and judgment, enlightened by the sheer grace of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 1:18) and governed by the new power we obtain from Jesus Christ (Romans 8:14), begin to understand and approve of what was previously mad for them (1 Corinthians 2:14) and abomination (Romans 8:7). And, second, the will is rectified to hate sin and embrace justice (Romans 6:6). Man’s faculties begin to flee from what God has forbidden and to follow all that he has commanded (Romans 7:22; Philippians 2:13).
So these are the two effects that Jesus Christ has on us, if we experience them, the conclusion is infallible: we have faith, and therefore, as we have said, we have Jesus Christ living in us forever.
It is therefore obvious that every believer must take special care in maintaining, through continuous supplication, this aforementioned testimony that the Spirit of God gives to those who are his; Every believer must also develop, through the continuous exercise of the good works to which his vocation calls him, the gift of regeneration he has received (Romans 12:9-16). In this sense, it is said that he who was born of God does not sin (1 John 5:18, that is, he does not love sin, but resists it more and more, so that he is therefore more certain of his choice and his vocation (2 Peter 1:10). Man must attain his fruits, therefore, as I said, being freed from sin, that is, from his natural corruption, begins to produce the good fruits we call, thanks to the power of Jesus Christ that dwells in him; therefore we rightly say that the faith we speak of cannot exist without good works but the sun without light or fire without heat (1 John 2:9-10; James 2: 14-17).