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1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 16: Of Good Works - Commentary

Simon Wartanian | 13,994 views | 8,785 words | 0:46:07 hours | 05 March 2015 18:58

...akness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment. 4

Rom. 8:18
Job 22:3; 35:7; Luke 17:10; Rom. 4:3; 11:3
Gal. 5:22-23
1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chron. 6:36; Ps. 130:3; 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Eccles. 7:20; Isa 64:4; Rom. 3:9, 23; 7:14f.; Gal. 5:17; 1 John 1:6-10

Pardon of sin does not come by our best works (e.g., Gal. 2:16; see Chapter 11:3). This is due to the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come. Our best works are ‘filthy rags’ and we will be in eternity we will truly see how much even our best works fell short of God’s glory and standard. The second reason is because of the infinite distance that is between us and God. Here is the classic Creator/creature distinction. We are unable to profit or gain forgiveness, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins. Even if we do all we can or even all that God commands, we will merely be doing our duty (Luke 17:10). God has not promised to grant us forgiveness if we do our best or if we obey His commands. After we do all that we are commanded, we are still unprofitable servants, i.e., we do not deserve God’s rewards. The goodness of our works proceed from His Spirit and whatever weakness and imperfection are there in our works, they come from us. Our works are always defiled and mixed, but they are not like the works of unregenerate men, which are all sinful (Rom. 14:23). Even our good works done through the Spirit cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment and are, therefore, rewarded by grace and are cleansed by Christ’s blood.

Good Works Do Not Merit Pardon Of Sin

Even when brought through the Holy Spirit, they are wrought by us and thus are defiled and mixed with sin and lose their perfection. Even our best works do not earn salvation, nor merit forgiveness for us, but they display the fact that we have salvation and not that we will attain salvation through works. Obviously, this is directly against the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, which teaches that works play a significant role in our salvation and forgiveness. That our good works play no role in our salvation is seen in multiple passages where works are denied and grace or/and faith are affirmed: Galatians 2:16; 3:10-12; 5:4; Romans 3:20, 27-28; 4:2-3; Philippians 3:9. For more see Chapter 11 on Justification.

We Are Unworthy Servants

The example of the servants and master encourages us to obey God commandments in strange, but a way that I actually love. In Luke 17, we read:

Luke 17:7-10 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

From this example, we learn the obvious fact that the purpose and job of servants or slaves is to serve their masters. What the Lord Jesus does is to apply this master-slave relationship to His disciples. He applies this master-slave relationship in the matter of obedience to every and all believers. When we obey God we should not think that we’ve done God a favor, but “we have only done what was our duty.” We have done what was required of us. There is no need for us to b...

1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment - Commentary

Simon Wartanian | 17,317 views | 16,377 words | 1:25:50 hours | 06 March 2015 23:30

The 1689 Second Baptist Confession Of Faith Confession Commentary Reformed Baptist Chapter 32 Last Judgment Eternal Hell Eternal Suffering Lake Of Fire

...he wicked will be unchanging also. The argument for the eternal punishment of the wicked is as strong as that for the eternal happiness of the righteous; and if the one is open to doubt, there is no security for the permanence of the other.^[4]

Conclusion

These things still convince me of the endless punishment of the reprobate.

The Praises Of Heaven

While we generally find it very hard to praise God for His judgments, Heaven does not. Several times we read in the Apocalypse of this fact. In Chapter 11 after the Final Judgment, Heaven’s praise is the following:

Rev. 11:17-18 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Heaven praises God for His power to reign, for His wrath which came against the wicked, for the Final Judgment and for “destroying the destroyers of the earth.” The destruction of the wicked, a point for which God is praised, is that of unending punishment, yet Heaven still praises God for that. Just before the seven plagues and bowls are unleashed, Heaven praises God saying, “Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” (Rev. 15:3). His judgments and His righteousness will be a reason that “All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev. 15:4). In the next chapter, with the third bowl of God’s wrath, an angel declares: “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” (Rev 16:5-6). God is justified in His judgments because He has given them exactly what they deserve. Such is the mentality of Heaven respecting the judgments of God. While we may have difficulty in acknowledging that God brings judgment in our lands and in our world, Heaven praises Him for that very fact. God is praised not because He’s a meanie, but because He is Just. God is praised for His justice which repays the wicked exactly what they deserve, and the standard of justice is Himself (1Sam. 2:3). Lastly, the angel adds, “It is what they deserve!” They’ve got exactly what they deserve. God did not punish them beyond their sin or compromised His holiness, but He gave them exactly what they deserve. Finally, a voice from Heaven agrees with what the angel had said:

Rev. 16:7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

Just as God was described as Just, so likewise His judgments reflect His character.

At the judgment and destruction of Babylon, the angel, showing John this vision, says: Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” (Rev. 18:20). Babylon represents the world in its fallen state and its opposition to God and His people. The saints should rejoice at the judgment of Babylon, this would include rejoicing at the judgment of the wicked. In chapter 6, we encounter martyred saints in the Intermediate State who urge upon God to “judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 6:11). And in Revelation 18, their prayers are finally answered with the judgment upon Babylon who is ...

1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 12: Of Adoption - Commentary

Simon Wartanian | 11,380 views | 2,439 words | 0:12:42 hours | 04 March 2015 21:56

The 1689 Second Baptist Confession Of Faith Confession Commentary Reformed Baptist Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve Adoption Children Of God

...2%A75-Unconditional-Election"chapter 3:5), having the blessings of redemption (chapter 8:8), effectual calling and regeneration (chapter 10:2), justification (Chapter 11:3), were not based in themselves. The absolute and free grace of God dominates all of the Christian life. Because we are in...His Only Son Jesus Christ, we are likewise counted as sons (Gal. 3:26-29; 4:4-5). And for the sake of His Only Son and the work He accomplished upon the cross, whereby He purchased our redemption with all of its blessings, we are adopted as sons of God. By this grace of adoption, we are to enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God (John 1:12-13). We are freed from sin and are able to willingly please God. We are privileged as children of God and of having God as our Father. The Confession then goes on to list the privileges which the children of God have.

They have His name put upon them (Rev. 3:12), meaning that they belong to Him. He is their owner. He is their Father and Master. They receive the spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), Who is the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit testifies with our spirit about our identity as children of God (Rom. 8:14-17). As children, we have access to the throne of grace with boldness (Heb. 4:16), because God is our Abba, Father. A child should not be afraid to approach their father. So likewise, we, as children of the Father, we may go to the throne of grace with boldness! We, by the fatherly care of God, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by Him as by a Father (Ps. 103:13; Prov. 14:26; Matt. 6:30-32; Heb. 12:6 ). He cares for us and provides for us. But an important part of how He proves that He is our Father and we are His children is by disciplining us. He thereby proves that He cares for us and the wrong things which we do. But this disciplining or chastising is not for the purpose of condemning us. No. We are never cast off (John 6:37-39). It is for the purpose of us sharing in His holiness (Heb. 12:10). We are never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30), meaning that we are absolutely safe in our state of adoption and grace. God will not disinherit us, but He will discipline us when we sin. Since we are sealed it means that we will inherit the promises for we are heirs of eternal salvation (Heb. 1:14; 9:15). Salvation has been promised for us from all eternity and now it is being realized in our effectual calling, faith, justification, adoption and all the other graces which God lavishes upon us.

The Golden Chain of Romans 8:29-30 continues. After our justification, the Lord takes us into His fold and adopts us for the sake of Christ as children and heirs of Him. This is done to all who are justified. It is not a privilege only of some believers, but the privilege of all the believers. All who are justified are also made children of God. “Vouchsafe” is an old word meaning “to condescend to grant or bestow something.” Just like God condescended to make a covenant with man (chapter 7:1), so likewise the Lord condescends and by grace gives us privileges that we actually do not deserve. It is by grace—something that we don’t deserve.

In and for Christ

The privilege of adoption is found only in the beloved Son of the Father–in the Lord Jesus Christ. We should not look anywhere else, but only in Christ through Whom adoption into God’s family is possible. Yes, there is indeed a sense in which all are children of God in that He has created them, bu...