Tim Keller writes:

I find it frustrating when I read or hear columnists, pundits, or journalists dismiss Christians as inconsistent because “they pick and choose which of the rules in the Bible to obey.” Most often I hear, “Christians ignore lots of Old Testament texts—about not eating raw meat or pork or shellfish, not executing people for breaking the Sabbath, not wearing garments woven with two kinds of material and so on. Then they condemn homosexuality. Aren’t you just picking and choosing what you want to believe from the Bible?”

I don’t expect everyone to understand that the whole Bible is about Jesus and God’s plan to redeem his people, but I vainly hope that one day someone will access their common sense (or at least talk to an informed theological adviser) before levelling the charge of inconsistency.

First…

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Guy Waters writes:

The words justification and sanctification have largely fallen out of use in Western culture. Sadly, they are also fading from sight in the Christian church. One reason this decline is distressing is that the Bible uses the words justification and sanctification to express the saving work of Christ for sinners. That is to say, both terms lie at the heart of the biblical gospel. So, what does the Bible teach about justification and sanctification? How do they differ from one another? How do they help us understand better the believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ?

Justification is as simple as A-B-C-D.

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As serious disciples of Christ more and more find themselves swimming against the stream in our modern world, we do well to learn from others who have previously had to swim against the stream.

The Belgic Confession was written in 1561. It owes its origin to the need for a clear and comprehensive statement of the Protestant faith during the time of the Spanish inquisition in the Lowlands of Holland.

Guido de Brès, its primary author, was pleading for understanding and toleration from King Philip II of Spain who, for his part, was determined to root out all Protestantism in his jurisdiction.

Hence, this confession took pains to point out the continuity of Reformed Protestant belief with that of the historical Christian creeds, as well as to distinguish it from Roman Catholicism (on the one side), and from Anabaptist teachings (on the other).

Guido de Brès died as a Christian martyr in 1567.

Here is a sample:

Belgic Confession

ARTICLE 27 – THE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH

We believe and profess one catholic or universal church,¹ which is a holy congregation and assembly² of the true Christian believers, who expect their entire salvation in Jesus Christ,³ are washed by his blood, and are sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.4

This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will be to the end, for Christ is an eternal King who cannot be without subjects.⁵ This holy church is preserved by God against the fury of the whole world,⁶ although for a while it may look very small and as extinct in the eyes of man.⁷ Thus during the perilous reign of Ahab, the Lord kept for Himself seven thousand persons who had not bowed their knees to Baal.⁸

Moreover, this holy church is not confined or limited to one particular place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world.⁹ However, it is joined and united with heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.¹⁰

1. Gen 22:18; Isa 19:6; Eph 2:17-19.
2. Psalm 111:1; John 10:14, John 10:16; Eph 4:3-6; Heb 12:22-23.
3. Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21.
4. Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30.
5. 2 Sam 7:16; Psalm 89:36; Psalm 110:4; Mat 28:18-20; Luke 1:32.
6. Psalm 46:5; Mat 16:18.
7. Isa 1:9; 1 Pet 3:20; Rev 11:7.
8. 1 Kgs 19:18
9. Mat 23:8; John 4:21-23; Rom 10:12-13.
10. Psalm 119:63; Acts 4:32; Eph 4:4.

ARTICLE 28 – EVERYONE’S DUTY TO JOIN THE CHURCH

We believe, since this holy assembly and congregation is the assembly of the redeemed and there is no salvation outside of it,¹ that no one ought to withdraw from it, content to be by himself, no matter what his status or standing may be. But all and everyone are obliged to join it and unite with it,² maintaining the unity of the church. They must submit themselves to its instruction and discipline,³ bend their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ,⁴ and serve the edification of the brothers and sisters,⁵ according to the talents which God has given them as members of the same body.⁶

To observe this more effectively, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate from those who do not belong to the church⁷ and to join this assembly⁸ wherever God has established it. They should do so even though the rulers and edicts of princes were against it, and death or physical punishment might follow.⁹

All therefore who draw away from the church or fail to join it act contrary to the ordinance of God.

1. Mat 16:18-19; Acts 2:47; Gal 4:26; Eph 5:25-27; Heb 2:11-12; Heb 12:23.
2. 2 Chron 30:8; John 17:21; Col 3:15.
3. Heb 13:17.
4. Mat 11:28-30.
5. Eph 4:12.
6. 1 Cor 12:7, 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 4:16.
7. Num 16:23-26; Isa 12:11-12; Acts 2:40; Rom 16:17; Rev 18:4.
8. Psalm 122:1; Isa 1:3; Heb 10:25.
9. Acts 4:19-20.

ARTICLE 29 – THE MARKS OF THE TRUE AND THE FALSE CHURCH

We believe that we ought to discern diligently and very carefully from the Word of God what is the true church, for all sects which are in the world today claim for themselves the name of church.¹ We are not speaking here of the hypocrites, who are mixed in the church along with the good and yet are not part of the church, although they are outwardly in it.² We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true church which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves the church.

The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It practises the pure preaching of the gospel.³ It maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ instituted them.⁴ It exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins.⁵ In short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God,⁶ rejecting all things contrary to it⁷ and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.⁸ Hereby the true church can certainly be known and no one has the right to separate from it.

Those who are of the church may be recognized by the marks of Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ the only Saviour,⁹ flee from sin and pursue righteousness,¹⁰ love the true God and their neighbour¹¹ without turning to the right or left, and crucify their flesh and its works.¹² Although great weakness remains in them, they fight against it by the Spirit all the days of their life.¹³ They appeal constantly to the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom they have forgiveness of their sins through faith in Him.¹⁴

The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of God. It does not want to submit itself to the yoke of Christ.¹⁵ It does not administer the sacraments as Christ commanded in His Word, but adds to them and subtracts from them as it pleases. It bases itself more on men than on Jesus Christ. It persecutes those who live holy lives according to the Word of God and who rebuke the false church for its sins, greed, and idolatries.¹⁶

These two churches are easily recognized and distinguished from each other.

1. Rev 2:9.
2. Rom 9:6.
3. Gal 1:8; 1 Tim 3:15.
4. Acts 19:3-5; 1 Cor 11:20-29.
5. Mat 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:4-5, 1 Cor 5:13; 2 Thes 3:6, 2 Thes 3:14; Titus 3:10.
6. John 8:47; John 17:20; Acts 17:11; Eph 2:20; Col 1:23; 1 Tim 6:3.
7. 1 Thes 5:21; 1 Tim 6:20; Rev 2:6.
8. John 10:14; Eph 5:23; Col 1:18.
9. John 1:12; 1 John 4:2.
10. Rom 6:2; Phil 3:12.
11. 1 John 4:19-21.
12. Gal 5:24.
13. Rom 7:15; Gal 5:17.
14. Rom 7:24-25; 1 John 1:7-9.
15. Acts 4:17-18; 2 Tim 4:3-4; 2 John 9.
16. John 16:2.

The following is paraphrased into modern English from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon:

June 2

“For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want” (Galatians 5:17).

In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active. It loses no opportunity to wield all the weapons of its deadly arsenal against new-born grace. Meanwhile, on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us employs prayer, and faith, and hope, and love to cast out the evil. It takes to itself “the whole armour of God” (Eph 6:11) and wrestles earnestly.

These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle as long as we are in this world. The battle of “Christian” with “Apollyon” lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan (see The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan).

The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out as long as we are in this body. But even though we are closely assailed and often in sore conflict, we have an almighty Helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation. He is ever with us. And he assures us that we will eventually come off more than conquerors through him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes.

Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh all against you? Do not be discouraged or dismayed. Fight on! For God himself is with you: Jahveh-nissi is your Banner (see Ex 17:8–15), and Jahveh-rapha is your Healer (see Ex 15:25–26). Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, keeping your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.

“From strength to strength go on;
wrestle, and fight, and pray,
tread all the powers of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day”
(Charles Wesley, from “Soldiers of Christ, Arise”)

Geoffrey Willour writes:

“As part of the process of becoming full communicant members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, candidates for membership are asked to affirm five membership vows in the presence of God and the congregation:

(1) Do you believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God, and its doctrine of salvation to be the perfect and only true doctrine of salvation?

(2) Do you believe in one living and true God, in whom eternally there are three distinct persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – who are the same in being and equal in power and glory, and that Jesus Christ is God the Son, come in the flesh?

(3) Do you confess that because of your sinfulness you abhor and humble yourself before God, that you repent of your sin, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in Jesus Christ alone?

(4) Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your sovereign Lord, and do you promise that, in reliance on the grace of God, you will serve him with all that is in you, forsake the world, resist the devil, put to death your sinful deeds and desires, and lead a godly life?

(5) Do you promise to participate faithfully in this church’s worship and service, to submit in the Lord to its government, and to heed its discipline, even in case you should be found delinquent in doctrine or life?*

Why are such membership vows required?  What is their purpose and function?  Much could be said in answer to these questions, but here are a few reasons why we believe in the importance of church membership vows, and why we who have taken such vows ought to regard our vows with the utmost seriousness…”