Progressive Sanctification & the Assurance of Pardon - 3

     After studying the doctrine of sanctification as represented in the three confessions I consulted: The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), the Belgic Confession (BCF), and the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (LBC), I have drawn the following conclusion about their contents.

     Christ’s death and resurrection are the power behind sanctification (WCF).  Believers are sanctified by the virtue of His work, (LBC) and sin’s dominion is destroyed (WCF) as the regenerate have been freed from the slavery of sin (BCF).  Even our lust after sin is mortified (WCF).  At our regeneration we are made new creatures capable of living the “new life”. (BCF)  Sanctification is a manifestation of “true faith” that comes by the hearing of God’s Word (BCF) and true believers are progressively strengthened in all saving graces for to practice holiness (WCF).  This holiness is perfected in the fear of God as we seek a heavenly life through evangelical obedience to all God’s commands (LBC).  Believers are warmed to pious and holy living out off a love for God (BCF).  Only the holy see God, (WCF) but the truly regenerate necessarily bare fruit (do what God has commanded) (BCF).  Good works done by believers are acceptable to God because those works are sanctified by His grace (BCF), and it is God who works those good works in us (BCF).  Always keeping in mind that salvation is not based on our good works, and our assurance of regeneration does not come from those works (BCF).  Nevertheless, even though our good works do not merit God’s favor, He does reward them with crowns (BCF).  Finally, sanctification is imperfect and the believer does struggle against temptation and sin, (WCF) but overcoming sin, growing in grace, and the fear of God are characteristics of believers (WCF).  Certainty in our justification should rest on the merit of Christ our Savior (BCF).

     In later posts in this series I plan to quote recent (and by recent I mean in the last 200 or so years) authors regarding the topic of sanctification, and contrast these statements above with opposing views.