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Orthodox Creed · Chapter 26

Of Sanctification, and good Works

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1. Those that are United unto Christ by Effectual Faith, are Regenerated, and have a new Heart and Spirit created in them,a through the virtue of Christ his Death, Resurrection, and Intercession,b and by the Efficacy of the Holy Spirit, received by Faith;c and are Sanctified by the Word and Spirit of Truth dwelling in them, by destroying, or pulling down the strong Holds, or Dominion of Sin and Lust,d and more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving Graces, in the practice of Holiness;e without which no Man shall see the Lord.f And this Sanctification is throughout the whole Man though unperfect in this Life, there abiding still in the best Saints, some remnants of Corruption,g which occasions a continual War in the Soul; the Flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh. Yet through the continual supply of strength from Christ, which flows from him to Believers by means of the Covenant of Grace,h or Hypostatical Union with our Nature, the Regenerate part doth overcome, pressing after a Heavenly Life, in Evangelical obedience to all the Commands that Christ, their King and Lawgiver, hath commanded them in his Word, or holy Scriptures,i which are the only Rule, and square of our Sanctification and Obedience in all good Works, and Piety. And sith our only assistance to do good Works (such as God hath commanded) is of God, who worketh in us both to will and to do,j we have no cause to boast, nor ground to conclude, we merit any thing thereby, we receiving all of free and undeserved Grace, and when we have done the most, yet we are unprofitable Servants, and do abundantly fall short; and the best Duties that we can now perform, will not abide the Judgment of God:k Neither do any good Works whatsoever, that are done by Unregenerate Men, or without Faith in, and Love to Christ, please God, or are accepted of him.l Yet good Works are of great advantage, being done in Faith, and Love, and wrought by the Holy Spirit,m and are to be done by us, to shew our thankfulness to God, for the Grace of the New Covenant by Christ, and to fit us more and more for Glory:n And in this sence, the Ten Commandments, as handed forth by Christ the Mediator, are a Rule of Life to a Believer, and shew us our Duty to God and Man, as also our need of the Grace of God, and Merit of Christ.

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aEzekiel 36:26; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:9
  2. bTitus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 4:15
  3. c2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Timothy 2:20; Psalm 110:3
  4. d2 Corinthians 10:4–5; 5:17
  5. eJohn 17:17; 16:14–15
  6. fHebrews 12:14
  7. gRomans 7:20; Galatians 5:16–17
  8. h1 John 3:8; 2:20
  9. iRomans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; Psalm 112:1; 119:48; John 15:4, 6
  10. jIsaiah 43:13; 26:12; Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 3:5
  11. kJob 9:2–3, 20; 25:4; Galatians 2:16; James 2:9–10; 3:2
  12. lHebrews 11:6; Isaiah 64:6; Proverbs 8:17; 1 Corinthians 16:22
  13. mJames 1:18–19, 22; Galatians 5:22–23; John 4:14; 5:25
  14. nGalatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 19–20; Hebrews 12:28–29; 1 Corinthians 13:2–3; Psalm 50:14

Cite this

Orthodox Creed (1679) 26.1, symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/26.1

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