Always Reforming, Part 2

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

                                     —the Apostle Paul, 1 Tim. 4:16

As a corollary to what we said last time, that we must patiently bear with those who struggle against sin, we must also affirm that we are touched with the same sinful tendencies. It is for this reason that the New Testament contains warnings against carelessness in keeping our own souls, such as the one listed above. What was at stake in our teaching, Paul said, is the very salvation of our souls.

We must realize that there is only one, narrow path of salvation but that there is an abundance of ways to go astray. Even under the leadership and teaching of the apostles there were people in the church who eventually went astray (cf. 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 1 John 2:19). Even among the twelve disciples of our Lord by His foreknowledge and providence there was one who went astray (John 6:70, 17:12). The point is that we must be on guard against our own deceitful hearts.

The Lord works on others through progressive sanctification and growth in grace (2 Peter 3:17-18) and, in the same way, He works on us progressively. The expectation of the New Testament authors is that individual Christians will grow progressively more holy as they live longer in Christ (John 15:2, 2 Cor. 7:1, Heb. 12:4-14, etc). We must be aware that the Lord is operating in the same manner on our own hearts, minds, and emotions.

This should greatly protect us against spiritual pride, for if we are aware of our own growth and our own ever-present trespasses then we will humbly serve those brothers and sisters who, like us, need an ever-gracious Savior. When we see accurately the need for constant reformation in our own lives, we will be gracious in bearing with the progressive reformation of those around us.

Additionally, this truth about our God should help us be diligent in the fight against sin. Though God is sovereignly and solely in control of our sanctification (Heb. 13:20-21, John 15:5, Phil. 1:6/2:13), He has chosen to work imperceptibly through our will as He sanctifies us (Phil. 2:12). This means that when God has chosen to ramp up sanctification in the life of one of His children, the only visible result will be fervent desire in their will and the visible fruit in their life. If we yearn for greater holiness, then, we should not sit back and ‘wait’ for God to work, but just the opposite. Paul told the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling because (or for) it was God who was at work in them both to will and to work.  He expected them to apply themselves to the task because God was at work in them! Likewise, we should diligently apply ourselves to growing in Christ. In this way, we will be always reforming for the glory of God and for our own joy.

“…not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord…”

                                      —the Apostle Paul, Romans 12:11

--Dean of Admissions

Always Reforming, part 1

Part of Paul’s regular affirmations to the churches is that at the beginning of our new life in Christ, there is a radical change in the actions of each Christian. It is for this reason that he can exclude those who practice blatant, outward sin from the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:5-6). The idea is something like this: those sinners whom God saves, though they are real sinners, are changed by God through the Spirit so that they no longer live in their same, old manner of life (1 Cor. 6:11, Gal. 5:16-17/22-25, Eph. 5:7-10).

A necessary corollary of this truth is that growth in the Christian life proceeds by true, constant, perceivable advancement in holiness. Though Christians are fully, completely, eternally justified in the eyes of God by the work of Christ (Rom. 5:1, 8:1), they still struggle against their sinful flesh (Rom. 7:14-24, Gal. 5:17). Even the apostle himself had to admit that nothing good dwelt within him, that is, in his flesh (Rom. 7:18).

It is from these ideas that our spiritual ancestors recognized the idea that each Christian and, therefore, each Christian church, would be always reforming. Though we have perfect standing before God in Christ, our real state is that we are still sinful. In the words of the Reformers we are simul iustus et peccator—at the same time justified and a sinner. God does not leave us in our sin, however, He changes His children (John 15:1-5). We call this sanctification.

This is one way that God makes His glory shine in His children, by conforming them ever more and more to His splendid character (2 Cor. 3:18). If we affirm this, however, we must also affirm that there is much in every Christian that is, by nature, not glorious at all. In fact, our sin is rebellion against God whose glorious character we deface.

For this reason, it is crucial that we consistently apply the truth of the perpetual reformation of each Christian and each local church. If we expect perfection of others, we are sinfully pretending that they are flawed while we are not. If we expect perfection of local churches, we are sinfully pretending that they are backwards while we are righteous. I’m not saying that we should discard standards for individuals (e.g. 1 Tim. 3:2-12) or for churches (Gal. 1:2-6), but rather that we must be gracious and forgiving of the faults of others.

One paradox of the Christian life is that we must abhor what is evil (Rom. 12:9) and lovingly restore repentant evildoers (Gal. 6:1-2). No pastor, seminarian, brother, or sister is perfect in this life—that must wait for the life to come (Heb. 12:23, Rev. 21:27). Every earthly church is imperfect because churches consist of fallen men and women who, though indwelt by the Spirit of the omnipotent God, still fall regularly into sin.

We must strive to constantly reform our own lives and to edify our family in Christ—but we must also bear graciously with them when they trespass the laws of our God. We must be consistent as we apply the truth of the constant reformation of God’s people. He has graciously borne with us, and we can do no less.

--Dean of Admissions