Modern 1689 Confession

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )

2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )

3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )

Chapter 17

The Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace.  They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.  Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality.¹  Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock they are anchored to by faith.  The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan.²  Yet God is still the same;  they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession.  For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.³

¹John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19. ²Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32. ³Malachi 3:6.

2. This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election,⁴ which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father.  It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,⁵ the oath of God,⁶ the abiding of his Spirit, the seed of God within them,⁷ and the nature of the covenant of grace.⁸  The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.

⁴Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16. ⁵Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19. ⁶Hebrews 6:17, 18. ⁷1 John 3:9. ⁸Jeremiah 32:40.

3. They may fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time, due to the temptation of Satan and the world, the strength of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation.⁹  In so doing, they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit;¹⁰ their graces and comforts become impaired;¹¹ their hearts are hardened and their consciences wounded;¹² they hurt and scandalize others and bring temporary judgments on themselves.¹³  Nevertheless, they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.¹⁴

⁹Matthew 26:70, 72, 74. ¹⁰Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30. ¹¹Psalms 51:10, 12. ¹²Psalms 32:3, 4. ¹³2 Samuel 12:14. ¹⁴Luke 22:32, 61, 62.

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 16:

Of Good Works

1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.

( Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13 )

2. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.

( James 2:18, 22; Psalms 116:12, 13; 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:22 )

3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

( John 15:4, 5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Isaiah 64:7 )

4. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

( Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10 )

5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.

( Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:22, 23; Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2 )

6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.

( Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10 )

7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.

( 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2, 5; Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; Job 21:14, 15; Matthew 25:41-43 )

Chapter 16:

Good Works

1. Good works are only those works that God has commanded in his holy Word.¹  Works that do not have this warrant are not truly good.  They are invented by people out of blind zeal or on a pretense of good intentions.²

¹Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21. ²Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13.

2. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith.³  Through good works believers express their thankfulness,⁴ strengthen their assurance,⁵ build up their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel,⁶ stop the mouths of opponents, and glorify God.⁷  Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,⁸ so that they bear fruit leading to holiness and have the outcome, eternal life.⁹

³James 2:18, 22. ⁴Psalms 116:12, 13. ⁵1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11. ⁶Matthew 5:16. ⁷1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11. ⁸Ephesians 2:10. ⁹Romans 6:22.

3. Their ability to do good works does not arise at all from themselves but entirely from the Spirit of Christ.¹⁰  To enable them to do good works, they need—in addition to the graces they have already received—an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do his good pleasure.¹¹  Yet this is no reason for them to grow negligent, as if they were not required to perform any duty without a special motion of the Spirit.  Instead, they should be diligent to stir up the grace of God that is in them.¹²

¹⁰John 15:4, 5. ¹¹2 Corinthians 3:5; ¹²Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Isaiah 64:7.

4. Those who attain the greatest heights of obedience possible in this life are far from being able to merit reward by going beyond duty^a or to do more than God requires.  Instead, they fall short of much that is their duty to do.¹³

^a supererogate

¹³Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10.

5. We cannot, even by our best works, merit pardon of sin or eternal life from God’s hand, due to the huge disproportion between our works and the glory to come, and the infinite distance between us and God.  By these works we can neither benefit God nor satisfy him for the debt of our former sins.¹⁴  When we have done all we can, we have only done our duty and are unprofitable servants.  Since our good works are good, they must proceed from his Spirit;¹⁵ and since they are performed by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot withstand the severity of God's punishment.¹⁶

¹⁴Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6. ¹⁵Galatians 5:22, 23. ¹⁶Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2.

6. Nevertheless, believers are accepted through Christ, and their good works are also accepted in him.¹⁷  This acceptance does not mean our good works are completely blameless and irreproachable in God's sight.  Instead, God views them in his Son, and so he is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, even though it is accompanied by many weaknesses and imperfections.¹⁸

¹⁷Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5. ¹⁸Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10.

7. Works done by unregenerate people may in themselves be commanded by God and useful to themselves and others.¹⁹  Yet they do not come from a heart purified by faith²⁰ and are not done in a right manner according to the Word²¹ nor with a right goal—the glory of God.²²   Therefore, they are sinful and cannot please God.  They cannot qualify anyone to receive grace from God,²³ and yet their neglect is even more sinful and displeasing to God.²⁴

¹⁹2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29. ²⁰Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6. ²¹1 Corinthians 13:1. ²²Matthew 6:2, 5. ²³Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5. ²⁴Job 21:14, 15; Matthew 25:41-43.

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 15:

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation

1. Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. ( Titus 3:2-5 )

2. Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.

( Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32 )

3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.

( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms 119:6; Psalms 119:128 )

4. As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.

( Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 )

5. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

( Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7 )

Chapter 15

Repentance to Life and Salvation

1. Some of the elect are converted after their early years, having lived in the natural^a state for a time and served various evil desires and pleasures. God gives these repentance to life as part of their effectual calling.¹

^awithout the Spirit

¹Titus 3:2-5.

2. There is no one who does good and does not sin.²  Even the best may fall into great sins and offenses, through the power and deceitfulness of the corruption in them, along with the strength of temptation.  God has mercifully provided in the covenant of grace that believers who sin and fall will be renewed through repentance to salvation.³

²Ecclesiastes 7:20. ³Luke 22:31, 32.

3. This saving repentance is a gospel grace⁴ in which those who are made aware by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, by faith in Christ humble themselves for it with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathing.⁵ They pray for pardon and strength of grace and determine and endeavor by provisions from the Spirit to live before God in a well-pleasing way in everything.⁶

⁴Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18. ⁵Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11. ⁶Psalms 119:6, 128.

4.  Repentance must continue throughout our lives, because of the body of death and its activities. So it is everyone’s duty to repent of each specific, known sin specifically.⁷

⁷Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15.

5. God has made full provision through Christ in the covenant of grace to preserve believers in their salvation. Thus, although there is no sin so small that it is undeserving of damnation,⁸ yet there is no sin so great that it will bring damnation on those who repent.⁹ This makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

⁸Romans 6:23. ⁹Isaiah 1:16-18; 55:7.