A Confident Ending
VI. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;m discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to farther conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience.p
II. 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;d strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren,f adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries,h and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;k that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life.
III. 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 required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure:n yet are they 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.
THEY whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
Q. 75. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,c renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,e and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.g