BC 6.3

6.3. The Sanctification of Sinners

We believe that this true faith, produced in us by the hearing of God's Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates us and makes us new creatures, (2 Cor. 5:17) causing us to live a new life (Rom. 6:4) and freeing us from the slavery of sin. Therefore, far from making people cold toward living in a pious and holy way, this justifying faith, quite to the contrary, so works within them that apart from it they will never do a thing out of love for God but only out of love for themselves and fear of being condemned. So then, it is impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful in a human being, seeing that we do not speak of an empty faith but of what Scripture calls "faith working through love," (Gal. 5:6) which moves people to do by themselves the works that God has commanded in the Word. These works, proceeding from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable to God, since they are all sanctified by God's grace. Yet they do not count toward our justification- for by faith in Christ we are justified, even before we do good works. Otherwise they could not be good, any more than the fruit of a tree could be good if the tree is not good in the first place. So then, we do good works, but not for merit- for what would we merit? Rather, we are indebted to God for the good works we do, and not God to us, since God "is at work in [us], enabling [us] both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13) - thus keeping in mind what is written: "When you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done.'" (Luke 17:10) Yet we do not wish to deny that God rewards good works- but it is by grace that God crowns these gifts. Moreover, although we do good works we do not base our salvation on them; for we cannot do any work that is not defiled by our flesh and also worthy of punishment. And even if we could point to one, memory of a single sin is enough for God to reject that work. So we would always be in doubt, tossed back and forth without any certainty, and our poor consciences would be tormented constantly if they did not rest on the merit of the suffering and death of our Savior.

Proof texts

• Acts 16:14 — [14] One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
• Rom. 10:17 — [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• 1 Cor. 12:3 — [3] Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
• Ezek. 36:26-27 — [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
• John 1:12-13 — [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
• John 3:5 — [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
• Eph. 2:4-6 — [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
• Titus 3:5 — [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
• 1 Pet. 1:23 — [23] since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
• John 5:24 — [24] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
• John 8:36 — [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
• Rom. 6:4-6 — [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
• 1 John 3:9 — [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
• Gal. 5:22 — [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Titus 2:12 — [12] training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
• John 15:5 — [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
• Rom. 14:23 — [23] But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
• 1 Tim. 1:5 — [5] The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• Heb. 11:4, 6 — [4] By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Rom. 4:5 — [5] And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
• Matt. 7:17 — [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
• 1 Cor. 1:30-31 — [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
• 1 Cor. 4:7 — [7] For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
• Eph. 2:10 — [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
• Gal. 5:6 — [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
• Rom. 2:6-7 — [6] He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
• 1 Cor. 3:14 — [14] If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
• 2 John 8 — [8] Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
• Rev. 2:23 — [23] and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
• Rom. 7:21 — [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
• Jas. 2:10 — [10] For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
• Hab. 2:4 — [4] “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
• Matt. 11:28 — [28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
• Rom. 10:11 — [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
• Phil. 2:13 — [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
• Luke 17:10 — [10] So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Acts 16:14 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 36 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. HC Q53 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q59 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

HC Q53 · HC Q59 · HC Q86 · CD 3.1