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SIXTH LORD'S DAY.
Question 19.
Whence knowest thou this?
Answer.
From the holy Gospel, which God himself
revealed first in Paradise; and afterwards published by the Patriarchs and
Prophets, and was pleased to represent it by the shadows of sacrifices, and the
other ceremonies of the law; and lastly has accomplished it by his only begotten
Son.
EXPOSITION.
This question corresponds with the third question of
the Catechism, where it is asked: Whence knowest thou thy misery? Out of the law
of God. So it is here asked: Whence knowest thou thy deliverance? Out of the
gospel. Having, therefore, spoken of the Mediator, we must now speak of the
doctrine which reveals, describes, and offers him unto us--which doctrine is the
Gospel. After having spoken of the gospel, we must in the next place, speak of
the way in which we are made partakers of the Mediator, and his benefits--which
is by faith. First, then, we must speak of the gospel, which is, with great
propriety, made to follow the doctrine of the Mediator, and the covenant, 1.
Because the Mediator is the subject of the gospel, which teaches who and what
kind of a Mediator he is. 2. Because he is the author of the gospel. It is a
part of the office of the Mediator to reveal the gospel, as it is said: "The
only begotten which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John
1:18.) 3.
Because the gospel is a part of the covenant; and is often taken for the
new covenant.
The principal questions to be discussed, in relation
to the gospel, are the following:
The term gospel signifies, 1. A joyful message, or
good news. 2. The sacrifice which is offered to God for this good news. 3. The
reward which is given to him who announces these joyful tidings. Here it
signifies the doctrine, or joyful news of Christ manifested in the flesh; as
"behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, for unto you is born this
day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10, 11.)
The words are of a somewhat different signification.
The former denotes the promise of a mediator that was to come; the latter is the
announcement of a mediator already come. This distinction, however, is not
always observed; and is rather in the words than in the thing itself; for both
denote the same benefits of the Messiah, so that the distinction is only in the
circumstance of time, and in the manner of his appearance, as is evident from
the following declarations of Scripture: "Abraham saw my day, and was glad." "No
man cometh to the Father but by me." "I am the door, by me if any," &c. "God
hath appointed him head over all things to the church." "Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, today, and forever." (John 8:56; 14:6; 10:7. Eph. 1:22. Heb. 13:8.)
The gospel is, therefore, the doctrine which the Son
of God, our Mediator, revealed from heaven in Paradise, immediately after the
fall, and which he brought from the bosom of the Eternal Father; which promises,
and announces, in view of the free grace and mercy of God, to all those that
repent and believe, deliverance from sin, death, condemnation, and the wrath of
God; which is the same thing as to say that it promises and proclaims the
remission of sin, salvation, and eternal life, by and for the sake of the Son of
God, the Mediator; and is that through which the Holy Spirit works effectually
in the hearts of the faithful, kindling and exciting in them, faith, repentance,
and the beginning of eternal life. Or, we may, in accordance with the
eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth questions of the Catechism, define the
gospel to be the doctrine which God revealed first in Paradise, and afterwards
published by the Patriarchs and Prophets, which he was pleased to represent by
the shadows of sacrifices, and the other ceremonies of the law, and which he has
accomplished by his only begotten Son; teaching that the Son of God, our Lord
Jesus Christ, is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption; which is to say that he is a perfect Mediator, satisfying for the
sins of the human race, restoring righteousness and eternal life to all those
who by a true faith are ingrafted into him, and embrace his benefits.
The following passages of Scripture confirm this
definition which we have given of the gospel: "This is the will of him that sent
me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." "And that repentance
and remission of sin should be preached in his name, among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem." "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came
by Jesus Christ." (John 6:41. Luke 24:47. John 1:17.)
II. HAS THE GOSPEL ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN IN
THE CHURCH, OR IS IT A NEW DOCTRINE?
The gospel sometimes signifies the doctrine
concerning the promise of grace, and the remission of sins to be granted freely,
on account of the sacrifice of the Messiah, who had not as yet come in the
flesh; and then, again, it signifies the doctrine of the Messiah as already
come. In the latter sense, it has not always been, but commenced with the New
Testament. In the former sense, however, it has always been in the Church; for
immediately after the fall it was revealed in Paradise to our first
parents--afterwards it was published by the Patriarchs, and Prophets, and was at
length fully accomplished, and revealed by Christ himself. The proofs of this
are the following:
1. The testimony of the Apostles. Peter says, "To him
gave all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins." "Of which salvation the prophets have
inquired, and searched diligently." (Acts 10:43. 1 Pet. 1:10.) Paul says of the
gospel, "Which he had promised afore by his prophets." (Rom. 1:2.) Christ
himself says, "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of
me." (John 5:46.)
2. The promises
and prophecies which relate to the Messiah, establish the same thing. This must,
therefore, be carefully noticed, because God will have us know that there was,
and is from the beginning to the end of the world, only one doctrine, and way of
salvation through Christ, according to what is said, "Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, today, and for ever." "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man
cometh to the Father but by me." "Moses wrote of me." (Heb. 13:8. John 14:6;
5:46.) Does any one ask, How Moses wrote of Christ? We answer, 1. By enumerating
the promises which had respect to the Messiah. "In thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed." "God shall raise up a prophet," &c. "A star
shall rise out of Jacob." "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh
come." (Gen. 12:3. Deut. 10:15. Num. 24:17. Gen. 49:10.) 2. He restricted these
promises to a certain family from which the Messiah was to be born; and to which
the promise was afterwards more frequently referred, and spoken of. 3. The whole
Levitical priesthood, and ceremonial worship, as sacrifices, oblations, the
altar, the temple, and other things which Moses described, all looked forward to
Christ. The kings and kingdom of the Jewish nation were types of Christ, and of
his kingdom. Hence Moses wrote many things of Christ.
Obj. 1. Paul declares the gospel was promised through
the prophets; and Peter says that the prophets prophecied of the grace that
should come unto us. Therefore the gospel has not always been. Ans. We grant
that the gospel has not always been, if we understand by it the doctrine of the
promise of grace as fulfilled through the manifestation of Christ in the flesh,
and as it respects the clearness and evidence of this doctrine; for in ancient
times the gospel was not, but was only promised by the prophets: 1. As
concerning the fulfillment of those things which, in the Old Testament, were
predicted of the Messiah. 2. In regard to the clearer knowledge of the promise
of grace. 3. In respect to the more copious outpouring of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit; that is, the gospel then was not the announcement of Christ already
come, dead, risen again, and seated at the right hand of the Father, as it now
is; but it was a preaching of Christ, who would at some future time come, and
accomplish all these things. Nevertheless, there was a gospel, that is, there
was a joyful announcement of the benefits of the Messiah that was to come,
sufficient for the salvation of the ancient fathers, as it is said, "Abraham saw
my day, and rejoiced." "To him gave all the prophets witness." "Christ is the
end of the law." (John 8:56. Acts 10:43. Rom. 10:4.)
Obj. 2. The apostle Paul says, the gospel was the
mystery which was kept secret since the world began, and that in other ages it
was not made known to the Sons of men. (Rom. 16:25. Eph. 3:5.) Ans. This
objection contains an incorrect division, inasmuch as it disjoins things which
ought not to be separated. For the apostle adds, in connection with the above,
as it is now; which ought not to be omitted, because it shows that in former
times the gospel was also known, although less clearly, and to fewer persons,
than it now is. The objection is also weak, in affirming that to be strictly so,
which was only declared such in a certain respect: for it does not follow, that
it was then altogether unknown, because it is now more clearly perceived, and
that by many more persons. It was known to the fathers, although not so clearly
as to us. Hence the importance of the distinction between the words as above
expressed.
Obj. 3. The law came by Moses, grace and truth by
Jesus Christ. Therefore the gospel has not always been known. Ans. Grace and
truth did indeed come through Christ, viz, in respect to the fulfillment of
types, and the full exhibition and copious application of those things which
were formerly promised in the Old Testament. But it does not follow from this,
that the ancient fathers were entirely destitute of this grace: for unto them
also the same grace was applied by, and on account of Christ, who would
subsequently appear in the flesh, although it was given in smaller measures to
them than to us. For, whatever grace and true knowledge of God has ever come to
men, has come through Christ, as it is said, "The only begotten Son, which is in
the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." "No man cometh to the Father,
but by me." "Without me ye can do nothing." (John 1:18; 14:6; 15:5.)
But it is said, the law was by Moses; therefore the
gospel was not by him. Ans. This is so declared, because it was the principal
part of his office to publish the law; yet he also taught the gospel, because he
wrote and spoke of Christ, although more obscurely, as has been shown. But it
was the peculiar office of Christ to publish the gospel, although he at the same
time taught the law, but not principally, as did Moses: for he took away from
the moral law the corruptions and glosses of false teachers--he fulfilled the
ceremonial law, and abrogated it, together with the judicial law.
III.
IN WHAT DOES THE GOSPEL DIFFER FROM THE LAW?
The gospel and the law agree in this, that they are
both from God, and that there is something revealed in each concerning the
nature, will, and works of God. There is, however, a very great difference
between them:
1.
In the revelations which they contain; or, as it respects the manner in
which the revelation peculiar to each is made known. The law was engraven upon
the heart of man in his creation, and is therefore known to all naturally,
although no other revelation were given. "The Gentiles have the work of the law
written in their hearts." (Rom. 2:15.) The gospel is not known naturally, but is
divinely revealed to the Church alone through Christ, the Mediator. For no
creature could have seen or hoped for that mitigation of the law concerning
satisfaction for our sins through another, if the Son of God had not revealed
it. "No man knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal
him." "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee." "The Son, who is in the
bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (Matt. 11:27; 16: 17.)
2. In the kind
of doctrine, or subject peculiar to each. The law teaches us what we ought to
be, and what God requires of us, but it does not give us the ability to perform
it, nor does it point out the way by which we may avoid what is forbidden. But
the gospel teaches us in what manner we may be made such as the law requires:
for it offers unto us the promise of grace, by having the righteousness of
Christ imputed to us through faith, and that in such a way as if it were
properly ours, teaching us that we are just before God, through the imputation
of Christ's righteousness. The law says, " Pay what thou owest." "Do this, and
live." (Matt. 18:28. Luke 10:28.) The gospel says, "Only believe." (Mark 5:36.)
3. In the
promises. The law promises life to those who are righteous in themselves, or on
the condition of righteousness, and perfect obedience. " He that doeth them,
shall live in them." "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
(Lev. 18:5. Matt. 19:17.) The gospel, on the other hand, promises life to those
who are justified by faith in Christ, or on the condition of the righteousness
of Christ, applied unto us by faith. The law and gospel are, however, not
opposed to each other in these respects: for although the law requires us to
keep the commandments if we would enter into life, yet it does not exclude us
from life if another perform these things for us. It does indeed propose a way
of satisfaction, which is through ourselves, but it does not forbid the other,
as has been shown.
4. They differ
in their effects. The law, without the gospel, is the letter which killeth, and
is the ministration of death: "For by the law is the knowledge of sin." "The law
worketh wrath; and the letter killeth." (Rom. 3:20; 4:15. 2 Cor. 3:6.) The
outward preaching, and simple knowledge of what ought to be done, is known
through the letter: for it declares our duty, and that righteousness which God
requires; and, whilst it neither gives us the ability to perform it, nor points
out the way through which it may be attained, it finds fault with, and condemns
our righteousness. But the gospel is the ministration of life, and of the
Spirit, that is, it has the operations of the Spirit united with it, and
quickens those that are dead in sin, because it is through the gospel that the
holy Spirit works faith and life in the elect. "The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation," &c. (Rom. 1:16.)
Obj. There is no precept, or commandment belonging to
the gospel, but to the law. The preaching of repentance is a precept. Therefore
the preaching of repentance does not belong to the gospel, but to the law. Ans.
We deny the major, if it is taken generally; for this precept is peculiar to the
gospel, which commands us to believe, to embrace the benefits of Christ, and to
commence new obedience, or that righteousness which the law requires. If it be
objected that the law also commands us to believe in God, we reply that it does
this only in general, by requiring us to give credit to all the divine promises,
precepts and denunciations, and that with a threatening of punishment, unless we
do it. But the gospel commands us expressly and particularly to embrace, by
faith, the promise of grace and also exhorts us by the Holy Spirit, and by the
Word, to walk worthy of our heavenly calling. This however it does only in
general, not specifying any duty in particular, saying thou shalt do this, or
that, but it leaves this to the law; as, on the contrary, it does not say in
general, believe all the promises of God, leaving this to the law; but it says
in particular, Believe this promise; fly to Christ, and thy sins shall be
forgiven thee.
IV.
WHAT ARE THE PROPER EFFECTS OF TUE GOSPEL?
The proper effects of the gospel are--
1. Faith;
because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." "The gospel
is the ministration of the Spirit." "The power of God unto salvation." (Rem.
10:17. 2 Cor. 3:8. Rom. 1:16.)
2. Through
faith, our entire conversion to God, justification, regeneration and salvation;
for through faith we receive Christ, with all his benefits.
V.
FROM WHAT DOES THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL APPEAR?
The truth of the gospel appears--
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