What is a Christian? Part 3

What Is A Christian?

How the Bible, the historical church confessions, and our greatest Christian authors answer this all-important question

Table of Contents

Part One: Introduction and What Does the Bible Say?

Part Two: What Do Preachers & Authors of Earlier Times Say?

Part Three: What Do the Great Creeds of the Church Say?

Part Four: What Do Modern Writers & Commentators Say?

Part Three:

What Do the Great Creeds of the Church Say?

During the tumultuous time in church history known as the Reformation, those who studied and wept over their Bibles – Bibles made even more precious by the blood of the recent martyrs who had died for man's freedom to possess them – struggled to recover the biblical doctrine of salvation from its association with the manmade additions of Roman Catholicism. They formulated deep, biblical statements of faith known as "confessions," which stood the test of time among God's people for hundreds of years. Despite minor differences of opinion on matters of church administration and ordinances such as baptism, virtually all of these confessions held to the important biblical doctrine which they defined as the "perseverance of the saints," which teaches not merely “once saved always saved,” but that the saved individual is made a new creation, with a new mind, a new heart, and a new life, the absence of which brings the authenticity of one's faith into question. The following quotations are drawn from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, but they appear in similar form in nearly all major creeds of the Christian church. They are lavishly supported with Scriptural proofs, and were retained almost verbatim in the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of 1742, and in C.H. Spurgeon's updated Baptist Confession of 1855.

Of Effectual Calling.

1. Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life, He is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, 179effectually to call by his word, and Spirit, out of that state of sin, and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and Salvation 180by Jesus Christ; enlightning their minds, spiritually, and savingly to 181understand the things of God; taking away their 182heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His Almighty power determining them 183to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come 184most freely, being made willing by His Grace.

179 Rom. 8.30. Rom. 11.7. Eph. 1.10,11. 2 Thes. 2.13,14.
180 Eph. 2.1-6.
181 Act. 26.18. Eph. 1.17.18.
182 Ezk. 36.26.
183 Deut. 30 6. Ezek. 36.27. Eph. 1.19.
184 Ps. 110.3. Cant. 1.4.

Of Sanctification.

1. They who are united to Christ, Effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new Spirit created in them, through the virtue of Christ’s death, and Resurrection; are also 223further sanctified, really, and personally, through the same virtue, 224by His word and Spirit dwelling in them; 225the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, 226and the several lusts thereof, are more and more weakened, and mortified; and they more and more quickened, and 227strengthened in all saving graces, to the 228practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

2. This Sanctification is 229throughout, in the whole man, yet imperfect 230in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a 231continual, and irreconcilable war; the Flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh.

3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much 232prevail; yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ the 233regenerate part doth overcome; and so the Saints grow in Grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 234pressing after an heavenly life, in Evangelical Obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed to them.

223 Act. 20.32. Rom. 6.5,6.
224 Joh. 17.17. Eph. 3.16,17,18,19. 1 Thes. 5.21,22,23.
225 Rom. 6.14.
226 Gal. 5.24.
227 Col 1.11.
228 2 Cor. 7.1. Heb. 12.14.
229 1 Thes. 5.23.
230 Rom. 7.18,23.
231 Gal. 5.17. 1 Pet. 2.11.
232 Rom. 7.23.
233 Rom. 6.14.
234 Eph. 4.15.16. 2 Cor. 3.18. ch. 7.1.

Of Saving Faith.

1. The Grace of Faith, whereby the Elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ 235in their hearts; and is ordinarily wrought by the Ministry of the 236Word; by which also, and by the administration of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, Prayer and other Means appointed of God, it is increased, 237and strengthened.

2. By this Faith, a Christian believeth to be true, 238whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the Authority of God Himself; and also apprehendeth an excellency therein, 239above all other Writings; and all things in the world: …so is enabled to 240cast his Soul upon the truth thus beleived; … yeilding obedience to the 241commands, trembling at the 242threatnings, and embracing the 243promises of God, for this life, and that which is to come: …

235 2 Cor. 4.13. Eph. 2.8.
236 Rom. 10 14.17.
237 Luk. 17.5. 1 Pet. 2.2. Act. 20.32.
238 Act. 24.14.
239 Ps. 19.7,8,9,10. Ps. 119.72.
240 2 Tim. 1.12.
241 Joh. 15.14.
242 Is. 66.2.
243 Heb. 11.13.

Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation.

1. This saving Repentance is an 253evangelical 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; 254praying for pardon, and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to 255walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things.

2. 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 mans duty, to repent of his 256particular known sins, particularly.

3. 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 257damnation; yet there is no sin so great, that it shall bring damnation on them that 258repent; which makes the constant preaching of Repentance necessary.

253 Zech. 12.10. Act. 11.18.
254 Ezek. 36.31. 2 Cor. 7.11.
255 Ps. 119 6. Ps. 119.128.
256 Luk. 19.8. 1 Tim. 1.13.15.
257 Rom. 6.23.
258 Is. 1.16.18. Is. 55.7.

Of Good Works.

1. Good Works are only such as God hath 259commanded in His Holy word; and not such as without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, 260or upon any pretence of good intentions.

2. These good works, done in obedience to Gods commandments, are the fruits, and evidences 261of a true, and lively faith; and by them Believers manifest their 262thankfulness, strengthen their 263assurance, edify their 264brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorify 265God whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus 266thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end 267eternal life.

3. Their ability to do good works, is not at all of themselves; but wholly from the Spirit 268of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an 269actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure.

259 Mic. 6.8. Heb. 13 21.
260 Mat. 15.9. Isa. 29.13.
261 Jam. 2.18.22.
262 Ps. 116.12,13.
263 1 Joh. 2 3.5. 2 Pet. 1.5-11.
264 Mat. 5.16.
265 1 Tim. 6.1. 1 Pet. 2.15. Phil. 1.11.
266 Eph. 2.10.
267 Rom. 6.22.
268 Joh. 15.4.6.
269 2 Cor. 3.5. Phil. 2.13.

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation.

1. Although temporary Believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions, of being in the favour of God, and state of salvation, 297which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truely believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good Conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured 298that they are in the state of Grace; and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them 299ashamed.

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural, and probable persuasion, grounded upon 300a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the Blood and Righteousness of Christ 301revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward 302evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the 303Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our Spirits that we are the children of God; and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both 304humble and holy.

297 Job 8.13.14. Mat. 7.22 23.
298 1 Joh. 2.3. ch. 3.14 18,19.21.24. ch. 5.13.
299 Rom. 5.2.5.
300 Heb. 6.11.19.
301 Heb. 6.17,18.
302 2 Pet. 1.4,5,10.11.
303 Rom. 8.15,16.
304 1 Joh. 3 1,2,3.

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	What Is A Christian? How the Bible, the historical church confessions, and our greatest Christian authors answer this all-important question Table of Contents Part One: Introduction and What Does the Bible Say? Part Two: What Do Preachers & Authors of Earlier Times Say? Part Three: What Do the Great Creeds of the Church Say? Part Four: What Do Modern Writers & Commentators Say? Part Three: What Do the Great Creeds of the Church Say? During the tumultuous time in church history known as the Reformation, those who studied and wept over their Bibles – Bibles made even more precious by the blood of the recent martyrs who had died for man's freedom to possess them – struggled to recover the biblical doctrine of salvation from its association with the manmade additions of Roman Catholicism. They formulated deep, biblical statements of faith known as "confessions," which stood the test of time among God's people for hundreds of years. Despite minor differences of opinion on matters of church administration and ordinances such as baptism, virtually all of these confessions held to the important biblical doctrine which they defined as the "perseverance of the saints," which teaches not merely “once saved always saved,” but that the saved individual is made a new creation, with a new mind, a new heart, and a new life, the absence of which brings the authenticity of one's faith into question. The following quotations are drawn from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, but they appear in similar form in nearly all major creeds of the Christian church. They are lavishly supported with Scriptural proofs, and were retained almost verbatim in the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of 1742, and in C.H. Spurgeon's updated Baptist Confession of 1855. Of Effectual Calling. 1. Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life, He is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, 179effectually to call by his word, and Spirit, out of that state of sin, and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and Salvation 180by Jesus Christ; enlightning their minds, spiritually, and savingly to 181understand the things of God; taking away their 182heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His Almighty power determining them 183to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come 184most freely, being made willing by His Grace. 179 Rom. 8.30. Rom. 11.7. Eph. 1.10,11. 2 Thes. 2.13,14. 180 Eph. 2.1-6. 181 Act. 26.18. Eph. 1.17.18. 182 Ezk. 36.26. 183 Deut. 30 6. Ezek. 36.27. Eph. 1.19. 184 Ps. 110.3. Cant. 1.4. Of Sanctification. 1. They who are united to Christ, Effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new Spirit created in them, through the virtue of Christ’s death, and Resurrection; are also 223further sanctified, really, and personally, through the same virtue, 224by His word and Spirit dwelling in them; 225the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, 226and the several lusts thereof, are more and more weakened, and mortified; and they more and more quickened, and 227strengthened in all saving graces, to the 228practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. 2. This Sanctification is 229throughout, in the whole man, yet imperfect 230in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a 231continual, and irreconcilable war; the Flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh. 3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much 232prevail; yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ the 233regenerate part doth overcome; and so the Saints grow in Grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 234pressing after an heavenly life, in Evangelical Obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed to them. 223 Act. 20.32. Rom. 6.5,6. 224 Joh. 17.17. Eph. 3.16,17,18,19. 1 Thes. 5.21,22,23. 225 Rom. 6.14. 226 Gal. 5.24. 227 Col 1.11. 228 2 Cor. 7.1. Heb. 12.14. 229 1 Thes. 5.23. 230 Rom. 7.18,23. 231 Gal. 5.17. 1 Pet. 2.11. 232 Rom. 7.23. 233 Rom. 6.14. 234 Eph. 4.15.16. 2 Cor. 3.18. ch. 7.1. Of Saving Faith. 1. The Grace of Faith, whereby the Elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ 235in their hearts; and is ordinarily wrought by the Ministry of the 236Word; by which also, and by the administration of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, Prayer and other Means appointed of God, it is increased, 237and strengthened. 2. By this Faith, a Christian believeth to be true, 238whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the Authority of God Himself; and also apprehendeth an excellency therein, 239above all other Writings; and all things in the world: …so is enabled to 240cast his Soul upon the truth thus beleived; … yeilding obedience to the 241commands, trembling at the 242threatnings, and embracing the 243promises of God, for this life, and that which is to come: … 235 2 Cor. 4.13. Eph. 2.8. 236 Rom. 10 14.17. 237 Luk. 17.5. 1 Pet. 2.2. Act. 20.32. 238 Act. 24.14. 239 Ps. 19.7,8,9,10. Ps. 119.72. 240 2 Tim. 1.12. 241 Joh. 15.14. 242 Is. 66.2. 243 Heb. 11.13. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation. 1. This saving Repentance is an 253evangelical 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; 254praying for pardon, and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to 255walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things. 2. 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 mans duty, to repent of his 256particular known sins, particularly. 3. 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 257damnation; yet there is no sin so great, that it shall bring damnation on them that 258repent; which makes the constant preaching of Repentance necessary. 253 Zech. 12.10. Act. 11.18. 254 Ezek. 36.31. 2 Cor. 7.11. 255 Ps. 119 6. Ps. 119.128. 256 Luk. 19.8. 1 Tim. 1.13.15. 257 Rom. 6.23. 258 Is. 1.16.18. Is. 55.7. Of Good Works. 1. Good Works are only such as God hath 259commanded in His Holy word; and not such as without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, 260or upon any pretence of good intentions. 2. These good works, done in obedience to Gods commandments, are the fruits, and evidences 261of a true, and lively faith; and by them Believers manifest their 262thankfulness, strengthen their 263assurance, edify their 264brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorify 265God whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus 266thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end 267eternal life. 3. Their ability to do good works, is not at all of themselves; but wholly from the Spirit 268of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an 269actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure. 259 Mic. 6.8. Heb. 13 21. 260 Mat. 15.9. Isa. 29.13. 261 Jam. 2.18.22. 262 Ps. 116.12,13. 263 1 Joh. 2 3.5. 2 Pet. 1.5-11. 264 Mat. 5.16. 265 1 Tim. 6.1. 1 Pet. 2.15. Phil. 1.11. 266 Eph. 2.10. 267 Rom. 6.22. 268 Joh. 15.4.6. 269 2 Cor. 3.5. Phil. 2.13. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation. 1. Although temporary Believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions, of being in the favour of God, and state of salvation, 297which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truely believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good Conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured 298that they are in the state of Grace; and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them 299ashamed. 2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural, and probable persuasion, grounded upon 300a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the Blood and Righteousness of Christ 301revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward 302evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the 303Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our Spirits that we are the children of God; and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both 304humble and holy. 297 Job 8.13.14. Mat. 7.22 23. 298 1 Joh. 2.3. ch. 3.14 18,19.21.24. ch. 5.13. 299 Rom. 5.2.5. 300 Heb. 6.11.19. 301 Heb. 6.17,18. 302 2 Pet. 1.4,5,10.11. 303 Rom. 8.15,16. 304 1 Joh. 3 1,2,3. Back to Table of Contents