I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” – Psalm 122:1
It is good to read and remind ourselves occasionally of the valuable insights recorded by those who went before us. I love what a couple of pastors documented nearly 400 years ago.
Rev. David Dickson was a Presbyterian minister who served as a moderator for the Westminster Assembly in the 1640s. He, along with his colleague Rev. James Durham, wrote “The Sum of Saving Knowledge.” This important summary of the Gospel was produced at the same time as the Westminster Confession of Faith & Catechisms, but it was never voted on as an official document of the assembly. Still, many of the preachers of this time shared this useful summary with their congregations and it is often published along with the official declarations of the Westminster Assembly. I recommend familiarizing yourself with this biblical teaching on the core elements of saving faith, so here is a brief excerpt from this 17th century booklet...
The Sum of Saving Knowledge is this: 1) The woeful condition which all men are in by nature, through breaking of the covenant of works. “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself.” – Hosea 13:9; 2) The remedy provided for the elect in Jesus Christ by the covenant of grace. “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help.” – Hosea 13:9; 3) The means appointed to make them partakers of this covenant. “Many are called.” – Matthew 22:14; and 4) The blessings which are effectually conveyed to the elect by these means. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 12:14.
“The outward means and ordinances, for making men partakers of the covenant of grace, are so wisely dispensed, as that the elect shall be infallibly converted and saved by them; and the reprobate, among whom they are, not to be justly damned: The means are especially these four: 1) The Word of God, 2) The Ordinances (Sacraments: Baptism & the Lord’s Supper), 3) Church, and 4) Prayer.”
“In the Word of God preached by sent messengers, the Lord makes offer of grace to all sinners, upon condition of faith in Jesus Christ; and whoever does confess their sin, accept Christ’s offering, and submit themselves to His ordinances, He will have them received into the honour and privileges of the covenant of grace. By the ordinances, God will have the covenant sealed for confirming the bargain on the foresaid condition. By the Church, He will have them hedged in, and helped forward to the keeping of the covenant. And by prayer, He will have His own glorious grace, promised in the covenant, to be daily drawn forth, acknowledged, and employed. All these means are followed either really, or in profession only, according to the quality of the covenanters, as they are true or counterfeit believers.”
Perhaps their best summary of the Gospel is this statement of what God does for His elect: “He reconciles them, and makes them friends to God, who were before enemies of God.”
It is interesting that these great theologians included the Church itself as a means of grace (we often quote the ordinary means as just “the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer”). They understood the clear biblical teaching that we depend upon each: God extends His grace through His people. In fact, this is part of the very definition of what it means to be His people: to receive and share God’s love. In Sunflower County, we have lots of opportunities to receive and share grace. I pray that you are enjoying the fellowship of the saints this Lord’s Day – and every day. Join with others who had been enemies of God – and perhaps of you – and rejoice in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, given to His Church. God offers grace to sinners, like me and you, through His messengers. If you have such knowledge, what will you do with it today? Let us go to the house of the Lord!
