Does the church generally recognize a profession of religion as a duty of believers?
It does. A profession of religion is the acknowledged duty of all true Christians. It is recognized in all branches of the Protestant church. Believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth, stand closely connected and "what God hath joined together," no man has a right to put asunder. The mouth must and will speak, when the heart believeth unto righteousness; for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The belief and experience of the heart, and the confession of the mouth. must go together. The possession of perfect love, and a desire for its diffusion, are inseparable, and this desire prompts to a profession.
Albert Barnes says, "that a profession of religion is, by St. Paul, made as really indispensable to salvation as believing." (Notes on Rom. x. 10. ) Matthew Henry, the commentator, says "What God has wrought in your souls, as well as for them, we must declare to others. ... God's people should communicate their experience to teach others." The commentator Dr. Scott says: "Every servant of God is a witness for him and they all can give such, an account of what he has wrought in them, shown to them, and done for them, as to lead others to know, believe, and understand his power, truth, and love."
To what is the Christian to give his testimony?
A witness is to testify to what he knows. A Christian is to testify regarding his experience, "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Any ambiguity or concealment by a witness, is
It does. A profession of religion is the acknowledged duty of all true Christians. It is recognized in all branches of the Protestant church. Believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth, stand closely connected and "what God hath joined together," no man has a right to put asunder. The mouth must and will speak, when the heart believeth unto righteousness; for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The belief and experience of the heart, and the confession of the mouth. must go together. The possession of perfect love, and a desire for its diffusion, are inseparable, and this desire prompts to a profession.
Albert Barnes says, "that a profession of religion is, by St. Paul, made as really indispensable to salvation as believing." (Notes on Rom. x. 10. ) Matthew Henry, the commentator, says "What God has wrought in your souls, as well as for them, we must declare to others. ... God's people should communicate their experience to teach others." The commentator Dr. Scott says: "Every servant of God is a witness for him and they all can give such, an account of what he has wrought in them, shown to them, and done for them, as to lead others to know, believe, and understand his power, truth, and love."
To what is the Christian to give his testimony?
A witness is to testify to what he knows. A Christian is to testify regarding his experience, "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Any ambiguity or concealment by a witness, is
a high offense against civil statutes, and an insult to any court of justice. Every court in the world would dismiss from the stand as an incompetent witness any one who could only affirm a belief, a desire, or a hope respecting the facts involved in his testimony.
He who witnesses for Christ must tell just what he has done. This is allowable by all in regard to justification and regeneration; why not in regard to sanctification? Why not declare all that God has done for us, just so far as there is clear evidence of its accomplishment, as well as to declare only a part? Must they withhold the clearest and best part of their testimony? Moses did not so understand our duty. He says, alluding to the law, the works, and the goodness of God,
"Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Christians are to testify to their knowledge of pardon, adoption, regeneration, and sanctification; their evangelical experience being the base of their testimony.
He who witnesses for Christ must tell just what he has done. This is allowable by all in regard to justification and regeneration; why not in regard to sanctification? Why not declare all that God has done for us, just so far as there is clear evidence of its accomplishment, as well as to declare only a part? Must they withhold the clearest and best part of their testimony? Moses did not so understand our duty. He says, alluding to the law, the works, and the goodness of God,
"Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Christians are to testify to their knowledge of pardon, adoption, regeneration, and sanctification; their evangelical experience being the base of their testimony.
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