Q. Are we then incapable of doing any good of ourselves, and prone to
all manner of wickedness?
A. Indeed we are: unless we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.
We are indeed incapable of doing any good of ourselves. Then the
question may arise: Why then makes the Scripture mention of righteous
people? For example, Abraham was righteous. Also Noah was righteous,
like is wr itten: "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations, Noah
walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) How is it then said that we are
incapable of doing any good of ourselves? This seems untrue. The answer
is easy: We are indeed incapable of doing any good of ourselves,
*unless* we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. Look again to Noah, of
whom is said, that he walked with God. He walked with God, and therefore
he was righteous. But people, who lack God, or even reject Him, are
unable of doing any good. Further, it is said, that we are incapable of
doing any good *of ourselves*. The good, which we do, is worked in us by
God. To repeat it, the natural man is not able to do any good.
Many do not believe this. They look to themselves, and to others, and
they see that many good things happen. But their error is, that they not
distinguish between things which are good in the eyes of men, and things
which are good in God's eyes. A natural man can do much good in natural
things, but he cannot do any good, like it ought, namely to do well in
God's eyes. Even when we do some good, it is always defiled with spots
of sin. For example, when we help an old woman passing the busy street ,
that is good. But, while helping her, we hope that the people see it,
and that they think by themselves: "Look that man, how humane he is." We
do good, yet, it is defiled with pride; we hope to be seen of men. Even
our best works are defiled with such kinds of spots.
Let we also listen to David, the king and prophet. He said: "They are
all gone aside, they are together become filthy: there is none that
doeth good, no, not one." (Psalms 14:3)
This doct rine of the impossibility of doing any good, must abase us.
The doctrine prevents us from becoming proud, thinking that we are
rather pleasant in God's eyes. Let that pride be abased; for when we do
any good, it is flowing from the one good Source: from God.
Q. Will God suffer such disobedience and corruption to go unpunished?
A. By no means: but in his just judgment will punish them, both in time
and eternity, as it is written: Cursed is every one that continueth no t
in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
The disobedience, which we see around us, and which is in us, will God
suffer that unpunished? Surely not, but we may expect His severe
punishment. And that corruption of the flesh, which we perceive both in
us and around us, how is it with that? Also this will not go unpunished,
but God wi ll punish it, both in time and eternity. All the miseries,
which are in the world, are God's punishments in this life. How much
more the s evere must be the eternal punishment! When even in this time
many have lack of the most elementary means of living, who will not
tremble at God's coming judgements? We see the fulfilment of Moses'
saying: "Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do
them."(Deuteronomy 27:26) And also Paul says the same as Moses: "It is
written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10) Paul cites
Moses, who said that we have to do all the words of the law. When not,
we are cursed. And on another place, Paul says that God's wrath is ove r
the human corruptions: "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18)
When this is the human state, how much do we need God's grace. When we
not sleep, like nearly the whole world does, and when we see the truth,
we are very amazed at God, that He still bears the world and its
inhabitants. Why does He not make an end with us, because we daily ask
for it by our sinning? We are amazed at God's goodness! He, the
Righteous, daily sees us, the unrighteous. Let we then better our lives,
and prostrate ourselves in true worship before His feet. Maybe, there is
grace.
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Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp
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