Quote:
Originally Posted by greenbaggins  As M'Cheyne says, "For every one time you look at yourself, look ten times at Christ." At the same time, doubt can also encompass the question of whether that objective atonement has really been applied to me. How would you answer then? |
Thanks for reminding me of that McCheyne gem.
I think Hebrews 10:19-25 gives us some direction for answering this case. There we have Christ presented as our great high priest who has opened the way to the holy presence of God through His own blood and body (objective work), accompanied with the invitation to come boldly (openly, freely) to God. Based on this objective work and open invitation, there is the exhortation to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (the subjective appropriation). One barrier to this is the consciousness of sin, and so this approach should be with the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, that is, applying the virtue of Christ's death to one's own sins, original and actual, and laying hold of the word of promise sealed through baptism. Next, there is the exhortation to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, knowing that doubts of all kinds might be brought to bear on the person's confidence that he has been brought near to God through the death of Christ; and the especial attribute of God which is mentioned for encouragement is the faithfulness of God. Here, regardless of one's personal feelings to the contrary, the person can find assurance in what God has spoken. Finally, there is the means of grace in the synagoguing of believers together for their mutual encouragement in faith and fulfiment of loving duty.