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Originally Posted by armourbearer  Quote:
Originally Posted by Civbert The WCF did not "encompass" or "circumscribe" justification and sanctification with the term "salvation". It's less confusing that way. The WCF does not conflate the two ideas with a third term, a term which more reasonable belongs to one (salvation and justification). | See Larger Catechism 32, "promiseth and giveth his Holy Spirit to all his elect, to work in them that faith, with all other saving graces; and to enable them unto all holy obedience, as the evidence of the truth of their faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation." |
The whole quote:
Quote:
Question 32: How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
Answer: The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provides and offers to sinners a Mediator, and life and salvation by him; and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him, promises and gives his Holy Spirit to all his elect, to work in them that faith, with all other saving graces; and to enable them unto all holy obedience, as the evidence of the truth of their faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which he has appointed them to salvation.
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The question then is, to what clause does the independent clause "
and as the way which he has appointed them to salvation" refer to? I seems to refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit (to work in them the faith required).
Also, what is the referent of "salvation" itself? Does it refer to final salvation, or our salvation by work of Christ our Mediator, or general deliverance from evil?
But however you answer this, the term "salvation" is not the main subject, or the subject of a independent clause. So this does not seem to support the idea that salvation "circumscribes" both justification and sanctification.
What are "other
saving graces"? This seems to point to
deliverance from sin through sanctification. But the word was not "salvific" (bringing salvation) graces. Again, the term "salvation" seem limited to the salvation through our Mediator by the work of Christ, and does not include sanctification (which is non-salvific).
I think we can certainly say that Question 32 shows us that "
the grace of God manifested in the second covenant" circumscribes both justification, and sanctification. And that makes much more sense and is less confusing.