The New Testament does not describe the believer as a
‘wretched man’, one who is endlessly seeking (but almost
inevitably failing) to gain assurance. Rather, it speaks of him
as one who has ever-increasing glory, liberty and assurance.
And this, of course, should be the lot of every believer today.
Many Reformed disagree. They think that Romans 7:14-25
bespeaks the believer at his most spiritual, and that a sense of
wretchedness represents the acme of spirituality. They
further teach that most believers never get full assurance;
some even think that most believers don’t deserve it! They
also argue vehemently that the believer is under the law of
Moses (usually whittled down, without the slightest
justification, to the ten commandments, the so-called moral
law) for progressive sanctification. |
