Marrow of Modern Divinity - Fisher - VI - Chapter 2 continued

Required reading
Marrow of Modern Divinity  by Edward Fisher (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Chapter 2 by reading the two sections entitled 'The warrant to believe in Christ' and 'Evangelical repentance a consequent of faith'.

My summary
In today's reading we look at the warrant for anyone to believe in Christ.  Evangelista answers a series of objections from Neophytus and Nomista as to why someone cannot believe.

Firstly Neophytus objects that he may not be one of the elect so he cannot believe.  Evangelista answeres: 'beseech you to consider, that although some men be ordained to condemnation, yet so long as the Lord has concealed their names, and not set a mark of reprobation upon any man in particular, but offers the pardon generally to all, without having any respect either to election or reprobation, surely it is great folly in any man to say, It may be I am not elected, and therefore shall not have benefit by it...'

Secondly Neophytus objects that he is too vile to believe.  Evangelista answers that wretches are actually the people whom Jesus came to save.

Thirdly Neophytus objects that it would be pride and presumption to go after God in the bold manner of faith.  Evangelista replies that to come to God in faith is actually true humility.

Fourthly Nomista chimes in and asks whether you first need to repent before believing.  Evangelista then takes a whole section to answer the point.  Evangelista says that repentance comes from faith and so all one needs to do is believe in Christ: 'Yes, indeed; I hold, that although it [repentance] go not before as an antecedent of faith, yet it follows as a consequent. For when a man believes the love of God to him in Christ, then he loves God because he loved him first; and that love constrains him to humble himself at the Lord's footstool, and to acknowledge himself to be less than the least of all his mercies; yea, and then will he "remember his own evil ways and doings, that were not good, and will loathe himself in his own sight for his iniquities, and for his abominations," (Eze 36:31); yea, and then will he also cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, having respect unto all God's commandments, (2 Cor 7:1, Psa 119:6).'

What grabbed me
Interesting discussion about the place of repentance with faith.  When we read John Murray's work, 'Redemption: Accomplished and Applied', Murray said that 'It is impossible to disentangle faith and repentance.  Saving faith is permeated with repentance and repentance is permeated with faith.'

I think Fisher would agree.  What Fisher is against is people like Nomista who try to make repentance a work that must be done before faith.  To make it a work prior to faith can ensnare some who would then worry that they have not truly repented and so they cannot come to Christ in faith.

The point is that we should flee to Christ in faith and stop raising objections as to why we cannot.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 2 by reading the four sections entitled 'Spiritual marriage with Jesus Christ'; 'Justification before faith, refuted'; Believers freed from the commanding and condemning'; 'Power of the covenant of works'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.