Required reading
A view of the covenant of grace by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'IV. The promise of perseverance in grace'.
My summary
This week Boston continues to examine the period from union with Christ until death. Last week we saw that this period includes the promises of:
(i) justification;
(ii) a new and saving covenant relation to God.
Today Boston focuses on the third promise included in this period, the promise of sanctification.
After some preliminary remarks about the sanctification, Boston looks at how the work of sanctification doth issue in a state of:
(i) death unto sin;
(ii) life unto righteousness.
Then Boston teaches us about the chief branches of the promise of sanctification:
(i) repentance;
(ii) actual grace and strength for all holy obedience.
What grabbed me
I was helped by Boston's advice to those who are weakened in the practice of holiness: 'Distinguish between performing obedience perfectly, and performing it acceptably. No man can perform obedience perfectly in this life, Philip. iii. 12; but every true believer performs obedience acceptably: Acts x 35...if a servant shall quite neglect to put hand to a thing which he is peremptorily ordered to do, because he cannot do it every way so as the master would have it done; this is construed to be a contempt of the master's authority.'
Just because sin will taint your work, doesn't mean you shouldn't work at all.
Next week's reading
Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'Period III'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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