Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 7
Q&A 20 Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 7
Q&A 2020 Q. Are all men, then, saved by Christ as they perished through Adam?
A. No; but only those who by a true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits.
Beloved in the Lord, it is a very strange thing that after Christ was resurrected from the dead that He did not immediately ascend into the heavens. But that it is six weeks from that time that He, from the time that He was resurrected from the dead until finally He ascends into the heavens. And yet at the same time we realize that all things were prepared, that nothing more had to be done, and that He might as well have ascended immediately after He rose from the dead. But those are the things that can also be said concerning the entire life of Christ. Why is it that He came and that He preached so long? Why didn't He come and immediately give His life as a ransom for His people; because that was the purpose of His coming. "This is a true saying and worthy of all acceptation," says the apostle when he writes to Timothy, "that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief." That is the purpose of His coming. Why did He delay that purpose so long? Why is that He did not immediately go the way of the cross and immediately give His life as a ransom for His people? But you realize of course, that thereby we would have lost so much, thereby we would have lost so much of the teaching of Jesus Christ. That He has come in order that He might also instruct His people and there was so much instruction to be given. There was so much instruction for that particular day and also for the day in which we are living, because of the fact that they had gone completely astray. They had come to the conclusion that because we are the sons of Abraham, therefore all is well; nothing can touch us. Everybody else lies in the midst of darkness and we are the children of Abraham and therefore all is light. And Christ comes and says, "and not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." Not even those who recognize Him as Lord, not even those who recognize that He is Savior, not even those who recognize that He is Christ. Not all those shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only those whom the Father has given Him.
And time and again beloved, He goes into that in order that He may teach the people of His day that there is a narrow way, and there is a broad way, and that they must choose. And whether they belong to Israel or whether they belong to Edom, it is one choice that has to made, and if they do not make that right choice, then they shall forever be in bondness to sin. He is come in order that He might save His sheep. He is come in order that He might save His own, that He might save those whom the Father had given to Him, and the Father had not given Him all. Now those are simply the things that are made clear to us in the Gospels. That Christ has there made very clear to the people of His day that it is indeed a limited atonement.
Now those are the things that we thought were only in the Canons of Dort, huh. So that is the reason why the Synod of Dort was called together, one of the five reasons why it was called together; to enter into that matter concerning limited atonement. But here it is right here in the Catechism; this book of comfort. And this is now your only comfort, that there is a limited atonement? That is part of it, that is part of that which is here revealed to us. We speak to you this morning on the limited number of the saved, the limited number of the saved.
Now you notice in the first place, the natural question; secondly, the disturbing answer, and finally, the determining factor.
Now first of all, the question is a very natural one; is everybody going to be saved? Everybody perished in Adam, and now are they going to be saved in Jesus Christ? And if not, why not? Why shouldn't everybody be saved? Is Adam stronger than Christ, is Adam's influence greater than Christ? Is the effect of Adam's work greater than Christ? Those are the kind of questions beloved, before which we stand. And these are the kind of natural questions that are pressed as it were, the Scriptures into a corner. Whereby we seek to press it into a corner. Whereby we seek to come to a conclusion in regard to this, why is it that everybody is not saved? Isn't He able to do it, is Christ not capable of it? What determines it? And these are the kind of questions, the very natural questions but nevertheless the kind of a question that will not down. And that is the kind of a question that the Catechism always asks. And it always comes with these questions, and I like that, comes with the kind of questions that also live in our own hearts, and that even though we don't give expression to them at all times that nevertheless, they reside there. Those are the questions that will not always come to light but nevertheless they are there. Questions of the mind not only, but also questions of the heart.
Why is it that everybody isn't saved? Christ Jesus is come in order that He might give His life. There is the second Adam, that is the one who is greater than all. He is greater than all those who have gone before, and also far greater than Adam, the first one. And now Adam has taken all men into death with him, he has dragged them all down, and now we come to Jesus Christ and here it is, a limited atonement, a limited number. He is going to save His people, He is going to save His sheep, and there are also the others. There are sheep and there are goats, there are His people and there are not His people. There are those who are "not my people", as it is stated to us in Hosea. There are those who believe and there are those who do not. There are those who follow Him and there are those who do not.
No, in the first place beloved, it is already clear in this world of course, that there is very little of universal atonement believed anymore today. There was a time in which that was quite common. Quite common, that there was a view of a universal salvation, that everybody was going to be saved. But the Scriptures will not allow us to have that kind of a view. And even natural life is against it, all of our experience is against it. Everything shows to us that that is not the case.
But now, why not? These are the kind of questions that we ask. And therefore this is the kind of a question that ought to be asked, and it is. This is the kind of a question that bothered the church for many years, and this is the kind of a question that also then gave rise, as I mentioned a moment ago, to the Canons of Dort, to the Synod of Dort, in order that it might come to a solution to some of these problems that we have. These problems are great. Is Adam, the first one, far above the Christ? We would never dare to say that. If they would be equal, then he would already save everybody. And seeing that he is far above them, then certainly he would save everybody. But that's not the case. Now these are the things the Scriptures make known to us time and again. Here Christ speaks of it and I would have been able to read to you from dozens of different passages this morning in connection with this particular Lord's Day's question and answer. That teach precisely this, it is not a teaching that comes to us in isolated places, but it is a teaching that is found throughout; the apostles speak of it again and again in their letters to the churches. To show them that it is a limited number, and that what has caused that limitation, that is a different question that we will enter into a little bit later this morning. But nevertheless, that question, that question is there, and that question must also be asked. Is Christ less; and we have to uphold Him.
It is also rather strange that in the previous Lord's Day, and I called your attention to that several times, that it is such a very slow procession, from one step to the other, but finally the light dawns. But who is that Mediator who is at once true God and true man. Our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now the next question; is everybody then going to be saved? No. He didn't do that. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is so great, so greatly to be praised, His greatness is unsearchable. No one shall ever be able to plumb the depths of the greatness of the Christ of God. And now you say that His work nevertheless was limited! There are those who are saved, and there were even those who already felt it in the days that Jesus was here on earth. And someone comes to Him and says, "Lord are there few that be saved? Are there more, or less, but are there few, or is it quite a number?" There are the sects that still in a very limited atonement also, because of the fact that they believe that they only are going to be saved. And there is one of the major sects of the present day that believed and has spoken of it time and again of the 144 thousand of the book of Revelation. They were the 144 thousand until their own number exceeded that, and now they're not so sure anymore that that is really to be taken literally.
There are also the very strict orthodox, the overly strict orthodox, those who are stricter than the Bible, those are stricter than the Law; there are those people, you know. And they also are not able to see that there is going to be universal salvation, no. But is that the answer that has to be given by the true church. This is the question. And this is the kind of a question, and it is a natural one. Is everybody going to be saved by Christ? That is the kind of a question that's really ought not even to be done, we feel, because He certainly is capable of it. It is sufficient, His sacrifice was accepted, and consequently, that sacrifice was sufficient for the need of everyone that ever existed, that ever lived, for his salvation.
But, as in Adam, all die, says the apostle, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. And that's in the Bible, people. And we have to give an account of it. And let's not say something else, but there it is: "As in Adam all die; so also in Christ shall all be made alive." And then the question will not down, why is it, that there is a limited number of the atonement? Why is it that there is a limited number of the saved? Wasn't He able to? Are we here taking away from the greatness of Jesus Christ? That's the question. And those who believe in universal atonement certainly believe so. So that there are also very few pulpits in this land where this topic is being preached on this morning; that it is a limited number who are saved. Perish the thought! Everybody, or at least, open to everybody. It's up to you, up to you.
And it is very curt. The question is asked, "Are all men going to saved by Christ as they perished through Adam? No, they're not. That's it? No... So that there is no doubt about it, it isn't even something that is discussed. It is something that is seemingly so passively evident, something that is so real, something that is so clear on the very surface that it doesn't even have to be discussed. The answer is NO, everybody is not going to be saved. Nah, that is the kind of a question that is disturbing, because of course, then we begin to ask immediately, why not; why not? Why are they not going to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that it is this, not only, but only those who by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits. Nah, there are those of course, who also in the days of Christ, came to Him and asked whether there would be few that would be saved and who were hoping that that was true. The fewer there are of anything beloved, the greater is the value. When diamonds become as numerous as gravel in a gravel pit, then they will be worthless. But as long as they are so precious, as long as they are so hard to find, as long as the amount of them is so small, then they are very priceless.
Now that is the kind of a thing that there are also those who believe that if there is a small number that are going to be saved, that is going to make it more valuable. That those who, if so and so is going to be saved, they wouldn't care to be. Nah, if so and so is going to be in heaven, they wouldn't care to be there. Those are some of the things that enter into the thinking that has gone on throughout the ages. It also does not speak here; notice how careful the Catechism always is with its language; it does not ask, "Will all those who died in Adam now go to heaven?: That's not the question.
Those are the things that you hear of all the time today. That it is, even the going to heaven -- everybody, practically everybody. It was so clear again early this spring; two members of the Cleveland Indians died in a boating accident, and then it was stated concerning one of them that, well, no wonder, he was such a fine boy, and the Lord wanted him in heaven, the Lord wanted him in heaven. So everybody goes there. That is the idea that is still very much around in our day. That kind of a universal atonement that they would not say so theoretically, but to all practical purposes, that is the case. That everybody would be saved, and that it doesn't make any difference what kind of a life that individual lived, or what he believed, that nevertheless now that he is gone, now he is in heaven. And that he is there even looking down upon us, and seeing the things that we do, and there are so many that say, "he wouldn't want me to do this, and he would want me to do that."
Are all men saved by the blood of Christ as they died in Adam" No; no. That is a disturbing question to those who have understood the Gospel of salvation. A disturbing question to those who have understood the Scriptures. "He would that all should come to salvation, that all should come to the knowledge of the truth." That is His desire; and yet here there is no intent that all should be saved. None. Now those are the disturbing things; would it not be a great thing that we would be able to publish to the whole world that all men are going to be saved, that they are all going to share in the blessings of the work of Jesus Christ. That we could declare to the whole world and to everybody in it that indeed there is life for them, that there is hope for them, that it is an assured hope, that they are all going to come to the knowledge, that full knowledge that is going to be revealed to us, and that is already there. But that's not the case. And that's why the church must also be so very careful in its proclamation of the truth. And that it would declare the truth of God very clearly, and very distinctly. Because, if the church proclaims a false gospel, it is one of the worst things that can happen on this earth. And that is being done, is being done. You have heard it said, it used to be said quite frequently, he preaches everybody into heaven. That was often said at the time of funerals for example, he preaches them all into heaven. Yah, of course he wasn't able to do that, he gave the impression, but he didn't preach him into it.
Are there, is everybody going to be saved? No... But that is disturbing, and that ought to bother us tremendously beloved, that there are millions in this world who are going to perish. That there are millions who are hell-bound. That is being spoken very clearly; and that they know it, and that it shall also be made very clear to them by the proclamation of the Gospel by the church of Jesus Christ. That if they do no alter their ways, if they do not turn, if they are not converted, if they do not turn to the living God, they will perish. There is no other way. I mentioned it last Sunday, is no other way then that, through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is only one name under heaven given among men whereby we are to be saved. And therefore, they have to come through Jesus Christ. And the way in which the world is holding Scripture and faith up to ridicule today is dangerous, dangerous. The way they are holding prayer up to ridicule is dangerous. They are playing with fire, and it ought to made very clear to them by the proclamation of His church that these are the things that are not to be done, that these things may not be done, but that you and I stand upon the firm foundation of the Scriptures. That it is not everyone that says, "Lord, Lord," who shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But only those who have been given Him, only those who are His sheep, only those who are entrusted to His care. Those are the ones who will be there.
And finally, what is the determining factor?
Now, here regarding this determining factor beloved, you always listen so well, but I hope that you listen very carefully now too, because this is something that must be clear and that is, that the determining factor of course, is whether they were elect, whether they were chosen. And if they were not chosen, they're not going to come, and if they were chosen, they will come. That is the determining factor. But the Catechism doesn't mention that. Notice that. So that it is not dealing with these things that are hidden, because that is hidden from sight. I don't know who has been elect, and you has not, and you don't either. Except for yourself; "make your own calling and election sure," says the apostle. But you don't know that about anybody else, and as a result of that, that is a hidden ground, hidden ground. But it is the ground, we know that. And that is the way in which it has also been made very clear to us on the pages of Scripture. That those who may have foreknown, He has ordained, those whom He has called, those are the ones He has justified. Those are the ones who are going to come to salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
So that it is election that has determined it. That is the determining factor, but that is the hidden, hidden ground. And the Catechism is so very practical so that it doesn't deal with hidden grounds too much; very seldom. But that it is rather going to speak of the clearly revealed fruit. That's the thing that is going to be the determining factor. And by those fruits it shall be evident. Christ spoke of that too, "by their fruits ye shall know them." And this is one of the things that ought to be made very clear to us, that the fruits that are brought forth, those are the ones that are going to determine whether are not we are children of God, yes or no. And now here it is also placed before us in this very short question and answer; what is really the ground. Are all men going to be saved? No...but only those who by true faith are ingrafted into Him and receive all His benefits. So that it is those who are ingrafted into Christ. You remember, and I could have read that, for example, this morning, that would have been very much in tune with this particular question and answer; John 15. "Ye are the branches, and I am the vine." And these branches have to be grafted into the vine, and if they are not grafted into the vine they're going to die.
Paul speaks of that later on concerning that new church that is going to come about now in the New Testament age, that it is not going to consist of Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. Now how is that going to be done, that the Gentiles are also going to be grafted in, into that same spot. That is going to be the determining factor. And now that, being grafted in, into that body, because it has formed a body and that body is His church. To make it a little bit more practical I may say this, that there are so many of course, who are always speaking of this that, do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? You can't say anything again that because that is an absolute necessity. Let's make that very clear, that's an absolute necessity.
But that is not the whole picture. It is also this, whether they are members of that body of Christ, that church of the living God, that pillar and ground of the truth. You know, I read so often, and I hear so often, that when we are going to stand before the judgment throne of God, we are not going to be asked the question, what church did you belong to? I never knew that, which questions would be asked and which would not. But I've been told that time and time again. We will not be asked what church we belonged to. I think, and I've just as much right to believe that; I think that might be one of the first questions, one of the first questions. Because that is so determinative, that's what they have played with in our day. It doesn't make any difference. Whether the Gospel is preached according to that which is here given to us in this Lord's Day, or whether the Gospel is preached according to an entirely different principle seems to make no difference to them. But it is here that we are grafted into the Christ.
In a few weeks we are going to have baptism for the first time, and in that form for baptism which you have heard so many times in the past, there will also say that when we are baptized into the name of the Father, then the Father doesn't list this and the other thing. And when we are baptized into the name of His Son, then we are baptized into this, that He washes us from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of His death and resurrection. That is, that we are incorporated, that we are grafted into His church. That little child is already grafted into that body of Christ. And that is the determining factor. That of that church I am, and forever shall remain a living member. That's not something that you may throw away, people. That is a matter of life and death; what church you belong to. When a church is no longer true, when it is no longer faithful to the Word, then you must leave. And where there is a church that is true and that is faithful to the Word, we may not do anything except join it.
Now that is our confession; the Belgic Confession tells you that. And here it is. And these confessions all dovetail you know, they all work the same way, and they all compliment each other. And so here also in regard to limited atonement, it is not only found in the Canons of Dort, but it is also found in the Heidelberg Catechism, that book of comfort. And it is this, that I am grafted into that body of Jesus Christ. And that body, says the apostle in Ephesians, is His church. That is, His church here below. And otherwise, you know, that grafting becomes something that is hanging out there, theoretically, and you don't know what it means. But when you see that it is an incorporation into the church, which is His body; yah, now it becomes actual, now it becomes real, now it becomes practical. Because the Catechism is tremendously practical. That is the determining factor. Whether we are grafted into Him because He is the only source of life, and we must be grafted into Him in order to draw on that life; because in ourselves we have no life at all. Dead in trespasses and sins. And, aw, we could go into that far more, but I'm also not preaching on John 15, of course, but I'm preaching on Lord's Day 7, question and answer 20. But otherwise, it might also be stated ever so clearly that that which is pruned, that which is lopped off, that vine, those branches, that forms an aggregate. That forms no body, there is nothing to hold them together, that is, like loose sand, there is nothing to bind them together. While in the church, in the body of Christ, there it is a unit, a body, a living unit, and we are grafted into that.
And not only that, but when we look at that determining factor, then there's yet one more element, and that he speaks of in the last part, "and receive all His benefits." Now the reception of the benefits of Jesus Christ of course, is something that we all desire. And we desire that so much because of the fact that those are the blessings which we receive day by day and those are the blessings that we live on. And now that we accept, that we receive all His benefits, that is also one of the things. And that is by faith; by that faith that he is going to speak of in the following question and answer which we hope to take up next Sunday. But that faith beloved, is only the receptive organ. It is to take Christ's benefits, to take hold of them, and to bring it to us. That's what faith is. Faith isn't an entity by itself, but it is an appropriating organ that brings it to us, that lays hold on the benefits of Jesus Christ and brings them to us, so that we may prosper by them, profit by them. And that true faith is so essential, that is an absolute essential. That faith that has been shown in so many ways in Scripture; that faith of which so many parts of Scripture speak; that faith which has been given to us a gift; because it is only a receiving organ, an appropriating organ. And that we need. I often tried to make it clear to catechumens; it is like a person who is totally paralyzed, and you set the medication here and say, "this will help you, this will cure." But he can't take hold of it because he's totally paralyzed. And then that faith is given so that he is able to lay hold on it and to bring it to his lips; that's what faith is.
Now those are the things that are necessary. Says the Catechism, "in order that we will also belong to those for whom Christ died, for those who are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ." That we are ingrafted into Him. We are going to speak more of that church tonight. Ingrafted into Him, and receive all His benefits. And others don't do that. They are not grafted into Christ. Church, nah, what does it mean, what's the difference, whether you go or you don't go. Just so there is a personal relationship between me and my Lord, and nobody of course, is going to be able to tell what kind of a personal relationship that is. Just so that if there is that personal relationship, and then leave me alone. No, it is grafted into Christ, and then receive all His benefits. That is the glory of those who are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Because there is atonement, it is limited, but it isn't limited so greatly that we are not participants in it. No, we have received it when we are grafted into Christ, incorporated into His body, and thus receive all His benefits. Amen.....
We thank Thee, heavenly Father, for the grace Thou hast made known to us, for the blessings, the lovingkindnesses which Thou hast shown us. That Thou hast instructed us by means of Thy Word, that Thou hast inspired us by that Word. That Thou dost show us the way of life, and the way of light. Father, grant us the riches of Thy grace so that we may also lay hold on these things for which we have been laid hold upon. Bless us further on this day, grant that we may keep this entire day holy to Thee. Bring us together again into Thy courts this evening. Forgive our sins, and hear us in Jesus name. Amen.....
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