| The
Thirty-Nine articles of Religion. Text of the articles (with
a modern rendering) and links to other information on each article.
Articles
15-18: Doctrines connected with sanctification.
Articles
9-14 (previous page)
Article
15 Christ alone is without sin
Article
16 Sin after baptism
Article
17 Predestination and election
Article
18 Obtaining salvation only by the name of Jesus
Articles
19-22 (next page)
(Also see the following
Donald Allister articles in Cross†Way:
article
on Articles 12-16
article
on Article 17
article
on Articles 9-11 and 18)
XV.
Of Christ alone without Sin
Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all
things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both
in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without
spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away
the sins of the world, and sin, as Saint John saith, was not in
him. But all we the rest, although baptized, and born again in
Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
15. Christ alone is without sin
Christ, who truly took our human nature, was made like us in every
respect except that of sin. From this he was clearly free in both
body and spirit. He came to be the Lamb without blemish who, by
the sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins
of the world. Sin, as St John says, was not in him. But all the
rest of us, again in Christ, still offend in many ways. If we
say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not
in us.
XVI. Of Sin
after Baptism.
Not every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin
against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant
of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after
Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart
from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we
may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to
be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they
live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.
16. Sin after baptism
Not every sin knowingly committed after baptism is sin against
the Holy Spirit and unforgivable. Therefore the gift of repentance
is not to be declared impossible for those who fall into sin after
baptism. After we have received the Holy Spirit we may depart
from the grace given to us and fall into sin, and we may also
by the grace of God return and amend our lives. Therefore those
who say that they are incapable of sinning any more in this life
are to be condemned, as are those who deny the opportunity of
forgiveness to those who truly repent.

XVII. Of Predestination
and Election.
Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby
(before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly
decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and
damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind,
and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels
made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent
a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit
working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they
be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they
be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ:
they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy,
they attain to everlasting felicity.
As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election
in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort
to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of
the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their
earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly
things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm
their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ,
as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So,
for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ,
to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination,
is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them
either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean
living, no less perilous than desperation.
Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they
be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: and, in our doings,
that Will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared
unto us in the Word of God.
17. Predestination
and election
Predestination to life is the eternal purpose of God, whereby
(before the foundations of the world were laid) he has consistently
decreed by his counsel which is hidden from us to deliver from
curse and damnation those whom he has chosen in Christ out of
mankind and to bring them through Christ to eternal salvation
as vessels made for honour. Hence those granted such an excellent
benefit by God are called according to God's purpose by his Spirit
working at the appropriate time. By grace they obey the calling;
they are freely justified, and made sons of God by adoption, are
made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, they
walk faithfully in good works and at the last by God's mercy attain
eternal happiness.
The reverent consideration of this subject of predestination and
of our election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant and inexpressible
comfort to the godly and to those who feel within themselves the
working of the Spirit of Christ, putting to death the deeds of
the sinful and earthly nature and lifting their minds up to high
and heavenly consideration establishes and confirms their belief
in the eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ and kindles
a fervent love towards God. But for inquisitive and unspiritual
persons who lack the Spirit of Christ to have the sentence of
God's predestination continually before their eyes is a dangerous
snare which the Devil uses to drive them either into desperation
or into recklessly immoral living (a state no less perilous than
desperation).
Furthermore we need to receive God's promises in the manner in
which they are generally set out to us in holy Scripture, and
in our actions we need to follow that will of God which is clearly
declared to us in the Word of God.
Cross†Way
article on Predestination.
XVIII. Of
obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ.
They also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every
man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so
that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and
the light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only
the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.
18.
Obtaining salvation only by the name of Christ
Those who presume to say that every person shall be saved by the
rule of life, religion or sect that he professes, provided he
makes diligent efforts to live by that rule and the light of nature,
must be regarded as accursed. For holy Scripture declares to us
that it is only in the name of Jesus Christ that men must be saved.

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