The Genevan Foundation

How the Protestant Reformers are Still Changing the World

Tag: Systematic Theology

G. I. Williamson on Adoption

September 26, 2022 /

The books of certain authors have a prominent place in my own personal library. My shelves are full of volumes written by Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, John Calvin, Sinclair Ferguson, Martin Luther, John Murray, J. I. Packer, R. C. Sproul, B. B. Warfield, and David Wells. I’m going to guess that you get the drift of my theological interests! Here is another name that deserves mention–Rev. G. I. Williamson. He has written several books on Christian doctrine, but perhaps the best known of his writings is the well-regarded: The Westminster Confession of Faith: For Study Classes, P&R, (1st edition) 1964, (second edition) 2004.

Rev. G. I. Williamson (1925–present)

Over the years I have used both editions in countless Bible studies, Youth Meetings, Sunday School classes, and in my own study and reflection on the Westminster Confession of Faith. As a Presbyterian minister I have made it my goal to write out and carefully study each head of doctrine in the Confession of Faith. G. I. Williamson’s book has helped me immensely in fulfilling that personal resolution. He gives a comprehensive explanation of each chapter in the Confession of Faith and refers to many of the Scripture proofs that give the rationale for every point of doctrine. For me, this approach is invaluable! Below are two quotes from his summary on the often-neglected doctrine of Adoption. Each explanation is clear, pastoral, and timely for Christians everywhere to reflect upon and treasure. Enjoy!

“Adoption, like the other aspects of the application of redemption, is inseparably connected with (1) the eternal decree of God, and (2) the mediatorial work of Christ. We are “predestined…to adoption as sons” (Eph. 1:5). Because “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him” (vs. 4), he ordered not only the end from the beginning, but also every step necessary to the attainment of that end. One step that is necessary to the attainment of this end is adoption. God chose his elect not only to be regenerated, justified, sanctified, and glorified, but also to be adopted.” (Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith: for Study Classes, 145-146)

“But what is adoption? “Adoption, as the term clearly implies, is an act of transfer from an alien family into the family of God himself” (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1955]). It means that those who were by nature children of wrath, children of darkness, even children of Satan (Eph. 2:3; Col. 3:6; John 8:44), are constituted children of light and of God…Finally, we note that God treats such persons as children. They receive his pity and protection (Ps. 103:13; Prov. 14:26). They are under this watchful providence (Matt. 6:30-32; 1 Peter 5:7). He also subjects them to appropriate discipline because they are his sons (Heb. 12:6-11). But above all, he keeps them in safety even to the end (Rom. 8:23, 28, 38-39).” (Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith: for Study Classes, 146, 148)

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

Berkhof on Sanctification

July 16, 2022 /
Louis Berkhof’s highly-regarded Systematic Theology

Prof. Louis Berkhof (1873-1957): “Sanctification: It is a work of God in which believers co-operate. When it is said that a man takes part in the work of sanctification, this does not mean that man is an independent agent in the work, so as to make it partly the work of God and partly the work of man; but merely, that God affects the work in part through the instrumentality of man as a rational being, by requiring of him prayerful and intelligent co-operation with the Spirit. That man must co-operate with the Spirit of God follows: (a) from the repeated warnings against evils and temptations, which clearly imply that man must be active in avoiding the pitfalls of life, Rom. 12:9, 16-17; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:16-23; and (b) from the constant exhortations to holy living. These imply that the believer must be diligent in the employment of the means at his command for the moral and spiritual improvement of his life, Micah 6:8; John 15:2, 8, 16; Rom. 8:12-13; Rom. 12:1-2, 17; Gal. 6:7-8, 15.” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 534)

Berkhof on “The Passive Obedience of Christ”

May 23, 2022 /
Prof. Louis Berkhof

“Christ as Mediator also entered the penal relation to the law, in order to pay the penalty in our stead. His passive obedience consisted in His paying the penalty of sin by His sufferings and death, and this discharging the debt of all His people. The sufferings on Christ, which have already been described, did not come upon Him accidentally, nor as the result of purely natural circumstances. They were judicially laid upon Him as our representative, and were therefore really penal sufferings. The redemptive value of these sufferings results from the following facts: They were borne by a divine person who, only in virtue of His deity, could bear the penalty through to the end and thus obtain freedom from it. In view of the infinite value of the person who undertook to pay the price and to bear the curse, they satisfied the justice of God essentially and intensively. They were strictly moral sufferings, because Christ took them upon Himself voluntarily, and was perfectly innocent and holy in bearing them. The passive obedience of Christ stands out prominently in such passages as the following: Isa. 53:6; Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 2:24, 3:18: 1 John 2:2, while His active obedience is taught in such passages as Matt. 3:15, 5:17-18; John 15:10; Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 10:7-9, in connection with the passages which teach us that Christ is our righteousness, Rom. 10:4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9; and that He secured for us eternal life, the adoption of sons, and an eternal inheritance, Gal. 3:13-14, 4:4-5; Eph. 1:3-12, 5:25-27.” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 381)

Source: Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. 4th Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1939.

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

Berkhof on “The Active Obedience of Christ”

May 23, 2022 /
Prof. Louis Berkhof

“Christ as Mediator entered into the federal relation in which Adam stood in the state of integrity, in order to merit eternal life for the sinner. This constitutes the active obedience of Christ, consisting in all that Christ did to observe the law in its federal aspect, as the condition for obtaining eternal life. The active obedience of Christ was necessary to make His passive obedience acceptable with God, that is, to make it an object of God’s good pleasure. It is only on account of it that God’s estimate of the sufferings of Christ differs from His estimate of the sufferings of the lost. Moreover, if Christ had not rendered active obedience, the human nature of Christ itself would have fallen short of the just demands of God, and He would not have been able to atone for others. And, finally, if Christ had suffered only the penalty imposed on man, those who shared in the fruits of His work would have been left exactly where Adam was before he fell. Christ merits more for sinners than the forgiveness of sins. According to Gal. 4:4-5 they are through Christ set free from the law as the condition of life, are adopted to be sons of God, and as sons are also heirs of eternal life, Gal. 4:7. All this is conditioned primarily on the active obedience of Christ. Through Christ the righteousness of faith is substituted for the righteousness of the law, Rom. 10:3-4. Paul tells us that by the work of Christ ‘the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us,’ Rom. 8:3-4; and that we are made ‘the righteousness of God in Him,’ 2 Cor. 5:21.” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 380)

Source: Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. 4th Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1939. 

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

Update on the Theology Study Group

May 12, 2022 /
An after class celebration at Pok-e-Jo’s Smokehouse in Austin

Over the past twenty-two months I have really enjoyed the privilege of teaching theology to this serious group of adult-learners. We call ourselves the “Theology Study Group.” Our class formed in the Summer of 2020 with four students and over time we grew to sixteen students. The basic plan was to meet weekly on Thursday mornings (weather, vacations, and illnesses permitting) at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The Lord has certainly blessed us as we dug deep into the Bible and wrestled with all of the major doctrines of the Christian faith.

Today we reached the final pages in Louis Berkhof’s “Manual of Christian Doctrine” and we discussed–as you might expect–the Return of Christ and the coming Judgment Day. The promise of “the blessed hope” which is “the appearing of…our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) is a strong motivation to holy living and faithfulness. What a privilege it is to reflect on these precious doctrines of God. Class members: (L-R) Max, Donna, Steven, Albert, David, Joel, Bret, me, Steven, and Boyd. Missing from this picture are regular attenders: Robert, Brian, Joseph, and Jack.

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

An Update on the “Theology Study Group”

December 11, 2020 /
A tried and true resource for studying Christian doctrine

Every Thursday morning (9:00-11:00 AM) I have the privilege of teaching systematic theology to a group of men and women at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) here in Austin. Typically, we have 10-12 students for each class session. We have certainly grown a lot since beginning this past July when I started with one participant! Each one of the students serve in various ministry settings–as ruling elders, deacons, crisis counselors, missionary pastors, and chaplains. Moreover, they all greatly desire to “go deeper” into our beliefs, doctrines, and practices. We are using Louis Berkhof’s well-regarded Manual of Christian Doctrine (2nd Edition) as a guide, and I regularly assign additional resources as needed. Besides my teaching, we thoroughly discuss these doctrines and seek to come up with practical applications that can be useful in actual ministry situations.

For example, we recently studied the “Providence of God” and we noted how beneficial this doctrine can be in providing assurance and comfort to those who are in the midst of suffering and trials. Our Confession of Faith states it this way, “God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 5, Art. 1) What a blessing it is to know that God directs the affairs of mankind! And, that our Lord is intimately involved in the details of our own life so that He knows even the number of hairs upon our head! (Matt. 10:29-31)

I sure would welcome your prayers as I teach systematic theology from week to week, and as I seek “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12) And, for those who may be interested in joining us, then simply reach out to me to get more information.

— Dr. Marcus J. Serven

© 2024 The Genevan Foundation

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑