Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/81

Contributor - Cor Bons

Title - The Three Imperatives of Faith For The Growing Church

Topic - Reformed Church

The message given in the Mass Worship Service on the eve of General Synod, June 7, 1981 at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontairo, by Rev. Cor G. Bons, Canadian Field Secretary.

Tonight, on the eve of the 175th Session of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, we are together with the delegates who have come from the East and the West, from the South and the North. This may never happen again in our own lifetime in the Province of Ontario. Therefore, this Mass Worship Service in McMaster University in Hamilton is of great significance for us Canadians.

The theme of this year's General Synod is, "In Christ there is no South or North ". What is the impact and the joy of this theme for those who are "Reformed according to the Word of God and always ready to be reformed"?

What is the Biblical Faith we share?

In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about "little faith" and "great faith". We hear Him speak to the disciples about "little faith". Matthew 6:30, "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, o men of little faith?" And Matthew 17:20, after the disciples had been unable to cast out a demon, Jesus said, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard you will say to this mountain 'Move hence to yonder place', and it will move'.

However, when it concerns outsiders we hear Jesus speak of great faith. In Matthew 15:21 - 28 the Canaanite woman whose daughter was severely possessed by a demon approached Jesus. But He said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel," and "it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs". Then the woman insisted. "Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs, that fall from the master's table". This prompted Jesus to say, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire".

And in the text which we selected for tonight, we hear the Lord say to a Gentile Roman military man, "TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, NOT EVEN IN ISRAEL' HAVE FOUND SUCH FAITH." Matthew 8: 10

This part of the Gospel is very important for the Church that is committed to be Reformed according to the Word of God.

Graduation is Necessary

We are always eager to graduate in little faith to great faith. The officer of the Roman army has given us a marvelous parable in which he demonstrates his faith in Jesus Christ, by using military terms and the hierarchical system with high and low ranks. The main theme of this parable is his great respect for Jesus, his unlimited trust in the Lord, his acknowledgment of Jesus' total authority.

To be sure, also the surrounding chapters bring out Jesus' authority. Matthew 7:29 after the Sermon on the Mount concludes, "the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for he taught them as one who has authority, and not as their scribes"; and according to Matthew 9:6 - 8, Jesus said after pardoning the sins of a paralyzed man and healing him, "that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. And the crowds were afraid and glorified God who had given such authority to men". The Gentile Roman officer does not hesitate to give Jesus the title "LORD", which was reserved for the Roman Emperor, the highest authority in that day and age. He said, "LORD, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed".

A Church Without Power

Some Churchmen today say that the Church finds itself in the Constantine period, meaning that Christians in general do confess the Lordship of Jesus, but are very much impressed by the worldly powers and forces and authorities. They suffer a serious inferiority complex that paralyzes the effect of the Gospel. Jesus' praise for this man's faith underlines that Christ is the only authority to be respected. He is the Lord, exclusively. His power and His possibilities must never be questioned. They are not limited to any particular time or circumstances. Within the Reformed Faith we have people who claim that miracles cannot be expected in our time anymore because that gift was especially and only given to the early Church in apostolic times. I tell you tonight, that miracles do happen today and must be expected. I tell you that prayer can be powerful. However, at the end of this section in Matthew's Gospel he says, "I tell you, men will come from East and West and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, while the sons of the Kingdom will be thrown in the outer darkness".

Discipleship and Discipline Belong Together

The Reformed Faith, according to the Word of God, is more than looking back at the great things which happened in the past. The story of salvation means more than the knowledge of sins forgiven and the anticipation of everlasting life in the Hereafter. The Reformed Faith is never passive and meaningless and powerless in this day and age. Being a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ means, for this Roman officer, unconditional obedience. For his discipleship and discipline go hand-in-hand. His Faith is marked by three positive imperatives:

GO-COME-DO

These military commands were regularly heard on the barrack square. They also played a prominent role in the Story of Salvation.

Remember Abraham, according to Genesis 12. He was called to go from his country and his kindred and his father's house. And He went and came to the land of Canaan.

Remember Moses and the people of Israel. God called Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" And the people of Israel were led out of slavery in order to go forward on the way to the Promised Land, where they eventually came.

Remember Jesus Christ. He went to fulfill all righteousness; and He came into Jerusalem to die, and He did the will of the Father.

Read the Sermon on the Mount, and you'll find that the verb "to do" is used seventeen times, as in Matthew 7:2 1, "not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, But who does the will of my Father who is in heaven".

The Great Commission given to the disciples who were to be Apostles is the mandate of the Reformed Church, "All authority has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations ... and lo, I am with you always" (Matthew 28:18 ff). Jesus promised "power from on high" according to Luke 24:49.

Reformed Means Power

Today, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the empowerment with the Spirit. Micah 4:1- 5 holds before our eyes the great picture of the fulfillment of this great Faith, "People and many nations shall come and say, Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that He may teach us His ways and we may walk in His paths."

Only the Reformed Faith is Empowered

The authority of Christ has been, entrusted to the Church. It is not restricted to one nation, one culture or one race. It is not limited to Bible times or to the early Church. The Lord promised to be with us always, to the close the age. And they will come from East and West, and from South and North, and sit at table in the Kingdom of God.

The Reformed Faith means discipleship and discipline, being available to the Lord, being at His command. That Faith will conquer the world. The wind blows where it wills so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).

Reformed people, brothers and sisters, who are eager to graduate from little faith to great faith, take to heart what Paul has said about Abraham in Romans 4:17 - 20, and apply these words to yourself. many nations."

"In hope he believed against hope. He did not weaken in the faith when he considered his own body ... no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God."

As the Field Secretary of the EMERGING SYNOD OF CANADA" I have a joy in my heart, not only because we are gathered here, from East and West, from South and North of the border, in this great country of Canada. I have a joy in my heart, because God has allowed us to remain in existence for the last thirty years as the Reformed Church. He has a task for us to be a blessing and to bring His blessing to this nation. He has the power to accomplish this task. His power is available to His Church, if she dares to graduate from "little faith" to "GREAT FAITH", and carries out the three imperatives, unconditionally. You and I need no other faith than the REFORMED FAITH: GO-COME-DO!!!

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