by Charles Hodge
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Formatted, modernized, corrected, with add’l references, by William H. Gross Dec 2020
This unpretending volume, designed for the use of educated youth, was written with the view of impressing on its readers those great truths of revelation which are immediately connected with practical religion. We have designed to convince them that all skepticism as to the divine authority of the Scriptures is inexcusable, inasmuch as the Bible brings with it its own credentials. It makes such a revelation of the character of God, of the rule of duty, and of the plan of salvation, as will challenge immediate assent and submission to their truth and goodness. It sets forth the Redeemer as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, in whom the glory of God is so revealed, that those who refuse to recognize him as their God and Savior refuse their confidence in and obedience to infinite excellence. In order that every mouth may be stopped, the Bible thus replete with evidence of its divine origin, is confirmed by all kinds of adequate proofs from miracles, prophecy, and history, that it is indeed the word of God.
The divine authority of the Scriptures being established, the great question to be decided by everyone by whom they are known is, What do they teach as to the plan of salvation and the rule of duty? It has been our design to aid the reader in answering this question for himself; to show him that the Bible teaches that we are all sinners, and that being sinners, we have lost the favor of God and are unable to effect our own redemption. When we feel that this is true with regard to ourselves, we are convinced of sin, and are irresistibly led to ask, What must we do to be saved? In answer to this question the Scriptures set forth Jesus Christ as born of a woman, made under the law, satisfying its demands, dying the just for the unjust, rising again from the dead, and ascending up on high, where he ever lives to make intercession for us. They teach us that it is not for anything we have done or experienced, but solely for what Christ has done for us, that we are justified in the sight of God. And that in order to be saved through Christ, we must accept him as our Savior, not striving to establish our own righteousness, but submitting to the righteousness of God. Those who thus believe, at the same time repent; that is, they turn from sin to God, through Jesus Christ. They are now His followers, and declare themselves to be such by confessing him before the world, and by devoutly attending to those ordinances which he has appointed to be a means of acknowledging our allegiance to him, and of communicating his grace to us.
The Scriptures further teach that our work has but begun when we have thus renounced the world and joined ourselves to the Lord. The spiritual life commenced in regeneration is carried on by the Holy Spirit who dwells in all the people of God, by teaching them to look to Jesus Christ, as their living head, for all those supplies of grace and all that protection which their circumstances require. They are thus washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. And being made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light, they will at last be admitted into God’s blissful presence, and enjoy the full communications of His grace and love forever and ever.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE....................................................................................................... 2
CHAPTER I. THE SCRIPTURES ARE THE WORD OF GOD. ......................... 5
Section - I. The Internal evidence of the divine origin of the Scriptures......................................5
Section II. The internal evidence of their divine origin is the proper ground of faith in the
Scriptures. .........................................................................................................................................9
Section III. External evidence of the divine origin of the Scriptures. The Testimony of the
Church. .............................................................................................................................................11
Section IV. The argument from Prophecy..................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER II. SIN......................................................................................... 19
Section I. All men are sinners. The nature of man, since the fall, is depraved........................... 19
Section II. The sins of men are numerous and aggravated.......................................................... 21
CHAPTER III. CAUSES OF INDIFFERENCE TO THE CHARGE OF SIN. ..... 27
Section I. Sin, lack of consideration, striving against the Spirit..................................................27
Section II. Sophistical objections against the doctrine of the Bible. .......................................... 28
CHAPTER IV. CONVICTION OF SIN. .......................................................... 35
Section I. Knowledge of sin. Sense of personal ill-desert. ...........................................................35
Section II. Insufficiency of our own righteousness and of our own strength............................ 40
CHAPTER V. JUSTIFICATION. ................................................................... 45
Section I. Importance of the doctrine. Explanation of the Scriptural terms relating to it.
Justification is not by works. .........................................................................................................45
Section II. The demands of the Law are satisfied by what Christ has done. ..............................49
Section III. The righteousness of Christ the true ground of our Justification. The practical effects
of this doctrine. ...............................................................................................................................56
CHAPTER VI. FAITH................................................................................... 61
Section I. Faith necessary in order for salvation. The nature of saving Faith. ...........................61
Section II. Faith as connected with justification. .........................................................................65
CHAPTER VII. REPENTANCE.....................................................................69
CHAPTER VIII. PROFESSION OF RELIGION. .............................................77
Section I. The nature and necessity of a public profession of religion........................................77
Section II. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The nature, design and efficacy of these ordinances.
......................................................................................................................................................... 80
Section III. Obligation to attend upon the Sacraments. Qualifications for the proper discharge
of the duty....................................................................................................................................... 86
CHAPTER IX. HOLY LIVING....................................................................... 91
Section I. The nature of true religion. ...........................................................................................91
Section II. The means of sanctification........................................................................................ 98
Summary ................................................................................................... 105