Of free will, and thus of human powers (Second Helvetic Confession, 9b)
Ronald Cammenga examines Heinrich Bullinger's treatment of free will in the Second Helvetic Confession, demonstrating the Reformed rejection of human moral capability apart from divine grace. By contrasting Reformed theology with Roman Catholic teaching on free will and human works, the article traces how the Reformation doctrine of total depravity stands as a fundamental corrective to false anthropology, supported throughout by scriptural exegesis from Paul and the Gospels.
Previous article in this series: April 15, 2020, p. 327. Man Is Not Capable of Good Per Se In regard to goodness and virtue man's reason does not judge rightly of itself concerning divine things. For the evangelical and apostolic Scripture requires regeneration of whoever among us wishes to be saved. Hence our first birth from Adam contributes nothing to our salvation. Paul says: "The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 2:14). And in another place he...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org
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