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The Distinctive Theological Indentity of the Netherlands Reformed Congrerations within the Sphere of Reformed Denomination:

p.20-21

...This Second Reformation most strongly promoted the sanctification of life. By way of such holiness, the veracity of both faith and repentance would have to manifest itself. In doing so, the Second Reformation very closely aligned itself with Calvin. Among the Reformers, he was considered to be the man who, more emphatically than others, pointed to the necessity of holiness. This holiness encompasses life in its entirety - personal, domestic, societal, as well as political life, The focus of spiritual life is a future in the presence of the Lord. Calvin, in his well-known Institues writes 5 chapters about the life of the Christian in his 3rd book (6-10)

He who reads these chapters and compares them with the manner in which life in Geneva was subjected to the discipline of God's law, will be struck by the extraordinary seriousness with which the Genevans pursued the life of holiness which the Lord exhorts us to live. Calvin sought to promote sanctification both by way of preaching , in which one is urged to live such a life, as well as the means of the exercise of Christian discipline. The men of the 2nd Reformation also placed full emphasis on this. A comprehensive and thorough treatment on this subject transcends the scope of this article. An entire series of quotes from the writings of our fathers would be at our disposal to demonstrate this point. We quote only some words of Calvin.

EVEN THOUGH THE LAW OF THE LORD PROVIDES THE FINEST AND BEST DISPOSED METHOD OF ORDER OF A MAN'S LIFE, IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HEAVENLY TEACHER TO SHAPE HIS PEOPLE BY AN EVEN MORE EXPLICIT PLAN TO THAT RULE WHICH HE SET FORTH IN THE LAW. THE DUTY OF BELIEVERS IS "TO PRESENT THEIR BODIES TO GOD AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE UNTO HIM," AND IN THIS CONSISTS THE LAWFUL WORSHIP OF HIM (ROMANS 12:1). FROM THIS IS DERIVED THE BASIS OF EXHORTATION THAT THEY BE NOT CONFORMED TO THE FASHION OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF THEIR MINDS, SO THAT THEY MAY PROVE WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD (BOOK 3, CHAP 7, SEC 1)