Lord’s Day 24
Q64. But doesn't this teaching make people careless and ungodly?
No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Luke 6:43–45
“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
John 15:5
“I am the vine, ye the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
Question
64. But doesn't this doctrine make people careless and irreverent? Answer: Not at all; for it is impossible that those who are truly united to Christ by faith should fail to bear fruit in gratitude.
This question is designed to address the slander that the Roman Catholics level against the doctrine of justification by faith, claiming that it tends to make people careless and irreverent. But if such an effect ever does follow the preaching of free justification by faith, it can only happen incidentally; for the natural effect of this doctrine is to produce an earnest desire to show gratitude to God. Moreover, if this ever does occur, it is not because careless and irreverent people are applying this doctrine of grace to themselves, but precisely because they are not applying it. Against this, the following objection is raised: