The apprehending instrument.
The apprehending instrument.
§ 33. Faith is established as the apprehending instrument of the promises of the Gospel. But it must be noted that faith is related to the Gospel in two ways: (1) As an effect; that is, through the word of the Gospel the Holy Spirit kindles faith in people’s hearts. “So faith comes from what is heard, but what is heard comes by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). As the light sprang forth from the Word of God in the first creation, so also in the recreating and repair of man the light of faith springs forth from the lights of the Gospel in the hearts [of men]. “For it is God who commanded: ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
(2) As an instrument; that is, through faith we apprehend the good things offered in the Gospel and apply them to ourselves so that there is a constant relation between the offering instrument and the apprehending instrument, between the gift and its acceptance, between the promise of grace and its trusting apprehension. “The message which they heard did not benefit them because it was not mixed with faith” (Heb. 4:2). That is why this is immediately added to the command to preach the Gospel: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
1 juxta methodi leges. “Method” often means “demonstration” or “demonstrative syllogism.” See Micraelius, Lexicon Philosophicum, s.v. “Methodus.” Here Gerhard uses it to mean an examination of the various “causes” of any thing.
2 Something by means of which something else happens and on which the effect of that happening depends; that which brings about an effect.
3 Also called a “primary cause.” In producing an effect, the principal cause is not an instrument of some cause that is higher or more primary in its class or genus.
4 That which impels a principal efficient cause to act. This impulsion comes either from inside or outside the principal cause.
5 A “contributory cause” or “co-cause” is a nonprincipal cause which, nevertheless, is required by the principal cause. See Micraelius, Lexicon Philosophicum, s.v. “ΣΥΝαίτιον.”