DE GESCHIEDENIS VAN HET HEIL IN DE THEOLOGIE VAN DR. A. A. VAN RULER

Abstract

SUMMARY Van Ruler has an extremely juridical concept of the atonement: “Zion shall be redeemed by justice” (Is. 1, 27). Nevertheless, he never worked out a doctrine of the.atonement or a christology: he just presupposes this. Salvation does not originate in our existence. Salvation comes from Palestine, and is present in the historical Jesus, whom heaven must receive, who assumes our place. Van Ruler does not give weight, however, to an “aplicatio salutis objectiva”. The personal application is very important in his theology, and that is exactly the point where he differs from Karl Barth! This application is worked out by the Holy Ghost, through his effusion and indwelling. This indwelling, however, will come to an end at the eschaton (as the incarnation). Through the Holy Spirit I am directed to the realization of salvation in the world, the realization of God's Kingdom. If Christianity were ever to lose sight of the theocratic vision, it would lose its spirit. The Reign of God is realized through a number of “figures”: e.g. Holy Scripture, preaching, ministry, church, spiritual experience, dogma and confession, church law, church and culture, church and state. Their functioning in God's Kingdom according to Van Ruler's theology is described. Van Ruler pleads for the ongoing ecumenical dialogue, especially in the field of theology. Every church should take very seriously the questions put to her by other churches. With regard to Roman Catholic theology, Van Ruler considers the scheme natural-supernatural to be the root of all distortion. Roman Catholic theology and church structure do not distinguish enough between the work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. In a christological way of thinking one is too much inclined to a perfectionist way of understanding. One loses sight of the historicity and fallibility in the church structures.