Recently when I saw the new series published under the headline: “Basics of the Reformed Faith”, I had to order it. This is a series of seven small booklets that simply hit the high points of reformation theology and try to answer some of the common misconceptions that people have about the Reformed faith (a.k.a. Calvinism).
After my morning devotions recently, I’ve been reading these booklets. Thus far, I’ve only read three of them, but overall, I have a very favorable impression of the quality of the work. Doctrinally sound; concise with a very readable style; written with a deliberate attempt to avoid the sophisticated theological jargon that plagues a lot of works on Calvinism. Highly recommended as a brief introduction to the distinctives of the Reformed faith.
I just put down Philip Graham Ryken’s small booklet in the series, “What is a True Calvinist?”. I found his explanation of the biblical concept of sanctification exceptional. Quote (emphasis mine):
To be sure, Calvinism recognizes that God is sovereign in sanctification. Paul prayed, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thess 5:23-24). Similarly, the writer to the Hebrews asked God to “work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ” (Heb 13:21). Christianity is not a performance-based religion. Those who are saved by grace also live by grace, and their growth in grace is due to the gracious work of God’s Spirit. This is what preserves Calvinism from legalism. If someone who claims to be a Calvinist turns out to be a legalist, he or she must not understand the doctrines of grace very well after all, because the true Calvinist is overwhelmed by God’s mercy for sinners. A graceless Calvinism is thoroughly repugnant to the gospel, for unless the pursuit of holiness is motivated by an ever-deepening love for God and his grace, it quickly becomes joyless and fruitless.
I had to pause and read that paragraph again, because that’s some good stuff. Salvation is not merely the forgiveness of my sins by God’s grace, but it’s also my transformation into Christ’s image by God’s grace. The true gospel isn’t about willing and running and striving and trying harder to be good, but it’s about “God who works in you to will and to do according to all His good pleasure…” (Phil 2:13).
I remember when that truth finally hit home like a ton of bricks. It was life transforming. Because when you fully grasp that truth, you will finally understand the gospel. It’s about not merely justification, but also sanctification by grace.
Get yourself a copy of these well-done little books. I’m providing the link here. If you’re at MAG-24, stop by my office and you can borrow mine…
For the gospel,
Chaplain
HOPE YOU VISIT, PLEASE. OUR SITE, THEAMERICANVIEW.COM. JL
Mission Statement
“For the nation and kingdom that shall not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” — Isaiah 60:12.
As Christians, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to teach all nations — including ours — to observe all things He has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). This means bringing into captivity to Christ all areas of life and thought. This means destroying arguments that are against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:5). In obedience to these commands of our Lord, this Web site is established. We covet your prayers for our success in obeying Him.
We are seriously concerned about, deeply grieved by and lament the fact that far too many of today’s so-called “Christian leaders” are a sinful embarrassment and are responsible for the cause of Christ being mocked and ridiculed. By being, first, cheerleaders for the Republican Party, they have dishonored their Lord and sold their Christian birthright for a mess of partisan political pottage. These individuals and organizations are Christian in name only, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” From such, it is added, we must turn away.
Secular, Christless conservatism — even when it is supposedly “compassionate” — will not defeat secular, Christless liberalism because to God they are two atheistic peas-in-a-pod and, thus, predestined to failure.
More than 100 years ago, speaking of the secular, Christless conservatism of his time, the great Southern Presbyterian theologian, Robert L. Dabney, observed:
“[Its] history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save its credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation. What was the resisted novelty of yesterday is today one of the accepted principles of conservatism; it is now conservative only in affecting to resist the next innovation, which will tomorrow be forced upon its timidity and will be succeeded by some third revolution, to be denounced and then adopted in its turn. American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward to perdition. It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near its leader. This pretended salt hath utterly lost its savor: wherewith shall it be salted? Its impotency is not hard to explain. It is worthless because it is the conservatism of expediency only, and not of sturdy principle. It tends to risk nothing serious for the sake of truth.”
Amen! And what Dabney says has been proven with a vengeance in modern times, under recent Republican Administrations and Congresses who were supported enthusiastically by individuals and organizations who called themselves “Christian” but who, alas, when judged by their fruits, were not.
To those who will accuse of us of desiring and trying to bring about “a Christian America,” we unashamedly plead guilty though the accusation is far too modest and somewhat muddled. To be sure, we desire a Christian America, and a Christian world, a Christian galaxy and a Christian universe. And, over time, by His grace, we hope to demonstrate that all these things already belong to the Lord Jesus Christ because He created them all and they are His property. This is why all knees must bow to the Lord and all tongues confess that He is the Lord — because He is!
Jude 1:3 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (KJV)
Sanctification by grace is such a profound
truth. Yet many will kick against it. I am
monergistic 100%. We will speak of justification
by faith through grace, yet sanctification
gets tied up into Law observance. The book that
was the tool God used to open my eyes to this is
The GOSPEL MYSTERY OF SANCTIFICATION by Walter Marshall. I will guarantee one thing. Once you start
talking about sanctification by grace and not by works, the WCF legalists will spit on you.
Objection III. But without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). And how shall I get holiness? I cannot sanctify myself, and this confidence you speak of may slacken my diligence.
Answer. If you have righteousness in Christ, God will make you holy, and this confidence is the only way to get holiness, because of that righteousness (Rom. 5:21). The new covenant is confirmed in Him, which promises a new heart. If sin is forgiven you shall be delivered from its power and quickened by the same death and resurrection of Christ whereby you are justified (Col. 2:12, 13).
Chosen,
Your comments are well written, and I agree with your analysis.
However, one thing strikes me as somewhat bizzare. What meaneth this?:
“Once you start talking about sanctification by grace and not by works, the WCF legalists will spit on you.”
???puzzled look on my face???
Certainly LEGALISTS will condemn you. But what is a WCF legalist? Where exactly is the confession legalistic? Have we a bad experience with some legalistic presbyterians? An axe to grind perhaps?
If you wish to condemn legalism, then I’m certainly with you. However, if you wish to bash the Westminster Confession, I must challenge you to cite the offending text.
After a careful analysis of the WCF myself, I must admit that I find no such legalism anywhere. In fact, I’ve found quite the contrary: an accuate summary of the gospel of grace.
In His Service,
Chaps
Brother Chaps:
This is not a bash against the WCF per se,. It is a truth that the WCF confesses sanctification as a synergistic, works/law process. I was under this tyoe of teaching for many years until I read WEalter Marshalls book. See for some reason, we are told that the LAw points us to Christ, then Christ points us back to the Law. I have realized this is a terrible mistake. ANd before anyone accuses me of being antinomian, I am not at all. What I am is Grace alone. The Law never could make anyone obey, even after justification. As I emailed you, I will repeat that if you ask anyone who is a strict subscriptionist to explain sanctification, they will most assuredly speak of a synnergistic cooperation. WHen they see “Be Ye Holy, or Be ye perfect” they look at this as a command of Law, when in fact it is a hyperbole and actually Christ telling them what He alone can do for the elect. It has lefted such a tremendous burden off my back of this striving for personal holiness by works and just know they are all filthy.