|
Apr 14 |
The Doctrine of Justification is NOT the Gospel: Ya, I Said It!
A certain "coalition" of Calvinists (who will remain nameless) would like to convince American Christians that the doctrine of justification by grace through faith—particularly the Calvinist understanding of that doctrine—is synonymous with "The Gospel." They use the term interchangeably with the doctrine and prominent members of their club have explicitly written that the doctrine is in fact the Gospel. So, let's go to the Scriptures, shall we? On the night of Jesus Christ's birth, shepherds were tending their flocks in the fields and the angels of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and explained to them the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone. Wait, what? They didn't? No, they announced the birth of the Savior, the Messiah, Son of God, who would bring peace to the world. Ok, ok, bad example. Well, in Genesis the first Gospel proclamation was made by God. After the Fall, when humanity sinned against God by eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God cursed the serpent and the ground. God also foretold of a time when a select few, very smart, European theologians would fight to reform the Roman Catholic church and formulate the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone. No? That didn't happen either? Crap! Instead, God announced that the Seed of the woman (Jesus) would crush the serpent's head (satan). Ok ok, forget those examples. This one will work for sure: When Jesus began his earthly ministry he preached his first sermon by expounding on the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone from a scroll of Isaiah. Wait, no he didn't. Nope. Jesus announces that he is the Messiah, the One prophesied who will liberate prisoners, heal the blind, and proclaim the Jubilee year of the Lord. Does Paul ever just come out and tell us explicitly what the gospel is?? Yes, actually, he does.
The Gospel isn't a doctrine—the Gospel is a Messiah. |
|
| Tags: | ||
Links:
|
||
|
Welcome to BeingTC.com SearchFollow TC
Latest TweetsFollow This BlogRecent blog posts
Recent comments
Monthly archive
Blogs Worth Reading |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
well...sort of.
Hi TC!
(Yes, I do read your blog). And, while certainly the Calvinist articulation of "justification" isn't the whole Gospel, it is I still think, certainly a significant part of the Gospel. What Jesus did and who he is, are two indivisible pieces to the puzzle. Jesus is the long awaited king establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth just as it was intended to be from the beginning. Yet he also saved us from our sins so that we can be in correct (righteous) standing with God the Father. I think where Calvinists run into trouble (as you have pointed out) is when they think that the gospel means *only* substitutionary atonement.
But the Gospel is more than just that he is our substitute, giving us his righteous place. It is even more than establishing God's reign on Earth. It also includes adoption into a new family. Living with a new purpose. Having the power to live as God intended. Healing the hurts of the world and each other. (Purpose+power+healing=sanctification). It also includes our hope for a renewed body and an everlasting, complete life that will span eternity.
Where is this written? Well for starts 1 Cor 15:1-5 in addition to the other verses you've pointed out. But at the end of the day, the Calvinists are certainly partly correct. Jesus did die for our sins, assuming my penalty on my behalf so that when God raises these feeble bones again to make them new and everlasting, he can and will look at me and seeing Jesus, say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Now enter into your master's happiness."
The Gospel vs the Result of the Gospel
Hi Aaron,
Thanks for the comment!!
Obviously, I side with Wright in this debate. I'm not a Calvinist, nor a Piper fan.
Biblically, The Gospel is always the proclaimation of the Lordship / Messiah-ship of Jesus. The Gospel is what brings about salvation, because placing our trust in Jesus justifies us. But the doctrine of justification is not The Gospel. Rather, justification is the result of the Gospel.
Take a look at the famous Reformed text: Romans 1.16-17. The Gospel Paul is not ashamed of is the "power of God UNTO SALVATION." It isn't the salvation itself.
The Gospel Paul preaches is a "Him" not a "what". The Gospel is not a man-made teaching, it is Jesus Christ revealed by God. (Gal. 1.11-17)
Take another look at I Cor. 15.1. I think you'll find that it backs up my point: Paul says "By this gospel you are saved..." The Gospel is Jesus, salvation/justification is what happens when we believe in Jesus.
Thank you T.C., and most
Thank you T.C., and most importantly James D.G. Dun and N.T. Wright for helping us read the NT more like a first century text than through the eyes of Luther and Calvin
"And after John had been
"And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying 'The time is fullfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14-15
Nick
Nick, You didn't quote that
Nick,
You didn't quote that verse correctly. The NCB (New Calvinist Bible) clearly reads,
Justification is NOT the Gospel
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13 ESV)
Oh yea!
Jon
Post new comment