A few weeks ago an editor from the Christian Science Monitor emailed to ask if I would consider writing an opinion piece on the doctrine of justification. This sounded unusual to say the least. First of all, why was he asking me? (Because a friend of mine passed along my name I found out). Second, why do they want an article on justification? I’m not sure exactly where they were coming from, but the editor I worked with was very knowledgeable about the Piper-Wright debate and very interested in helping CSM readers understand why the doctrine matters (he was also very kind and professional).
With the broohaha over the Manhattan Declaration it bears repeating what I hope is obvious from this article: I believe the doctrine of justification crucial for the church and, actually, for the world too. It is also worth pointing out that it is possible to write for a mainstream publication from an explicitly evangelical perspective. I imagine some magazines and papers might balk at an opinion piece that is too Christian, but in my experience when someone wants your opinion they want your opinion, no matter what it is, as long as you aren’t completely rude about it.
The piece is titled: “The Protestant debate over justification: Here I stand.” The subtitle pretty much sums up the gist: “Ignorance about how we get right with God has weakened the church. We must reassert that we’re saved by faith alone.”
Here’s my conclusion:
Much of the impotence of American churches is tied to a profound ignorance and apathy about justification. Our people live in a fog of guilt. Or just as bad, they think being a better person is all God requires. Even a cursory look at church history in the past few hundred years shows that the church is at its best and most vibrant when justification through faith alone is heard from her pulpits and clearly articulated by her most prominent spokesmen.
After so much time and so many controversies, there are still plenty of Protestants – be they Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican, or Pentecostal – who still believe justification is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. I guess I’m one of them.
You can read the whole thing here.
Update: Just so you know, the CSM piece is not really about Piper v. Wright, but more about the need to think clearly on justification. If you want some of my thoughts on Wright and the New Perspective just search for “N.T. Wright” using the search engine on the right (wow, that was a lot of W/rights in one sentence).
C. Michael Patton of the Parchment and Pen blog wrote this:
“I believe that faith alone saves a person, not an adherence to the belief in salvation by faith alone. Having said this, I believe that it is a primary part of the discharge of the Gospel to proclaim strongly and loudly that salvation is by faith alone. Those who deny such are in great danger in many ways. Paul exhorted the Galatians not to fall back into a worthless system of works. The means by which they were saved (faith) is also the means by which they are kept (faith). When man attempts to add anything to the faith, they have denied the Gospel by which they were saved. This is tragic.”
I.e., belief in Sola Fide is essential for (protestant) orthodoxy, but beliefe in Sola Fide is not essential for salvation.
In this post by Steve Scott titled “Protestantism’s False Gospel”:
“Protestantism’s false gospel: Justification by faith alone.
Okay, now I’ve got some splainin’ to do, as Ricky Ricardo would say. At the center of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But some Protestants make such a big deal out of the doctrine of justification by faith alone that they would substitute this doctrine and place it at the center of the gospel. The result? One is justified by their belief in the doctrine of justification by faith alone rather than by their faith in Christ, alone. See the difference? Belief in the doctrine is superior to belief in Christ.
I believe we are justified by faith in Christ. But this can be true without having a deep understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith alone as Protestant theologians have hashed it out. When we place upon others the burden of understanding something the same way we do, there is a tendency to discount their faith. The doctrine becomes our point of superiority. Our understanding of a doctrine becomes the object of our faith, rather than Christ as the object of our faith. I’m sure there will be many on Judgment Day who knew the doctrine of justification by faith inside and out, and believed it, but who really didn’t have faith in Christ. I hope that’s not true for you or me.”
The question is will any be saved on the Judgement Day who deny justification is by faith alone and believe human effort is meritorious?
Truth Unites –
Very good thoughts in your comment. I was with a pastor friend this past week, one who has been pastoring and leading churches for multiple decades. He remarked to me something very true – he experienced salvation and justification quite a while before he ever understood it theologically. I think that is reality for most of us, if not all. I mean, I was even preaching from Matthew 18:1-6 this past Sunday about how Christ says that entering the kingdom happens as we become like little children in our faith. Of course, there is much to grow in knowledge and understanding. But child-like faith (not childish faith) and knowing the true experience (‘knowing’ really points to things bigger than our cognitive intellect) of salvation and justification is the starting point for our faith.
Kevin –
I was wondering if you have written much about the debate with Wright and Piper. I browsed your article on the Christian Science Monitor and saw mention of the debate, but not so much an assessment. I have read Wright’s book a few months back, and will read again. I will soon read Piper’s. But I suppose that, as a more reformed confessing Christian, you would lean towards Piper’s thoughts rather than Wright’s.
I might wait and try and read more from Wright, Dunn and Sanders as well before working through this more in my heart and mind.
Kevin DeYoung: “With the broohaha over the Manhattan Declaration…”>
I think Andrew Sandlin responds to this “broohaha” in a cogent manner in his article titled “Lordship Salvation Is Not Enough: A Response to John MacArthur.” Excerpts:
“MacArthur is wrong on two counts. First, he over-generalizes and oversimplifies the Gospel.
Second, and more relevantly, MacArthur underestimates the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The MD presupposes an ethical calling wider than the Gospel, and we dare not shrink back from the implications of this wholly valid assumption: the Gospel is one of the great themes of the Bible without which there can be no “true and ultimate remedy for all of humanity’s moral ills,” but the Gospel is not the entire, or even the most important, message of the Bible. It is a crucial dimension of an even more momentous message, which is the sovereignty of God over all things (2 Chron. 20:6; Ps. 103:19; Pr. 21:1; Zech. 9:10; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 19:6).
The MD is suggesting that Jesus is Lord of the state, too, not just Lord of redemption. And when the state transgresses its God-ordained role, it stands as a rebel against the kingdom of Jesus Christ to which it, too, and not just the church, is called to submit.
But what MacArthur does not seem to grasp, and what the signatories of the MD do grasp, at least intuitively, is that the Lordship of Jesus is wider than individual salvation. This fact is easy to prove.
The MD takes a step toward recovering an understanding of the full-fledged Lordship of Jesus — that Christians must speak prophetically to the ethical issues of the time, and expect the state to stay within its divinely prescribed limits. Just as Jesus’ Lordship is wider than the church, so Christians’ message must be wider than the Gospel.”
P.S. Thanks Scott L. Just trying to pass on other worthy information that might be helpful to others.
Kevin,
Good work…good words. These truths matter as much today as they ever did.
Doug
Nice work. The more I live out each day the more I see that faith alone in Jesus Christ can save me. As for the Manhattan Declaration “broohaha” I would strongly disagree with “Truth Unites..”. Yes, Christ is Lord over all however our Adversary is still god of this world. The Holy Spirit is restraining him from an all out assault that is described at the end of the Book. But, this world is heavy under the influence of Satan and sin. That is why it seems that the only thing Jesus Christ is doing is building his church. That is why it should be our duty to proclaim the gospel in every aspect of our lives. Without it we have no hope.
DeYoung seems to enjoy citing Paul to justify his opinions about ‘Justification’, but Paul himself said “Faith, hope and charity, these three. But the greatest of these is charity.” Not faith. Charity. It is impossible to perform charity without acts. To love means to help. Too often, modern Evangelicals spend a great deal of time worrying about their own personal salvation – an essentially narcissistic and egoistical concern – and far too little thinking about, loving and helping others; i.e. charity.
Charity is the greatest of all. However, charity in of itself will not save you. Good works towards our fellow man will not save you. There are many charities out there that do good works to man who totally deny the existence of God. It is the charity of God that gives us faith in order that we would see his charity for us on the cross. Then through our faith, looking upon the charity of Christ, we are compelled to show charity to our fellow man especially those of the faith. Faith is first, for without it it is impossible to please God. My first step must me towards reconciliation with my God, next my reconciliation with my fellow man. Then I can step forward with acts of service.
Good answer, Andrew Terry!!!
Kevin, while I did NOT sign the document, I am glad you wrote this article, because frankly people needed to hear this come from you. I still promote your article “The Crust and the Core,” to everyone I can, and hope to visit your church in the near future. I live in Michigan and would love to hear you preach. You are a wonderful man of God.
Mary
Mr. Kevin DeYoung, I no longer go to a organized church I just have a Church of one. It’s a Christian Church that follows the Ten Commandments, that Jesus is the Son of God and he suffered and died for my soul. I was Baptized in a Baptist Church when I was ten. The year after 1954 the Preacher ranted and raved about Blacks, not the word he used, and how they wanted to stay in their place. I think that was because of Rosa Parks and the buss incident. This subject built on and on until 1960 when I understood what the Preacher meant. I have not been back. I checked out a few other denominations but I found no improvement.
Why do churches try to make something so simple more complicated? I no longer go to a organized church I just have a Church of one. It’s a Christian Church that follows the Ten Commandments, that Jesus is the Son of God and he suffered and died for my soul. I was Baptized in a Baptist Church when I was ten. The year after 1954 the Preacher ranted and raved about Blacks, not the word he used, and how they wanted to stay in their place. I think that was because of Rosa Parks and the bus incident. This subject built on and on until 1960 when I understood what the Preacher meant. I have not been back. I checked out a few other denominations but I found no improvement.
Why do churches try to make something so simple more complicated? Is it to differentiate your church from others for marketing purposes, called Differentiated marketing. What you should be selling is the same as every other Christian Church, exactly. Bill
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did… You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. – James 2:21-24
If saving faith is “never alone”, as Protestants say, then justification is not by faith alone. This isn’t that hard. The book of Romans shows that Paul’s “works” (that have no part in salvation) are works of the Mosaic law. He even lists circumcision as one of them to make it as clear as possible.
michael said “If saving faith is “never alone”, as Protestants say, then justification is not by faith alone.”
It is clear in that James is referring to those that claim to believe however their fruit does not back up their confession. This is evident when he says “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Christ as our true vine said “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” And “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” How are we to abide in him unless we have faith? For scripture says “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” So the fruit or works that we bear come from us abiding in Christ through faith! Faith without works is dead, works without faith is condemnation.Works are the result of faith.
Over at Darryl Hart’s blog is a good quote from Machen. He points out the biblical (Protestant) order in salvation.
1.believe
2.justified
3.good works
This stands in opposition to an unbiblical (R Catholic) order in salvation.
1.believe
2.good works
3.justified
Paul feels so strongly about the order that he calls the latter ‘another gospel’.
PS
Not sure how to include a link in this comment box. Can someone explain?
Andrew,
The only thing evidenced from when James says, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” is that faith without works accomplishes nothing. That is his entire point. Faith apart from works is dead. Dead faith does not save.
You would say faith without works saves us… and then good works come later as a result. You have fallen into the trap of many today who preach Romans 3 hard and fast (“man is justified by faith apart from works”). They forget to mention that the passage continues with “of the law.” The context of Romans 3 and 4 is “works of the law”, the Old Testament law.
Paul’s discussions of works in Romans and other places are referring to works of the law of Moses. A major theme in his works was to combat the Pharisees who had infiltrated the church to subject it to the works of the law of Moses (see Acts 15:5). See also Acts 13:39 where Paul combats them saying, “Through Jesus everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
You can also look at the works of the law Paul cites to see this. In Romans 2:25 and 3:9 Paul cites the work of circumcision as an example of the types of works he is talking about. Even in the context of Eph. 2:8,9 circumcision is the “work” cited (verse 11)–a work of the law of Moses, symbolic and ceremonial to all Jews. To the contrary, James is writing about works that do not come from the law of Moses, and he says these works do justify. For instance, Abraham’s offering his son (James 2:21) and Rahab’s giving lodging to God’s spies (vs. 25), good works that were not commanded by the law of Moses to all Jews.
I’m not Catholic, I follow Scripture alone. But I refuse to toss out the Orthodox baby with the Catholic bathwater like many Protestants before us have done. The Orthodox are right in this matter. The the only place in Scripture that we find the words “faith alone” is actually a warning against Luther’s and your own perspective (James 2:24). Scripture goes *against* you on this matter, and that is why Luther hated the book of James so much and tried to add the words “alone” to some of Paul’s writings.
Dead faith does not save. Works matter in salvation much more then just being some result we should hope to eventually see as a result of faith. Trying to get people to separate their faith from all good works risks killing the very faith you aim to promote.
Pastor DeYoung – I think you really hit it out of the ballpark with this article. You are right on, and I want to encourage you to spread this Good News. I see so many people that call themselves Christians that walk around with these heavy burdens of doubt, despair, anxiety and worry. I have to wonder, where is their joy? As true believers in Christ, we should be the most joyful people on the planet! Our lives should be filled with hope and the promise of eternity in the presence of the Triune God. Our time here is so brief on the eternal timeline, so we should enjoy the gifts we’ve been given by a gracious and merciful God while we are here, and look forward with eager anticipation of our eternal rewards in our heavenly home.
Keep up the good work with your insight and easily understandable writings. People need to here this, and if they’re not getting it from their local pulpits, then they need to get it from men like you. Thanks.
Michael,
You have missed my whole argument. The word of Christ says you can not produce fruit unless you are connected to the vine! Therefore works apart from Christ are not righteous but are as filthy rags. Even works apart from the law. Anything that is not of faith is sin! Our justification is wrought in the work of Christ, and our works are the evidence of Christ’s work inside us. There are many who profess faith and have no works as proof. This is what James was combating in his letter. To paraphrase James I would say “your lack of works proves your lack of faith.” A mere confession of belief is not salvation. It is an inner regeneration where the results are good fruit.
Contrary to what you believe any good work that you can name can be found within the law of Moses. Out right commands to do certain good works are not found in the law however they can be found within the frame work or spirit of the law. This is why Jesus and Paul state that loving God and loving your neighbor contains all the law and the prophets. How then can you distinguish between works within the mosaic law and works apart from the law? In Romans 2 Paul talks about Gentiles that do the works of the law without having the law. The law is written on their hearts by God. Therefore any conviction a man has apart from the law is a law unto themselves. So any work that you do within the law and apart from the law is within the law of God! So your argument falls short.
As far as James citing Abraham we can see in scripture that it is by faith Abraham offered his son Isaac. For if Abraham had not faith he would not have offered his son. And faith (in the form of fear) of God compelled Rahab to hide the spies on her roof. If she had not feared she would not have hid them. So what is the driving force? What initiates the good work? It is faith.
If works have any part in salvation than what Christ did on the cross is done in vain. When he said “It is finished” he was wrong. Should we be Mormon and say we are saved by grace only after all that we can do ourselves?
Now I feel we have hijacked this post. Please accept my apologies Kevin. If I am out of place let me know.
“Any good work that you can name can be found within the law of Moses.”
Sure, you could boil the works that James cites in chapter 2 down to “love God.” However, the point is Paul is talking about ceremonial works of the law of Moses. That is why he *always* talks about circumcision and that sort of thing when saying that works don’t justify.
Loving God and neighbor are the essence of the law. Those are not ceremonial works of the law, those are the entire foundation of the law! Paul would never say that we aren’t justified by loving God and neighbor. You won’t find one passage where he says that.
Rather, he would say love is the essence of what faith is. In Acts 20 Paul “declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” He isn’t saying they must turn to God and follow the ceremonial works of the Mosaic law. Nor is he saying that they must simply have faith if they hope to later have works and repentance. He is saying that salvation is by faith *and* repentance, meaning turning back to loving God and neighbor.
“If works have any part in salvation than what Christ did on the cross is done in vain.”
Then, my friend, I’d like to be there when Christ returns and you have to tell him that what he did was in vain. For I tell you the truth, James does not lie. We are justified by works *and* faith working together… not by faith alone. Faith that is alone is not even faith, it is dead and useless.
Michael,
It is sad to say you are dancing around my main point. Only those in Christ preform good works that prove faith. That is what Christ has said. What else could he mean by these words: “apart from me you can do nothing”. It is by faith that we enter into the kingdom of God. Then we bear fruit. We don’t hope to bear fruit, we will bear fruit. For this is what Christ has promised. Loving God and loving our neighbor is impossible without Christ. And we can not even approach Christ without faith.
You said: “Rather, he would say love is the essence of what faith is.”
I would say that we only love because he first loved us! That is why Paul says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”. God’s love is the driving force for our faith. Our faith is our driving force for love!
Andrew,
I agree that it is by faith that we do good works. I am just also saying that it is also by good works that we have faith. In other words, in salvation, faith and good works are *inseparable*. They are never apart in salvation. Similarly, you can’t separate repentance and deeds in salvation. Acts 26:20 tells us that repentance is proved by deeds. Similarly, faith is proved by deeds. You can’t have one without the other.
You, on the other hand, are saying faith and good works are *separable*. You say that alone faith saves. Then, once alone faith saves you, you will later display good works. James directly contradicts you. He flat out states that we are “justified by what we do, *not* by faith alone.” James also tells us that faith apart from works (faith alone) is *dead*. Nonetheless, you insist that dead faith (faith alone) saves us, and then dead faith (faith alone) causes good works. Your theory of justification relies on dead faith (faith alone) for both salvation and for good works!
At least Luther was able to admit the problem that James presented his theory, which is more then I can say of most modern Reformists who claim to follow Luther. Concerning the book of James, Luther (in his preface to the book) said, “In the first place, it is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to works [2:24]… St. Paul teaches to the contrary that Abraham was justified apart from works, by his faith alone… This fault, therefore, proves that this epistle is not the work of any apostle.”
This is the father of your theory on justification speaking. His theory forced him to say the Bible has contradictions! But at least He didn’t play Scripture twister and twist what James was saying into illogical nothingness, like most modern Reformists do. Luther at least understood what James was saying. Luther’s only problem was that he went too far when he tossed out the Orthodox baby (their 2000 year old understanding of Paul) with the Roman Catholic bathwater (the Catholic corruption and purchasing of works).
I will close out my comments with this: the fact that we are Christians (little Christs) should make you more willing to look skeptically at the traditions we were raised under and compare them to Scripture with an open mind, just as Christ criticized the traditions He was raised under. We should do this even if it means being at odds with our peers, as Christ was at odds with His. What I am presenting to you is not “Mormon” theology (as you said) from 150 years ago. It is 2000 years old, orthodox, Christian, and very much supported by *Scripture alone*. Therefore, I will believe it even if most of my Reformed peers hate it. Most of them don’t even know the true origins of their concept of justification! They just believe it because their parents or seminary professors did!
I agree that we love because he first loved us. Salvation on the whole is a gift. That is besides the point though. I don’t want to hijack this thread any more either. Therefore, I won’t be commenting further on this thread. If you want to discuss this more with me feel free to e-mail me at kanehbosm . md @ gmail . com (no spaces).
God bless.