TGC Part 19: Michael Horton Drama, “Decrying Peter at the White Horse Inn”
Read 2Peter, chapter one, and compare that with what Horton and the others at the White Horse Inn are saying about assurance. Regardless of how unspiritual it sounds to us in this antinomian, hyper-grace day we live in, Peter, via the Holy Spirit, clearly says that we make our calling and election “sure” by adding a number of spiritual disciplines and virtues to our lives. And by the way: “the gospel” is not one of them. And by the way: Peter is telling us to live by a LIST. Get over it; grace is not an excuse for spiritual laziness. Also note Horton’s statement that blatantly contradicts Hebrews 10:24, 25 regarding purposes for community worship.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Paul,
years ago I remember in the PCA so many verses were taught defending the “Perseverance of the Faith.” So many are related to our “assurance.” Very different from Horton’s focus. For example:
1 JN 4:17 “Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.”
Heb 5:9 Jesus Christ “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
Heb 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure…imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
Heb 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised”…..eternal life!
Rom 2:7 “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”
Of course, this old stuff is listed in many theological textbooks at Horton’s seminary. It’s all right under our noses. But obviously Horton’s “New Calvinism” puts a spin on all of them.
I remember Dr. John Gerstner’s visits to our PCA Arkansas church years ago. He believed that Carnal Christianity (Lordship Salvation Issue) was the biggest and most serious heresy in the nation! One of his favorite lines is below in caps. This he spoke to warn with great energy and seriousness:
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS ISN’T SICK!
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS ISN’T DIEING!
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS DOES NOT EXIST!!!!
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
Great verses on the subject–thanks for this.
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Micheal Horton at the Last Judgement:
Jesus: Give account, did you keep my commandments?
Horton: Of course not, I couldn’t.
Jesus: Why didn’t you ask for help?
Horton: Lord, I knew you hated self justification and Christless activism. I dispaired of self righteousness. I discovered that what you were really saying in the Bible was that no one could keep your commandments in any way. I knew we where sinning every nanosecond and all our works were like filthy rags. The historic church had not been honest about our sin. I realized that we were actually no better than the pagans. So I gave my life to correct a church heresy and preached everywhere. I saw the Your light of sancitification truth in Faith Alone, Christ Alone, to the Glory of God Alone, which means you’ve done it ALL, and we do NOTHING! It’s not what I’ve done, but what You’ve done. That is the GOSPEL!
Jesus: What I said was, the one who loves me will keep my commandments, and the one who does not love me will not keep my commandments. Now, what are you telling me? Just answer the question yes or no. Did you love me?
Arkansas Bill
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Bill, That narrative is hard to refute. I found out this weekend that Horton has published the official systematic theology of Gospel Sanctification. These guys are in the process of completely rewriting orthodox Christianity.My post on this will be forthcoming. paul
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Paul,
I find that interesting about Horton’s official systematic theology. This may work out for good. When I was in the PCA Sonship church here in town, the movement was hard to pin down. The Pastor gave sermons in typical Sonship style, we tried to pin him down about the movement’s doctrine but everything was here and there unofficial wishy wash. This is going to cause more split in the church, as it did in my old church. Looking forward to your post. Thanks again.
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
No doubt it could be a good thing. I have looked through it, and you are right–it gives opportunity to nail them down. “The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way” 1052 pages. Mark my words–this will be the course book of choice in most evangelical seminaries and most young men coming out of seminaries are going to be worthless. With TGC, T4G, BCC (the newly formed counseling wing of GS/S) and now this–they are well on their way to redefining the very foundations of the Christian faith.
paul
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