Gospel Sanctification and Sonship’s Gospel-Driven Genealogy, Part 10: A Strong Finish For “Dr.” John MacArthur Not Looking Good
“Where did this ‘eclipsing Christ’ standard of truth come from? And does it add anything to the genealogy hypothesis?”
When I saw the advertisement, my heart sank. In my wrestling with proponents of Gospel Sanctification over the years, one of their mantranized mottos has been whether or not something “eclipses Christ” as a primary standard for determining truth. As others will attest who witnessed the hostile takeover of Clearcreek Chapel by the Chad Bresson cartel, “I have a problem with that view because it eclipses Christ” was a phrase that was constantly heard.
Back to the advertisement: MacArthur has written the forward to a new book written by one of his close ministry associates, Rick Holland. The title of the book is, “Uneclipsing The Son” by “Dr.” (a title that more and more is becoming a sign of danger more than respect) Rick Holland. Even from the standpoint of this (me) Evangelical peasant, “Dr.” MacArthur’s forward to the book raises troubling questions:
“This book is an insightful, convicting reminder that no one and nothing other than Christ deserves to be the central theme of the tidings we as Christians proclaim—not only to one another and to the world, but also in the private meditations of our heart.”
I asked the Sultana of Optimism, my wife Susan, to evaluate the statement. She immediately pointed out that the second part of the statement concerning private meditation was biblically untrue for many reasons. As far as Christ ALWAYS being the CENTRAL theme of the gospel, I will address that in future parts. Granted, Christ must always be part of a gospel presentation, it’s not the gospel without Him, but is He always the one and only central theme of the presentation as MacArthur suggests? Is Christ the only one who “deserves” to be a central figure of the gospel? Phil Johnson’s (the Executive Director of MacArthur’s ministry) endorsement of the book is even more disturbing as his statement mirrors John Piper contemplative spirituality:
“We become like whatever we worship (Psalm 135:15-18). So the key to sanctification and spiritual maturity is a simple principle: As we set our affections on Christ and keep Him at the center of all our thoughts, activities, desires, and ambitions, we are transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).”
Barry E. Horner also echo’s concern on page 192 of Future Israel when he writes: ‘This is not an insignificant point since it is common today, especially within Reformed Christianity as Thomas Smail pointed out in The Forgotten Father, for an incorrect prominence to be given to Jesus Christ (as though impossible to challenge) that results in biblical distortion.’”
As far as meditation on Christ alone being the one “simple” principle for sanctification as stated by Phil Johnson above, Dr. Jay E. Adams states:
“The problem with Sonship is that it misidentifies the source of sanctification (or the fruitful life of the children of God) as justification. Justification, though a wonderful fact, a ground of assurance, and something never to forget, cannot produce a holy life through strong motive for it.”
“Certainly, all of us may frequently look back to the time when we became sons and rejoice in the fact, but there is no directive to do so for growth, or even an example of this practice, in the New Testament….The true reminder of the good news about Jesus’ death for our sins is the one that he left for us to observe-the Lord’s supper (‘Do this in remembrance of Me’).”
Where did this eclipsing Christ standard of truth come from? And does it add to the genealogy hypothesis? (http://wp.me/pmd7S-Gm ) (Revised: http://wp.me/pmd7S-K7 ). You be the judge. The following are excerpts from the Australian Forum archives, one excerpt per article:
When the law is emphasized so as to eclipse the glory of the gospel, the church falls under the bondage of legalism.
…faith and never want to lose it, and may even fear that if any other truth is emphasized, it will eclipse the wonderful message of salvation. …
From “The Centrality of the Gospel”: evangelical preaching has contributed more to the eclipse of the Bible than we would ever dare to imagine.
They are used to eclipse or displace Christ’s imputed righteousness! “That glory cannot be taken away from Christ and transferred to either our renewal or …[same statement used in at least three other articles].
They are used to eclipse or displace Christ’s imputed righteousness!
When the law is emphasized so as to eclipse the glory of the gospel, the church … and rapturous experience) of having Christ come into the heart—and then …
When the law is emphasized so as to eclipse the glory of the gospel, … grace alone, on account of Christ’s obedience alone, and received by faith alone …
truth is emphasized, it will eclipse the wonderful message of salvation. …. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the …
Church history may be seen as a struggle to keep law and gospel in proper tension. When the law is emphasized so as to eclipse the glory of the gospel, …
Because they are put in the very room of the gospel! They are used to eclipse or displace Christ’s imputed righteousness! “That glory cannot be taken away …
… any other truth is emphasized, it will eclipse the wonderful message of salvation. …. Similarly, non-believers may reject the gospel because of their …
Tavard explains that when Luther began his work as a Reformer, the gospel was in “partial eclipse.” The Council of Trent, however, “reformulated” the gospel …
These sample statements were gleaned from the AF archives by a cursory search. Uneclipsing the Son (or his works) is a dominate theme that saturates AF doctrine.
Legacies are usually determined by how we end. This brings to mind something that we may want to meditate on often: the call to persevere. Christ didn’t say meditating on Him makes perseverance easy or guarantees that He will do it for us. MacArthur may not believe that, but he certainly lends credibility to those who do. Will the last leg of his ministry be remembered as lending creditability to Antinomians and even embracing their doctrines? I think it’s very likely.
If I had to bet, would I bet that I will find uncanny parallels between Holland’s new book and the AF archives? Absolutely. I am working on several side-by-side quotation charts, I trust that “Dr.” Holland will have a significant contribution to the comparisons.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
I still think there’s some verses out there somewhere GS/Sonship people are using to defend their views. I haven’t researched their materials enough to know. Here’s a few NKJV verses they may be looking at:
Maybe they see Justification and Sanctification together, as by the Holy Spirit?
1 Corinthians 6:11
New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Maybe their “Imputed everything” tendency is Imputed Righteousness for Sanctification?
Romans 6:19-22
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
Their primary verse is Galatians 2:20.I will be writing another article on that in the near future.
paul
> —–Original Message—– >
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Thanks Paul,
I went to the internet and pulled a couple articles by Horton. I see what Dr. Jay Adams means when (your quote above) he says justification is mistaken for the “source of sanctification.” In “Does Justification Still Matter?” Horton says justification is “the constant wellspring of sanctification and good works.” Justification always dominates sanctification in his mind. And faith “not only justifies but sanctifies as well.” Of course, it’s all done for you. The responsibility of man is hushed. Horton seems to lump all active christians (doers of the word) as though they were involved in “self-salvation,” “smothering the gospel in moralism.”
In another article, “Union with Christ,” Horton gives all the Bible verses about that subject. Says, this doctrine, Union with Christ, is Pauls “organizing principle for his entire systematic theology.” It is “the wheel which unites the spokes of salvation,” ” the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.” Through faith, we get justification, but justification is not alone. It comes with other graces. We possess righteousness, holiness, eternal life, adoption, blessings in the heavenly realms. All outside of us, apart from us, it’s all done for you, fully and completely. He brags about our relationship to Christ, we’ve got it all, go no further, over there, in Him!
Horton reminds me of Romans 2:17 where Paul says about Jews, “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew….brag about your relationship to God.” Paul goes on showing how the brag is all lip service. Horton’s ministry is more about training in lip service rather than “training in righteousness.” Obviously, after centuries of lip service, God doesn’t approve of it now either. We all agree, the relationship is great, but Jesus also said “You are my friends if you do what I command (Jn 15:14).”
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
These are excellent observations. Whats-more, many Christians listen to Horton while presuming that he is talking about justification being the foundation of sanctification, not the source. Or justification by sanctification. Orthodox Christianity has NEVER held to a sanctification by faith alone.The difference between “foundation” and “source” is the difference between non-anomia and anomia. Also, I would like you to carefully consider this quotation by Horton:
“Where we land on these issues is perhaps the most significant factor in how we approach our own faith and practice and communicate it to the world. If not only the unregenerate but the regenerate are always dependent at every moment on the free grace of God disclosed in the gospel, then nothing can raise those who are spiritually dead or continually give life to Christ’s flock but the Spirit working through the gospel. When this happens (not just once, but every time we encounter the gospel afresh), the Spirit progressively transforms us into Christ’s image. Start with Christ (that is, the gospel) and you get sanctification in the bargain; begin with Christ and move on to something else, and you lose both.”
Bill–save me those links if you don’t mind, and I think I have something else for you to look at.
paul
> —–Original Message—– >
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Ok, here are the links below.
Article 1
Modern Reformation
Does Justification Still Matter?
Michael S. Horton
http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=860&var3=main
Article 2
Union with Christ
Michael Horton, Ph.D.
1992
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/questions/horton/union.html
Arkansas Bill
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