I’m Just Sayin’…..
“When the ground of justification moves from Christ outside of us to the work of Christ inside of us, the gospel (and the human soul) is imperiled. It is an upside down gospel.”
~ John Piper
“When the ground of justification moves from Christ outside of us to the work of Christ inside of us, the gospel (and the human soul) is imperiled. It is an upside down gospel.”
~ John Piper
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Ok, I’m thinking the “ground of justification” is the blood of Christ. But Christ is the one who sends the Spirit. The Spirit has the power to wash, sanctify, and justify according to 1Cor. 6:11:
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
But how does the work of Christ inside us produce an imperiled human soul and gospel? How does Christ inside promote Romanism, Perfectionism, Dualism, Legalism, Antinomianism, etc.. Is it not God the Spirit who works in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure? Are there millions out there saying “I am the ground of my justification before God”?
I think the New Calvinists are confused. They’ve got me confused.
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
They believe justification is continual/ongoing. None of this makes sense until you realize that New Calvinism came from the Forum. COG is a mixture of Reformed theology and SDA.The reason justification continues and replaces sanctification is because of the SDA’s “investigative judgement” theology. New Calvy’s have unwittingly bought into a theology that seeks to be “fit for the judgement.” BUT: WE don’t look to be fit for the judgement, with evangelicals, that’s already a done deal. WE look for glorification, Chrsitians do not appear at the great judgement (The bema seat is another issue). Most New Calvy’s would agree with that but don’t understand what’s behind “living by justiifcation” every day.
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Bill,
Like so much of their other phraseology, “grounded in” is *other than* biblical language.
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And, you have a problem with that because???????? To those who lack the will to know the truth, nothing is as mysterious as the obvious. To say that the work of Christ in us is not the ground of our justification should not be a mystery to any Calvinist, new or old. The ground of our justification is Christ’s objective accomplishment of redemption, not the application of that redemption to us. If you don’t understand that, you don’t understand the gospel.
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“You must be born again.”
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Randy,
I don’t understand why everything is GROUND LEVEL justification. Why don’t they ever move on to Galatians 6:8: “whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Why do they avoid the commands to serve God? It appears their only goal is to tell everybody that the work of Christ in us and our serving God is not the “ground of justification,” which we already know. The subject of serving God is always detoured, by them, back to the beginning…”ground of justification.” In New Calvinist teachings, the commands to move on to maturity appear absolutely and completely null and void. Do they believe we can be saved without serving Jesus Christ as Lord? I thought the purpose of the calling and forgiveness of sins was to enable for service.
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
What do New Calvinists think is in it for God, His purpose? What about the gospel Godward? Why only the gospel Manward? It’s all about what’s been done for ME isn’t it…ME, ME, ME? There appears to be no love for God in New Calvinist theology. It’s in danger of being bundled up like branches and thrown into the fire. Worthless!
You are partners with them aren’t you?
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
Can you open word?
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Randy,
are you one of the false brothers who derail God’s plan and purpose for our lives? If so, I plead with you, repent and see the light. I fear for you. We should have nothing to do with those New Calvinists. Do not be partners with them!
In their self deception the New Calvinists misrepresent God’s attitude about man’s deeds. They apparently don’t believe that God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. Remember, Cornelius of Caesarea was an uncircumcised, unbaptized gentile. A centurion in the Italian Regiment. He feared God, and in obedience prayed and gave alms to the poor in need. The prayers AND GIFTS came up as a favorable remembrance before God. God blessed him! Cornelius and his household converted and were baptized. What a happy ending and lesson for us. Notice, the prayers and gifts were not “filthy rags” but something that pleased God. The New Calvinists apparently think God judges everything on a standard of absolute strict justice when it comes to man’s deeds, therefore everything is polluted with filthy sin. If this were so, why is God so pleased and show great value in acts according to HIs will? The New Calvinist teaching that puts the behavior of the Church on a level with the world is thoroughly false (see Tim Keller) and thwarting God’s purposes. It’s so absurd, can they not read? How could their teaching be the pattern for the Church in light of the multitude of testimony of the apostles and our Lord? Don’t let anybody deceive you. We need to be running in the way of God’s commandments and fleeing from immorality.
And please, don’t be like a New Calvinist. Please don’t accuse me (weeping) of self justification and salvation by works. Anybody given a trust must prove faithful. Many, many will appear before Christ on the great Day
thinking they are approved by Faith Alone that’s all alone, then they will hear the word clearly – “Depart.”
Arkansas Bill
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Bill,
Let’s hook-up by email.
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Paul,
yes, I can open word. Ok, hook-up by email.
Arkansas Bill
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Bill, Good point to think about. If we “preach the gospel to ourselves everyday” is it the effect of, or the actual gospel going forward. It could be argued that it is the gospel/justification because of the “power of the gospel” tenet of New Calvinism. Christ is the gospel, so they teach that the “vital union” is the same as the “legal union.” Got it? SO YES–IT IS JUSTIFICATION MOVING FORWARD. DIRECT QUOTE ON THAT? SURE:
“We are united to Christ both legally and vitally….We can distinguish these aspects of our union with Christ this way: Our legal union with Christ entitles us to all that Christ did for us as He acted in our place, as our substitute. Our vital union with Christ is the means by which He works in us by His Holy Spirit.” (Jerry Bridges: The Gospel for Real Life). Hence, the vital union empowers us when we focus on the legal union. Bridges says elsewhere that to focus on imperatives instead of the gospel is not relying on the vital union.
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Paul,
Proverbs 4:4 says: “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.”
Obviously, the opposite would be letting go of the words, don’t keep the commands, and you will die. So, to not focus on imperatives and only focus on the legal union with Christ is a deadly thing. To not do what Christ says is actually not honoring but dishonoring and rejecting Him. I just don’t believe there is any Justification in not focusing on imperatives and faithfully ignoring sovereign commands. There is no huge disconnect between what we believe and what we do. If we don’t live by the truth, the truth is no in us. Their gospel error certainly is evident when they ignore the Great Commission “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
I read a rebuttle of Piper’s CHRISTIAN HEDONISM by Banner of Truth. The article pointed out that the Puritan writings document, from Scripture, a multitude of ways that God uses to sanctify us. The Banner of Truth author was criticizing Piper’s attitude. He apparently wrote as though joy was the unique way, and he had made a new discovery. I believe too, there are many things God uses to sanctify us. Just on the surface, I have no problem with people preaching the gospel to themselves everyday as an exercise. If that’s what gets them pumped-up for doing God’s will, fine. But we’ve seen enough to know that behind the NC mask it’s antinomianism. When it comes time to spur one another to good works, they just don’t seem to want to go there.
No doubt, the NC are covert groups, denying that they are antinomians. Are we surprised by that? No. I’m glad you’ve taken the time to document so much of this.
Arkansas Bill
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Bill, I agree, and it really boils down to the times we are in. Massive antinomianism.
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Bill,
Do you not distinguish between Christ in us and the ground of our justification being Christ in us? These are two decidedly different issues.
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Bill,
Do you really believe false brothers derail God’s plan and purpose? What a pitiful god. The God I serve always accomplishes his purpose.
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Bill,
You wrote: “The New Calvinists apparently think God judges everything on a standard of absolute strict justice when it comes to man’s deeds, therefore everything is polluted with filthy sin.” Do you think God and His requirements have changed? Do you believe He never judged anything on a standard of absolute strict justice? Was this justice relaxed when Jesus died, or did He fulfill everything according to a standard of absolute strict justice? If you are right, perhaps God isn’t as holy and just as I had thought.
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