DeYoung’s Plan Won’t Work
Special K is at it again. Kevin DeYoung keeps writing orthodox-like articles about sanctification in hopes that he can get someone from the New Calvinist crowd to kinda agree with him without receiving the dreaded tweet from the first pope of New Calvinism, John Piper the First. Bye-bye you fill in the blank. Have you heard? Rob Bell is resigning from the church he founded—done in by the dreaded tweet.
I can tell from reading his stuff that he knows New Calvinism is propagating antinomian doctrine. However, they are so subtle about it that they could slip back into orthodoxy and the dumbed-down congregants of our day would never know the difference. This is what Special K is hoping for so he keeps writing stuff about sanctification to get someone to join what might be the beginning of the Great Slither back to orthodoxy.
So far—no takers. For one thing, you have Tullian Tchividjian pushing back against DeYoung and as many of his victims know—he’s one bad dude. Everyone saw how he cleaned house at Coral Ridge and few want any part of that. Chad Bresson, the author of Vossed World blog and a New Calvinist elder weighed in as well, saying that Young’s discussion of the difference between monergistc sanctification and synergistic sanctification is “interesting.” Both articles were the usual nuanced New Calvinist double-speak because they just can’t come right out and say that they believe Christ obeys for us. I doubt Special K still believes that, but you know, a man has to eat. If he can get the Great Slither going—he can have it both ways.
Bresson’s post, about a thousand words later, concluded with the following profound unction: “In the end DeYoung is helpful in showing us the drawbacks of using certain terminology to describe what the Bible teaches us about the role of the Spirit and our participation in our transformation into Christ’s image. We are participants in salvation history. Language is not always precise in delineating the inner machinations of how that participation comes to be. It’s easy to see the downward slopes off the deep end in both directions. And DeYoung, like others who may disagree on certain points, wants to avoid the deep ends.”
Likewise, DeYoung’s conclusion was nearly as profound: “So what do we see in this short survey of Reformed theologians. For starters, we do not see the exact language of monergism or synergism applied to sanctification….Second, we see that, given the right qualifications, either term could be used with merit….Third, we see in this Reformed survey the need to be careful with our words. For example, “passive” can describe our role in sanctification, but only if we also say there is a sense in which we are active.”
Huh? Well, there was some definitive verbiage by pastor Terry Rayburn who isn’t very popular among that bunch because he stinks at nuance. Here were his comments at VW:
So the best question is not ” monergistic or synergistic?” The better question is, “Sanctification: by Law or by Grace?” The clear biblical answer is “by Grace”.
The Law (OC or NC) can neither save nor sanctify. We are no longer under the power of sin, why? Because we have the Law? No, because we are no longer UNDER Law, but Grace (Rom. 6:14). The Law is the very POWER of sin (1 Cor. 15:56), so certainly can’t sanctify. Of course, a quick Bible word search will show that the concept of “sanctification” is MOSTLY zeroed in on our once-for-all already-done sanctification. What we loosely call “progressive sanctification” is always by grace through faith, just like initial salvation.
Go Terry!!! Yaaaaaaaa Terry!!!! I love those New Calvinist guys that just come right and say sanctification is by the same grace that saved us, which is monergistic, soooo—you fill in the blank. Will the next Piper Tweet be, “Yaaaaaa Terry!!!!!”? Bresson didn’t follow-up on Rayburn’s comment, go figure.
Here, let me help also by quoting their Reformed daddy, RC Sproul. I agree with Sproul, this is a simple thing:
Sanctification is cooperative. There are two partners involved in the work. I must work and God will work. If ever the extra-biblical maxim, “God helps those who help themselves,” had any truth, it is at this point. We are not called to sit back and let God do all the work. We are called to work, and to work hard. To work something out with fear and trembling is to work with devout and conscientious rigor. It is to work with care, with a profound concern with the end result” (“Pleasing God” p. 227).
As far as Rayburn’s candid comment about how the NC crowd views the law, especially John Piper, here is what Sproul said in the same book:
From the law comes knowledge of sin. Also from the law comes knowledge of Righteousness.
In working with God to be “set apart,” the law is an absolute must, and Bresson’s belief as he alludes to above that the Bible is a gospel narrative and not for instruction in sanctification is antinomianism of the baser sort. And obviously, if we believe use of the law propagates sin—that’s a whole other issue as well.
This is a simple thing: “I can DO all things through Chrsit who strengthens me.” We DO and Chrsit strengthens, and it’s a seamless experience—not a New Calvinist either all the Spirit or all me hermeneutic. But Sproul has it right; if we don’t work—neither does the Spirit: “I must work and God will work.” That’s why we will be judged in the end at the Bema Seat judgment that New Calvinists have to deny. Not a judgment for justification, but a judgment in regard to how well we appropriated the gifts God granted us. And by the way, when you receive a “gift”—you now own it!
The only thing confusing is the double-speak New Calvinist have to use to teach that Jesus obeys for us without actually saying it. And Special K might as well give up because antinomians rarely repent.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Are believers sanctified by faith alone in the same way we are justified by faith alone. Of course not! God has declared us righteous in his sight because he has imputed to us a righteousness which is not ours. In sanctification, he imparts grace to us, enabling us to produce a righteousness that is ours. In sanctification we are becoming what he declared us to be in justification. There is no true sanctification that does not employ the believer’s activity and obedience. That said, their may be an “obedience” that does not flow from a heart filled and overflowing with love for Christ, an overwhelming sense of gratitude for Christ’s redeeming work or an eye to the promises of God that is not sanctifying at all. I would never depreciate the believer’s responsibility to obey Christ’s commands, but biblical obedience is not merely grit your teeth, grin and bear it knuckling under to Christ’s authority. True obedience is prompted by faith and hope and love.
Perhaps we could say we are not sanctified by faith alone but we are sanctified alone [only] by faith. By this I mean that any obedience that does not spring from faith is not the kind of obedience God desires.
LikeLike
Paul, I think you are being a little facetious when you say that Bell is gone from his church because of Piper. Bell has his own set of problems that John Piper has nothing to do with and it most certainly seems as if his stance on hell has nothing to do with his decision to step down from his pastoral role. As a matter of fact, Bell is a heretic, as I am sure you are well aware. However, I am curious. Does the above comment by “anonymous” sum up what you think about sanctification? Specifically, I am referencing the part that says, “in sanctification, he imparts grace to us, enabling us to produce a righteousness that is ours.” Just curious.
LikeLike
Tim, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.” “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
Tim,
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is
righteous, just as he is righteous.”
“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did
he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”
LikeLike
Costa Rica said:
“biblical obedience is not merely grit your teeth, grin and bear it knuckling under to Christ’s authority. True obedience is prompted by faith and hope and love.”
I think the spiritual gift “the fear of the Lord” is often overlooked. The fear comes from faith. Example, Nebuchadnezzar was a hard headed man, but after discipline, He worshiped THE MOST HIGH GOD. By the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord men turn from and avoid evil. God is the highest JUDGE, deserving the highest respect. That should move us to get and stay in line with what he says.
Good point about motives. Lev 28:9 “the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” In the end, the last judgment, the motives of mens hearts will be revealed. Sometimes, God asks questions like – was it for me that you fasted? Even our court systems see motives as important.
Tim,
Various aspects to Sanctification. Status conferred, process pursued, sanctified by faith, sanctified by the Spirit (the Spirit of Grace, that gives grace), the Covenant that sanctified us, made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Also, in a sense we make God Holy (sanctify God) by acknowledging that He is Holy and by obeying His commands.
Tim,
Question: “he imparts grace to us, enabling us to produce a righteousness that is ours.” ???????
Ok, here is the answer in the Covenant Promise of God – Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will put my Spirit in you and MOVE YOU TO FOLLOW MY DECREES AND BE CAREFUL TO KEEP MY LAWS.” In other words, it’s God’s Spirit who works in us to will and to act according to His good purposes. His good purpose is a “harvest of righteousness,” i.e. Law keeping!
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike
Think about this. If God is the source and the cause of our righteousness/law keeping. Is He going to be calling and viewing those acts as sinful, or filthy rags? Remember, God is not the source, nor the cause, nor the author of sin. If He is the source of our Law keeping, He’s going to make it RIGHT in His sight!
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike
Paul,
you were an elder. Doesn’t Terry Rayburn sound like the old problem of “Praying and Acting?” It appears in most local churches, there’s always somebody who wants to “pray only” and somebody else who wants to “act only.” The Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox way is to PRAY as though everything depended upon God, and ACT as though everything depended on you! Observation: Sometimes in reading the OT it’s hard to tell who defeated the Philistines. One place says Isreal “defeated the Philistines.” Another place says God “defeated the Philistines.” It’s not one or the other. BOTH ARE TRUE!
The quote from Terry Rayburn:
“So the best question is not ” monergistic or synergistic?” The better question is, “Sanctification: by Law or by Grace?” The clear biblical answer is “by Grace”.
The Law (OC or NC) can neither save nor sanctify. We are no longer under the power of sin, why? Because we have the Law? No, because we are no longer UNDER Law, but Grace (Rom. 6:14). The Law is the very POWER of sin (1 Cor. 15:56), so certainly can’t sanctify. Of course, a quick Bible word search will show that the concept of “sanctification” is MOSTLY zeroed in on our once-for-all already-done sanctification. What we loosely call “progressive sanctification” is always by grace through faith, just like initial salvation.”
Now, notice the Romans 6:14 (copied from Bible Gateway) below that Terry mentions. The Apostle’s strong context is about what we do. This has nothing to do with DECLARED – ONCE FOR ALL, or FAITH ALONE that’s all alone. And yes, the Law of itself can’t sanctify because the source of all Holiness is God Alone. God is our Helper. He not only forgives, removing the guilt of sin, but He also breaks the power of reigning sin in our lives. A professing Christian who’s an alcoholic, under the power of sin, does not attract many to Christ. Christians should not be people who claim to know God, but who’s actions deny Him.
Romans 6:12-16
New International Version (NIV)
“12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike
Bill,
I find Rayburn’s comments regarding the law disturbing–the idea that the law produces sin in anyone who tries to obey it.
LikeLike
Word on the emergent street is that Bell is also going to be doing some religious commentary for one the cable news channels. He is a hit with the liberal media.
LikeLike
Lydia,
Here is were I have come in all of this: I like a guy like Bell because he at least tells the truth about his heresy. Sad. They knock Olsteen, but at least he admitted: “I’m not a theologian. At least they tell the truth as opposed to the New Calvinist heretics who are both heretics and liers
LikeLike
Paul,
affirmative, that Rayburn saying that the law produces sin in anyone who tries to obey it is classic antinomianism. These guys are unified in downgrading the Helper. I’ve heard that view before over the years. Crazy. Rayburn’s another guy falsifying THE NEW LIFE and THE WAY.
Someone was pointing out the other day (seems like everything I know I got from somebody else) that Christianity is not just Christ but it’s referred to as “THE WAY” OR “THE NEW LIFE.” Question is, by what standard shall we live? Human Standards? Christ said “I don’t judge by human standards.” If we don’t use God’s Law/Word, what shall it be?
Bible Gateway NIV References for THE NEW LIFE and THE WAY:
Acts 5:20
“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
Acts 9:2
“and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
Romans 6:4
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike
Somewhere, I wrote an article on the whole “the way” thing. That was the name of the first century church. There are several more references to it in Acts.
LikeLike