Heresy in Heels: The Queens of Progressive Justification
“As one respected Reformed pastor noted: it is the same Catholic salvation that those of Reformed thought claim to refute.”
He is supposedly the Master who does all the work for us lest He be robbed of any glory. Somehow, if we actually do any of the work as born again slaves, that doesn’t honor the Master, but yet, he insists on being known as a master. It seems like God would want to be known by something else other than, “Lord.”
Using language that referred to the slave culture of that day, the apostle Paul said we were “bought with a price.” We were purchased as slaves with the blood of Christ, but the gospel that is all the rage of our day denies this very purchase and the lordship of Christ; it’s replaced with a supposed purchase of parasites.
As the heretic Paul David Tripp states it: we “rest and feed” on Christ. Got that? We are the slaves, He is the Lord, but we “rest and feed.” Really? And how valid is any profession of faith that doesn’t understand this relationship? How valid is a profession that accepts Christ as Savior only and denies the purchase?
Contemporary Reformed leaders of our day are now cashing in on this false gospel two-fold. The judgement they are heaping upon themselves for present-day cash is not enough—they are getting their wives in on the action. The organization True Woman .com is only one of many massive organizations saturating Christian culture with New Calvinism’s fusion of justification and sanctification.
The organization is led by several wives of the who’s who of neo-Calvinism—following their husbands in heresy. And I am not the only one saying so. Even those of the “Reformed tradition” label the neo-Calvinist active obedience of Christ (Christ obeys for us) as, “heresy,” “works salvation” by not working in sanctification, “easy believism,” and antinomianism.
When justification and sanctification are fused together, justification is not a finished work. The doctrine makes two justifications: one finished and one progressive. They deceptively refer to this as “progressive sanctification.” Hence, “progressive sanctification” is really finishing justification. That’s a huge problem because we are in the sanctification process and what we do can therefore effect our “just standing with God.” It requires a maintaining of antinomianism to keep our just standing before God; ie., sanctification by faith alone. But living by faith alone in sanctification becomes a way to maintain our just standing before God—for all practical purposes, works salvation by antinomianism.
It’s not an oxymoron; when justification and sanctification are fused together, everything we do in sanctification points back to, or effects our justification because at least one aspect of it is not finished. As one respected Reformed pastor noted: it is the same Catholic salvation that those of Reformed thought claim to refute.
Furthermore, the primary catalyst for the doctrine’s present success was its Sonship theology package hatched at Westminster Seminary by Dr. John “Jack” Miller. A self-proclaimed understudy of Miller’s, David Powlison, then made the doctrine the foundation of Westminster’s biblical counseling curriculum via CCEF. In a book written by Dr. Jay E. Adams, he clearly states that the doctrine promotes a view that sanctification is powered by justification. Clearly, even in the Reformed community, there is a dispute in regard to the very reason we are supposed to be here: the gospel.
But does the Reformed tradition trump gospel truth? The answer is a resounding, “yes,” especially in the biblical counseling community. The two primary queens of that movement are Elyse Fitzpatrick and Martha Peace. Fitzpatrick has openly denied that there is any such thing as an antinomian because man is helplessly legalistic. Like all good neo-Calvinists, the poo-pooing of specific biblical truth is done without a blinking of the eye. In this case, the biblical word “anomia” is completely dismissed. And apparently, Satan came to Eve in the garden as a legalist.
Peace is a hardcore New Calvinist proponent of the active obedience of Christ and sanctification by faith alone. But yet, these two women are the toast of the biblical counseling community—even by those who refute the neo-Calvinist take on double imputation (the active and passive obedience of Christ imputed to our sanctification).
Why? Because it’s really not about the gospel. That’s why. And as far as counseling, people can’t be helped with a false gospel. No way.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Reblogged this on Clearcreek Chapel Watch.
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I did a quick search on these 2 ladies and I’m thinking they line up with the complementarians, right? Also True Woman / Nancy Leigh DeMoss / Life Action, huh? oy vey Sometimes you can’t tell the players without a scorecard! 🙂
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Jo,
Yes, they are pretty much just everyday New Calvinists. However, Peace and Fitzpatrick associate and identify with the hardcore element. Peace is part of the counseling program at Clearcreek Chapel in Springboro, Ohio. Those elders brag openly about being antinomians. They also have a long list of unresolved conflict with many, many Christians. Peace is aware of this, but is unmoved because she is totally of their mentality.
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its too bad you are so unaware of the truth of these matters. what you state above about Peace is not true. you need to remove your own log first, paul. dont repeat things youve heard that aren’t actually the truth.
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sure.did,
Oh, ok. Thanks for the advice. And what’s your favorite Kool-Aid flavor?
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Sorry, too much accusation with zero Biblical explanation. Without the Bible references, I can’t agree or disagree, not enough to work with.
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Greg,
This site is saturated with biblical explanation concerning the progressive justification camp that these two ladies are associated with. I can’t promise that I will even post such comments in the future. And no need to be sorry–I am not out to persuade you–just isn’t my goal.
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Martha Peace here. It would be wise to check your facts about my doctrine before you make such slanderous statements. Another thing, you wrote, “Peace is part of the counseling program at Clearcreek chapel in Springboro, Ohio.” guess what? I don’t even live in that state. Another of your quotes: “their elders are antinomians, Peace is aware of this, but is unmoved because she is totally of their mentality.” I have no clue as to what you are talking about. Paul — and I couldn’t find your last name anywhere — you need to repent of your slander and stop making things up.
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Martha Peace,
You not living in Ohio makes it impossible for you to be associated with the counseling center at Clearcreek Chapel? Huh? And, my facts are very straight. You, Lou Priolo, and Tim Pasma continue to lend credibility to Clearcreek while they litter the Christian landscape with the carnage of broken marriages and other relationships. Pasma is still listed as one of their module teachers. As one example of their diabolical behavior, they held me hostage there for 4 months under bogus church discipline. In order to be released from “redemptive church disciple,” I was going to have to confess Gospel Sanctification (the gospel you teach). You, and the whole lot; NANC, CCEF et al, are running the biggest spiritual scam ever perpetrated on American culture. While coming here and telling me what I “need” to do, you are a charlatan and a disgrace.
Reject and stand against Gospel Sanctification/Progressive Justification and I might consider your protest.
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You are mean and freely… did you talk to your sisters as the Bible says you should before spreading your accusations to all???
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No.
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It sounds as if you have a bone to pick with someone and choose to use Martha and Elyse as scapegoats for whatever your bully agenda is, grow up and stop with the name calling, better yet read your Bible!
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Mimi,
Read my Bible? You hypocrite, the only thing you know about your Bible is what some Reformed cult leader told you.
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I stumbled in here looking for information on Elyse Fitzpatrick and stayed marvelling at the sadness of this blog effort. I should advise you, before I go, that the Catholic Faith is the fullness of the Truth and everthing you have ever been searching for, including sound doctrine and sanctifying grace, can be found there. Pax Christi.
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John,
There is no difference between a Presbyterian and a Catholic. Both are salvation by a spiritual caste institution. Both teach justification on an installment plan overseen by an institution of pagan priests and popes. So, it makes perfect sense that you are looking for Elyse.
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This post literally makes no sense. I don’t even understand what he is arguing. Please clarify your arguments.
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Among several other statements followed by clarification in the article, what part of, “When justification and sanctification are fused together, justification is not a finished work,” do you not understand? However, unlike church, here at PPT we do not think for you, so maybe I understand.
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