The Utterly Confused John MacArthur Jr.
While proudly calling himself a Calvinist, John MacArthur teaches in the following video clip that the believer’s baptism in the Spirit only occurs once. Yet, John Calvin and the Reformers in general believed that the believer’s baptism needed to occur daily through the death of deep repentance and the resurrection of new obedience. In other words, self-depravation brings about perpetual death with Christ, followed by the fruits of resurrection expressed in joy or some kind of manifestation of Christ’s obedience. That’s “revisiting the gospel afresh” through deep repentance and new obedience. As a result, the believer supposedly receives a perpetual forgiveness for sins that maintains our justification. It’s heresy of the first order.
Astonishingly, MacArthur also states that the baptism of the Spirit should not be sought or repeated. This completely contradicts what his associates teach in regard to “preaching the gospel to ourselves every day.” The very purpose of this mantra is to advocate a continual return to the gospel in order to “experience” death and rebirth. MacArthur cohort and Reformed hack Dr. Michael Horton stated it this way in his book on systematic theology:
Progressive sanctification has two parts: mortification and vivification, “both of which happen to us by participation in Christ,” as Calvin notes….Subjectively experiencing this definitive reality signified and sealed to us in our baptism requires a daily dying and rising. That is what the Reformers meant by sanctification as a living out of our baptism….and this conversion yields lifelong mortification and vivification “again and again.” Yet it is critical to remind ourselves that in this daily human act of turning, we are always turning not only from sin but toward Christ rather than toward our own experience or piety (pp. 661-663 [Calvin Inst. 3.3.2-9]).
Luther advocated the same in Thesis 16 and 17 of his Heidelberg Confession. There, he posits the Reformed mainstay that Christians need the same grace that saved them continually, and this saving grace should be continually sought. So, baptism does not signify a onetime event, but signifies the need to continually repent in order to receive the perpetual baptism that saved us.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
To say it another way, justification does not have to be “maintained”, by works or faith. It is a one-time event in the life of a believer. What’s done is done. There is no “initially” and “afterwards”, there is just “DONE!” To even suggested justification must be maintained is to imply some sort of works must be done. It doesn’t matter if Christ does the works (active obedience) or we do the works. Works are still works and not grace. All works necessary for justification were COMPLETED when Chirst said “It IS Finished!”. There is no maintaining to be done.
LikeLike
All I am asking you to do is consider the context in which Calvin was writing. Understanding the question can help you understand the answer.
As far as I know, the Reformers did not teach that baptism had to be repeated over and over again. In my view, baptism symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ. Union with Christ is maintained through faith. Believers are “kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH, for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.” That doesn’t mean we must be justified over and over again.
Works are works . The issue is not in whether a person does works either in justification or sanctification. Of course, believers produce works of obedience in the process of sanctification. The issue is whether a true believer ever comes to the point that he TRUSTS that obedience to make him right with God.
LikeLike
eligido,
No.
LikeLike
“Furthermore, they taught a union minus an indwelling. The “centrality of the objective gospel OUTSIDE of us.” The infusion of grace within us was considered to be, and still is, considered by the Reformers to be a false gospel.”
What they deny is not the infusion of grace, but the infusion of grace as the BASIS of justification. Of course the Reformers and their followers taught the indwelling of the Spirit and the infusion of grace. There can be no sanctification without it. They and their modern counterparts are merely and rightly denying that the basis of justification is in any way based on what God does in us. It is justification by faith 101.
LikeLike
eligido,
They taught that ANY, that’s “ANY” work of Christ INSIDE of us at any time “imperils the soul.” Stop playing word games.
LikeLike
Andy,
You don’t honestly believe Calvin or anyone in the Reformed camp denies that Jesus finished the work of our eternal salvation once and for all do you? I would be interested in knowing what significance you attach to the fact that our high priest now appears in the presence of God for us?
LikeLike
eligido,
While we wait for Andy’s answer as he is quite capable and doesn’t need me, I just want to point out the stellar point John has just made that can be applied to this comment by you: It’s a FINISHED work, but Christ still intercedes for us? Which is it? Breakpoint: Immel.
….you say “A,” but then refute “A” by posing what appears to be a rhetorical question that refutes “A.”
LikeLike
Paul,
LOL this is hilarious to watch. This is an object lesson on how Calvinists Gerrymander Reformation doctrine to mean pretty much whatever THEY (individually subjectively) want it to mean so they can depart from “orthodoxy” whenever it does not square with their subjective souls.
Here in is the dirty little secret of “orthodoxy” is revealed.
John Immel
LikeLike
Paul,
It isn’t a “word game” It is not any work of Christ inside us that imperils the soul but TRUSTING any work of God inside us as the BASIS of our justification that imperils the soul.
LikeLike
eligido
As to your last comment. As Paul so eloquently said. NO!
Your understanding of Calvin and Luther’s doctrine (and in particular Luther’s proper distinction between Law and Gospel that is the root of his Justification by Faith) is in error. This would be the Heidelberg Disputation 100.
You are repeating a theological conclusion that come about 100 years after Luther.
LikeLike
John I,
As Paul has said often, “Words mean things.” The word “basis” has a meaning. Denying that God’s work in us is the basis of our justification, is not the same as denying that God works in us.
LikeLike
eligo,
You are attempting, like all Reformed hacks, to frame the reality of the debate. That doesn’t work here. “Basis” is framed in context of works by you rather than Christ’s death apart from the basis of works. Justification was finished when Christ said it was finished–on the cross.
LikeLike
It wasn’t a rhetorical question at all. It concerns the issue of difference between accomplishment and application. In terms of accomplishment, Jesus finished the work. In terms of the application of that accomplishment, he continues to minister as our high priest. He ever lives to make intercession for us.
LikeLike
eligido,
The intercession refers to a permanent priesthood that only required one priest and one death. Read the text.
LikeLike
Paul,
Are you suggesting that justification was without basis?
LikeLike
It had a basis: APART from the LAW. Works are judged by law. The ONE act of obedience justified us. “One” means “one.” That does not include “intercession” to MAINTAIN it.
LikeLike