Pastor Jackson,
I really thought today's post was especially well written not only for it's scope, but it addressed, for me what I think is very important to the discussion of JBFA vs. UOJ-OJ/SJ.
"Note that Justification without Faith fanatics support Antinomianism - no Law, everything is already forgiven, and everyone is already saved."
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| JP Meyer was so confused that he had the entire world, for all time, forgiven and saved. He was president of Mordor, so he could not possibly be wrong. |
"The Justification of the World"
If these guys really believe what they say and what they claim it's really no wonder that the Law got very little run in my old church. I went round and round with the pastor, and he'd box me into a corner as being legalistic.
But that just isn't so.
How can the Gospel be possibly efficacious unless we need saving? If the world is justified already, why do we sit there with this empty feeling? This OJ/SJ sounds great on paper (I guess) except that they treat SJ as academic (as a given, minimized...). We certainly don't want to talk to much about faith for fear of works righteousness. God forbid. Real faith is no sin. Belief is NOT a choice. It's a GIFT.
I understand the importance of underlining Jesus redemptive work, leaving no doubt about a complete atonement for all sin, that no sin is to great, but what of the Holy Spirit? And the law? Without the law our consciences cry inwardly because we must be honest with ourselves. The Gospel must be personal. Faith is that KNOWING that your sins are forgiven. This faith can only be given by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. And, we need the law to remind us how desperately we need the Gospel every minute spend this side of heaven. Remain in the vine....and Lord knows we need the pruning.
And where are the works-righteous?
"The term "virtue signaling" is a clever one, because it portrays the modern works-saint so well. The signal is far more important than the works, because that kind of virtue is hard to maintain."
"This Justification by Faith makes enemies and causes hatred, because it denies the righteousness of works. "
This is true. This is what happens when we try to justify ourselves. Real works righteousness. Many will try to hide behind outward piety, but they are proud. Very proud.
This post wasn't hard to understand with the references to Abraham, Lazarus, and Paul....especially when you don't read the book of Romans with "tunnel vision"
