It seems to me that DeYoung's audience (and maybe I am wrong about this) is primarily made up of conservative Christians, readers of The Gospel Coalition blogs, those who lean toward or are Reformed, those who are trying to answer the question, "How do the sola gratia, sola fide, and sola Christo of the gospel relate to the holiness of God and my sanctification?"
These repeated moments of confusion in The Hole in Our Holiness become a shadowy straw man, subtly calling into question the teaching of those who preach and teach "the unimpeachable nature of our justification." It would be a shame for anyone to think he should be concerned or suspicious of bold, unapologetic, unqualified gospel proclamation.
My concern is that those who fear that the gospel can be overemphasized and should be balanced, maybe even limited by law will find fuel for their worry in DeYoung's words, instead of realizing that these two realities for the Christian--that we are freely justified by faith as a gift AND that God calls believers to lives of obedience and holiness--are complementary truths and gain their meaning and power in relation to each other not in opposition to each other.Read the whole thing here:
the given life: Holiness, Obedience, and Gospel Enthusiasts {a review of De Young's The Hole in Our Holiness}
Justification and sanctification are not "complementary truths." The Christian faith is grounded and founded on the rock of justification by faith apart from works. Period. Sanctification is the "therefore" and a result, not the equal complement of justification. Justification is the finished work of the cross and Christ's sinless life applied legally to the Christian. Sanctification could never withstand the judgment of God and therefore not now or ever the basis for salvation. It is therefore not the "complement" of justification. That's the Roman Catholic view.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with most neo-Calvinists is they are as self-righteous as the Arminians. The pedagogical use of God's law still applies after saving faith. Why? It is there to remind the Christian that salvation is all of God's grace and at no single point does the Christian's sanctification EVER rise to the level of making the Christian worthy to stand in the final judgment. The most wicked sinner who repents in the last hour is as elect and saved as the elect who lives his or her life for Christ by faith from and early age. Nothing we do adds one whit to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross nor does anything we do merit God's grace or favor.
ReplyDeleteCharlie, i'm not sure who your comments are directed towards. If me, then you have ignored the bulk of my posts over the last few years. If directed toward Ms. Rosenkranz, I can assure you she is no closet Arminian.
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