October 7, 2023
On Faith and Justification
Dr
John Gill: 1697-1771, was an early particular-baptist theologian, universally
esteemed by his contemporaries of various denominations, and by...
Dr
Robert L Reymond (1932-2013, was a renowned reformed theologian, highly regarded by many too.
Dr
Reymond said of John Gill:
"Gill
(1697-1771), a Baptist puritan pastor, writes a thorough defence of Calvinistic
theology."
The above note is listed under "Selected General Theological Bibliography"
on page 1137 of Dr. Robert L Reymond's "A New Systematic Theology of the
Christian Faith" Nelson, 1998.
Dr
John Gill on faith and justification:
"Faith
is not the cause, but an effect of justification; it is not the cause of it in
any sense; it is not the moving cause, that is the free grace of God... nor
even the instrumental cause... it is not in any class of causes whatever; but
it is the effect of justification... Now if faith is not the cause, but the
effect of justification; then as every cause is before its effect, and every
effect follows its cause, justification must be before faith, and faith must
follow justification."
- A
Body of Doctrinal Divinity Book II, Chapter V, section II. (1769)
Dr
Robert L Reymond on faith and justification:
"The
New Testament everywhere makes it plain that faith in Jesus Christ is the
instrumental 'precondition' [in italic] of justification before God...
Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ... must precede justification as its logical
(not chronological) prius... Thus we have the order: effectual calling... and
faith in Jesus Christ, justification, and glorification."
- A
New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, page 707. (1998, Nelson)
How
vast is the difference between the old-school and the new-school theology?
- it
is a gulf unbridgeable!
If the words of Mr Luther - "the doctrine of justification is the article of a standing or falling church" - were true, then how of the many reformed churches are standing churches today? Is your church standing?
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Sing
I shared the above post with these Facebook groups
- Scripture Alone
https://www.facebook.com/groups/915381792601792
- Theology for the Thinking Believer
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2867308139962524
- Reformed Christians/ Doctrines of Grace
https://www.facebook.com/groups/775537956487669
It is REJECTED by the Administrators of ALL the three groups.
How telling!
Danny
I don't doubt it. In my experience, the modern "Reformed" are unaware of how much their theology has been hijacked by Arminian ideas and uninterested in looking at the evidence that proves this point.
Danny
The
change in how justification and faith are described between Gill (1769) and
Reymond (1998) is enormous. Gill's clear understanding of the matter is in
extremely short supply in our day. Reymond's take dominates the landscape of Arminian
and Calvinists alike. This position fails to recognize that the gospel is a
DECLARATION OF JUSTIFICATION for God's people. If God's people are not ALREADY
JUSTIFIED by Christ, then faith has precisely nothing upon which to lay hold.
The gospel comes to a child of God and says:
1.
Christ HAS JUSTIFIED his people.
2.
Those who believe this are among them.
3.
Faith is the evidence of that fact.
The
gospel is not offering a CHANCE AT JUSTIFICATION provided you do A, B, and C;
though this idea is widely promoted in Christendom. The gospel declares that
the sheep ARE JUSTIFIED by what Christ has done and that believing this
declaration proves that you have faith (Galatians 5:22), are born again (John
3:3), and therefore are one of his chosen sons (Galatians 4:6). As a result of
this gospel declaration, believers are exhorted to become a disciple of the one
who JUSTIFIES the ungodly.
In
the final mix we must recognize JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH is not BEDROCK
JUSTIFICATION. God's people were TRANSACTIONALLY JUSTIFIED at Calvary by the
blood of Christ (Romans 5:9). That is an extant fact that is independent of
man's opinion of the matter. THAT is BEDROCK JUSTIFICATION and it is what the
gospel declares. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH is the experiential means whereby a child
of God may come to know and find comfort in this declaration by believing it.
It communicates the truth of JUSTIFICATION to the conscience as a cognitive
reality. It affirms a pre-existing truth. It does not initiate one's state of
JUSTIFICATION actually, it merely affirms it experimentally.
Gill says, "Faith is not the cause, but an effect of justification." I have often said, "Faith is not a CONDITION of the covenant; faith is a PROVISION of the covenant."
Aaron
It
very often vexes me that as I look around at all the people who claim the name
of Christ have failed to realize that scripture itself speaks in volume of who
He is and what His gospel is, His gospel not the gospel as we perceive it upon
our own understanding, but upon a rightly dividing of His scriptures that speak
so abundantly of what eternal justification is and isn’t. The degree of belief
in that which is not another gospel but an exaltation of one’s own efforts
rather than the work of Christ is quite pridefully sly in its message and very
deceptive to its followers and those who would seek some form of glorification
for their own justification rather than the justification that is actually had
by Jesus Christ.
Aaron
It
seems to be an unwillingness to lay down self at the feet of the Lord and admit
we are nothing in His sight without Christ. There’s a natural carnal desire to
be confident in one’s own self in all aspects of life and to take that away
from someone thinking carnally seems unthinkable to them.
sing
Some
years ago I heard a statement, "Some have faith in their faith." It
was too profound for me then; now it makes some sense.
