Justification
I heard this works-righteousness teaching from a popular preacher recently:
“God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil…but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good…. It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”1
Surely this person hasn’t read the Apostle Paul’s writings which assert the fact that works are opposed to, and negates, salvation by grace through faith!
For those who can’t hear my tone, I’m being sarcastic…
Posted on July 7, 2011, in Theology and tagged christianity, faith, Judgement, Justification, Righteousness, Salvation, works. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
Does John Piper know about this obviously heretical preacher? Or John LIndell?
lol In all fairness to them, I believe they would not be ones to say works are opposed to or negates grace, they both uphold the words of James 2. John Piper is careful to articulate that works are “necessary” for justification but not the “basis” of justification. He identifies the “basis” of justification as the work of Jesus Christ alone. I know tricky, tricky, but I’m mostly targeting those who view Paul as contradicting James, and thus Paul himself…
I can’t speak for John Lindell, I’m sure he doesn’t believe Paul contridicts James. But, his sermon a couple of weeks ago came dangerously close:
“The Gospel of Rules vs The Gospel of Grace”
Sunday Morning, June 12, 2011, at JamesRiverCampus
He had great points, but I think this sermon was too narrowly focused on the Galatians text, and needed to be held in the context of not only the whole of the Pauline corpus but the whole of biblical theology on this issue of righteousness, grace, and justification.
That’s the problem with a some forms of “expository preaching,” where the preacher only focuses on their particular text.
Biblical theology does not support such a “flat” interpretation of terms and phrases such as “faith,” “works,” “righteousness,” etc. Long live unity and diversity!
Again, I know some may misunderstand me or thinkg I’m being unfair, I appreciate much of what Lindell said and his main points were really good! I just felt uncomfortable at certain points of his articulation. Peace.
More Pauline evidence to be considered in support of the idea that works and faith don’t negate each other, but go together in regards to salvation: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal 6:7-10).