Tried With Fire

This statement by R.C. Sproul (1939-2017) changed my spiritual life because the role of imputation in the gospel finally clicked: "In the final analysis, the only way that any person is ever justified before God is by works. We are saved by works, and we are saved by works alone. Don't touch that dial..." "[W]hen I say that we are justified by works and by works alone, what do I mean by it? I mean that the grounds of my justification and the grounds of your justification are the perfect works of Jesus Christ. We're saved by works, but they are not our own. That's why we say we're saved by faith, and we're saved by grace, because the works that save us aren't our works, they're Somebody else's works." From "What is Reformed Theology?." You can watch the lecture here . Don't let the title put you off. Covenant theology is a wonderful doctrine.

In light of the sola fide debate, I'm posting at Out of the Ordinary on the doctrine of imputation. This is a rewrite of an old post. However, when we stumble and fall and assurance waivers, it never hurts to be reminded again that our righteousness is outside of ourselves. Jesus Christ is our righteousness. For decades as a Christian, I was taught and believed that Jesus got me in the door, but the rest was up to me. This was terrifying. I remember crying as a child wondering if I would have the courage to be a martyr for Christ, and wondering if I would lose my salvation if I failed. I remember hearing about the movie, A Thief in the Night, and wondering what would happen if I wasn't ready. I lived with so much uncertainty that current events would strike fear in my heart because I doubted I would be good enough when Christ returned. Finally one day, I was raking leaves and listening to R.C. Sproul's lectures on What is Reformed Theology? . When he discussed the...

Our current adult Sunday school class has been on justification. We've looked at the historical Reformed Protestant and Roman Catholic views and have now moved onto the New Perspectives on Paul (NPP). I confess I was fairly ignorant of this modern deviation from the traditional and (what I would consider) biblical doctrine of justification. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around its logic because it seems so contrary to my understanding of what it means to be saved. One might say that this is a strictly academic discussion and beyond the concern of the average believer in the pew. I probably would have thought the same 5-6 years ago, but no longer. The gospel message is too important to assume. Justification by faith alone in Christ alone is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. If we confuse this doctrine, it can lead to eternal consequences not only for ourselves but for those we're trying to reach. If you don't believe me, consider what Paul wrote in G...

I've finished listening to The Pilgrim's Progress again. If you have not read this gem, please do. You'll soon find out why this is the most widely published book after the Bible. Here's an excerpt where Mr. Great-heart explains the gospel/imputation to Christiana: So then here is a righteousness that Christ, as God, has no need of; for he is God without it: Here is a righteousness that Christ, as man, has no need of to make him so; for he is perfect man without it. Again, here is a righteousness that Christ, as God-man, has no need of; for he is perfectly so without it. Here then is a righteousness that Christ, as God, and as God-man, has no need of, with reference to himself, and therefore he can spare it; a justifying righteousness, that he for himself wanteth not, and therefore giveth it away: Hence it is called the gift of righteousness. This righteousness, since Christ Jesus the Lord has made himself under the law, must be given away; for the law doth not o...

It's a privilege to participate with other like-minded sisters in  Doctrines in the Kitchen .  My post on the doctrine of imputation is featured today. Many thanks, Becky!  May the Lord reward you for your labor of love.

For the sake of Niceness ™ , some prefer to call a wolf - our timberland canine cousin , but it's still a wolf. If someone doesn't warn the flock, the result is dead sheep. Here's an example of plain speaking, maybe too plain for some, from the Prince of Preachers: When we believe in Christ by faith we receive our justification. As the merit of His blood takes away our sin so the merit of His obedience is imputed to us for righteousness. We are considered, as soon as we believe, as though the works of Christ were our works. God looks upon us as though that perfect obedience, of which I have just now spoken, had been performed by ourselves—as though our hands had been busy at the loom, as though the fabric and the stuff which have been worked up into the fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints, had been grown in our own fields. God considers us as though we were Christ—looks upon us as though His life had been our life—and accepts, blesses and...

I was listening to R.C. Sproul yesterday when he made this startling statement: "In the final analysis, the only way that any person is ever justified before God is by works.  We are saved by works, and we are saved by works alone.  Don't touch that dial..." What did he say?!   Dr. Sproul goes on to explain: "[W]hen I say that we are justified by works and by works alone, what do I mean by it? I mean that the grounds of my justification and the grounds of your justification are the perfect works of Jesus Christ . We're saved by works but t hey are not our own.  That's why we say we're saved by faith, and we're saved by grace, because the works that save us aren't our works, they're Somebody else's works ." At this point, the light bulb went on in my head. In the garden, God entered a covenant with Adam, the representative of the human race, but that relationship was contingent on Adam's obedience which  must be perfect ....