How Reformed Theology Distorts The
Meaning of "Justification By Faith"
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
The following is a special insert included on certain commentaries
dealing with the redefining of "Justification by Faith". It will repeat
some things already addressed in this study, but may also provide
answers to some questions not previously covered.
The reader should know that Calvinism, Covenant Theology, The Institutes of Christian Religion, Replacement Theology and various expressions of Christian fundamentalism are all interrelated belief systems that fall under the general heading of "Reformed theology", which is foundational to many mainline Christian denominations.
When examining the different teachings of the Protestant Reformation, it could be compared to wondering into quicksand. What seems like a fairly easy task at the beginning quickly becomes confusing and frustrating. You find yourself dealing with numerous individual interpretations of Bible doctrine and complex theological terms. In our commentaries about the Reformation, we try to keep things simple. But, sometimes our desire for simplicity unintentionally generates more questions. Simplicity is not the problem. It's the various theologians and preachers that use complex terms and skillfully crafted religious reasoning’s in order to make it sound like God says something that He does not say. Paul tried to address this problem by saying ;
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)
The salvation of Jesus Christ is simple to understand. If it's not simple, then we should closely examine the teaching.
The Dangerous Spiritual Game of
Bait and Switch
Some of the problems found in modern-day Reformed theology (and its alternate name of Covenant theology) make it necessary to take a closer look at some of these more complex issues. In order to understand the errors and why church people are so quick to accept them, you must also examine the various methods and tactics that make them so appealing. Most of the errors found in Reformed theology (and its alternate name of Covenant theology) involve the redefining of Biblical terms. A theologian or preacher can take a word or phrase that most people understand, subtly change the definition, claim that we didn't really understand the true meaning--and then provide the unsuspecting congregation with the "correct definition". Nearly all forms of false teaching in the Christian Church use this effective tactic. If you possess certain credentials and a forum where you can REPEATEDLY preach your new definition to the public over a period of years, it will begin to be accepted as foundational Bible truth. This was the tactic used against Saint Paul's evangelistic ministry in the first century. Certain theologians took Paul's New Testament Gospel of Jesus Christ, added illegal Old Testament principles, and then reintroduced their modified gospel to the Church--BUT CONTINUED TO ASSOCIATE THE TEACHING WITH JESUS CHRIST. This is why Paul warned that they were preaching "another Jesus". He deliberately used that term to make an important point. The name remained the same, but the gospel behind the name had been redefined and corrupted. It continues to be a problem today. The particular Jesus many church members put their faith in is actually "another Jesus", which is the one Paul warned about.
This same tactic is being used by Reformed theology against the New Testament truth of "Justification by Faith". When you condense everything down, the Protestant Reformation had two major factions or sides, which are rarely examined;
Those who taught "free justification by faith in Christ
without works--according to the New Covenant
(Romans 3:24-26, Romans 4:4-8, Romans 5:18-21, Titus 3:5-7
Hebrews 10:19-23)
Those who taught "justification by faith in Christ", where
faith had to be authenticated by works (it wasn't free).
Martin Luther (and those aligned with his beliefs) taught from the "free justification position". But, Calvin and Knox (and those aligned with their beliefs) taught from the "justification by faith plus works" position. BOTH GROUPS REFER TO THEIR TEACHING AS "JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST". HOWEVER, THE DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE TERMS ARE DIFFERENT.
When you hear certain Reformed apologists (especially those coming from John Calvin's position) use this term, it sounds exactly the same as what Luther taught. But, they are not the same. Calvin (and Reformed theology) introduces a corrupted form of justification by faith through what is known as "Vicarious Law-Keeping". To properly understand why there is a major Protestant faction or element (called Reformed theology) that claims doing good works and keeping the Law is necessary for salvation, the information in this teaching should be studied. When we try to simplify a complex problem it sometimes generates more questions. This teaching may answer a few of these questions and reveals a dangerous error at the same time.
Special Note : The term, "Vicarious Law-Keeping" did not originate with the Rock of Offence website (I wish it did). We first encountered the term from Middletown Church and the Bible Scholars quoted on the church's site. However, we discovered that similar terminology is also used by other theologians, who discuss some of the deeper aspects of church history that most of us avoid. This term perfectly describes the way Reformed theology and Calvinism deceptively reinserts Law-Keeping into the Gospel of Christ in violation of Scripture. This popular theology changes "the free justification by Christ's blood" into a legalistic practice that Saint Paul condemns in his epistles. Rather than do our own teaching on this topic, we've decided to use the excellent presentation from Middletown Bible Church as a model. When someone else provides a much needed Bible teaching, we sometimes choose their teaching and give them the credit. Our goal is for the entire Church to understand the truth being presented--and it doesn't necessarily have to come from us. We want to make sure that proper credit is given George Zeller and Middletown Church concerning the information found here.
We remind all readers that including this material should not be interpreted as complete agreement with all doctrine and beliefs of Middletown Church or the authors. It also doesn't mean they agree with all doctrine and beliefs of the Rock of Offence website. Our added commentary, which is presented in parallel, is not meant to change or modify the original intentions of the authors. We are not trying to put our words in their mouths. Our website has a certain focus that puts us in alignment with their views on the controversial and often distorted topic of "Justification by faith". But, some of our comments may not reflect the way the original authors wants their ideas presented. Despite this possibility, we've made every effort to keep the spirit and content of these writings in alignment with the original authors.
There are always areas of disagreement and no two Christian ministries perfectly agree on all doctrine. That's one reason we avoid referring people to other websites, even if there is a high level of agreement. The conflict can result in confusion, which is something we want to avoid. Yet, the truth of the Gospel and the doctrine of "free justification by faith" are the most important doctrines in the Bible, which is why we make an exception in this case. Martin Luther correctly warned that the entire Church stands and falls on the truth of "Justification by faith". That's why these issues continue to be the primary target of the devil's attack against the Church as we get closer to the return of Christ. Due to the complexity of this topic, we add some additional comments and consolidate these teachings into one study.
This is a special "joint Bible study presentation"
that does not follow our normal website guidelines.
Our Comments on the "Erroneous Doctrine
Of Vicarious Law-Keeping"
The link to the original source material
is available here:
Vicarious Law-Keeping (Middletown Church)
We begin this section by defining some terms
according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
vicarious:
Performed or suffered by one person as a substitute
for another or to the benefit or advantage of another.
erroneous:
Containing or characterized by error.
The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ is foundational to the truth of the authentic Gospel. You could correctly replace the term "substitutionary" with the word "vicarious". Jesus suffered and died at the cross to pay for our sins as "our substitute". It could also be said; Christ's vicarious suffering and death paid for our sins. However, Reformed theology (and its alternate name of Covenant theology) wrongly expands and modifies this definition to include not only Christ's suffering at the cross, but also the righteousness He acquired BY PERFECTLY KEEPING THE LAW DURING HIS EARTHLY LIFE BEFORE THE CROSS.
This is a very subtle point that Reformed theology (and its alternate name of Covenant theology) use to change the truths behind Christ's salvation. It's the proverbial "camel's nose under the tent" sort of tactic. At first, it looks like something small and insignificant. But, if ignored, it will eventually come in and destroy God's original intention for His Son's sacrifice. Did Christ's righteous life before the cross pay for our sins? Or was it His one obedient act at the cross that made the payment?
We must emphasize that this is not an effort to minimize the significance of the sinless and perfectly obedient life of Jesus Christ. He lived a sinless life as the Lamb of God and perfectly kept the law. These qualities of Christ's life are well documented in Scripture. Yet, we must also look at what the Scriptures teach about how our sins were dealt with. We must look at the way God says our righteousness and justification is secured. The religious opinion of certain individuals, regardless of how well-intentioned, doesn't count in this area. There are influential leaders and their followers who are trying to use what seems like a minor "legal technicality" as a way to covertly introduce a distorted salvation doctrine. This is not a deliberate act to deceive. They sincerely believe their doctrine is God's original intention. Unfortunately, viewing a person's sincerity as an indication that you're getting truth could be a deadly spiritual mistake.
When we look back at Old Testament sacrifices, a lamb was often used. It was killed so that its blood could atone (or cover) a person's sin. Was the payment being gradually made during the previous life of that lamb before its sacrifice? Or, was the payment made (and transferred to the sinner) at the time it spilled its blood on the altar. The answer to this question is obvious. Remember that Jesus is called "The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world". When was our sin paid for and taken away? THE PRICE WAS PAID WHEN THE LAMB OF GOD WAS SLAIN. It was not being progressively paid for through Christ's "perfectly keeping the Law" during the time span of His life before the cross, as taught by Reformed theology.
The New Testament states that it was "CHRIST'S ONE ACT OF OBEDIENCE AT THE CROSS" that made the payment, which secured our righteousness and our free justification.
"But this Man, AFTER HE HAD OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. FOR BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED." (Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV -- Emphasis Added)
"Therefore, as through one man’s offense (Adam's one sin) judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, EVEN SO THROUGH ONE MAN'S (JESUS CHRIST) RIGHTEOUS ACT THE FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, RESULTING IN JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, SO ALSO BY ONE MAN'S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21 NKJV -- Emphasis Added)
“. . . Who His own self bore our sins in His own body ON THE TREE" (1 Peter 2:24).
“For Christ ONCE SUFFERED FOR SINS, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh . . .” (1 Peter 3:18)
“So Christ WAS ONCE OFFERED to bear the sin of many . . .”(Heb. 9:28)
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).
“. . . being justified BY HIS BLOOD we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom.5:9)
"...BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS, whom God set forth as a propitiation BY HIS BLOOD, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26 -- Emphasis Mine)
"For He made Him who knew no sin TO BE SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." (2 Corinthians 5:21 -- Emphasis Mine)
Notice the terms used in these New Testament Scriptures;
* one Sacrifice for sins forever
Happened at the cross
(Hebrews 10:12-14)
* one righteous act
Happened at the cross
(Romans 5:18-21)
* bore our sins on the tree
Happened at the cross
(1 Peter 2:24)
* once suffered for sins
Happened at the cross
(1 Peter 3:18)
* was once offered to bear the sins of many
Happened at the cross
(Heb. 9:28)
* being delivered for our offences
Happened at the cross
(Rom. 4:25)
* being justified by His blood
Christ's blood was spilled at the cross
(Rom.5:9)
* being justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
God set forth as a propitiation BY HIS BLOOD
Christ's blood was spilled at the cross
(Romans 3:24-26)
* For He made Him who knew no sin TO BE
SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.
Jesus was made sin at the cross, which
is what made us "the righteousness of
God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21)
"Justification by Faith" According
To Reformed Theology
The problem with this area of study is the different expressions and flavors of Reformed theology and Calvinism. For example, it has been said that many churches claim to be Calvinist, but fail to embrace all of John Calvin's teachings. We never want to misrepresent anyone's beliefs. However, our research shows that the following information is the most common position embraced by Reformed preachers, authors and apologists.
The reader should know that Calvinism, Covenant Theology, The Institutes of Christian Religion, Replacement Theology and various expressions of Christian fundamentalism are all interrelated belief systems that fall under the general heading of "Reformed theology", which is foundational to many mainline Christian denominations.
Reformed preachers claim that our salvation depends on two things:
Active obedience, where Christ perfectly kept the Law during His life.
Passive obedience, which is Christ's suffering and death.
A vast majority of Reformed preachers embrace the following shocking premise :
Christ's sacrifice at the cross (what they call His passive obedience) WAS NOT SUFFICIENT to provide our entire salvation. To obtain full salvation the believer must conform their life to Christ's life in a specific way. As Christ perfectly kept the Law during His life, the believer must endeavor to keep the Law during their life. It is understood that this effort will fail because Scripture says that no one can perfectly keep the Law. Yet, at the point of failure, God intervenes and imputes the perfect righteousness (or justification) that Christ possesses as the result of His "perfect keeping of the Law" (His active obedience) during His life before the cross. However, the believer must make the commitment and effort to keep the Law before they can receive Christ's imputed righteousness and justification.
According to Reformed theology, our righteousness and justification comes from Law-keeping; first by the believer--and then, upon their eventual failure, from the imputed righteousness that comes from the perfect Law-keeping of Christ. The preachers of this doctrine claim that our sins are blotted out because of Christ's suffering and death (what they call His passive obedience), but the righteousness of Christ (or our justification) that is credited to us is the result of Christ keeping the Law during His life before the cross (what they call His active obedience) as our substitute.
Reformed theologian R. C. Sproul says it this way:
"The cross alone, however, does not justify us ....We are justified not only by the death of Christ, but also by the life of Christ. Christ's mission of redemption was not limited to the cross. To save us He had to live a life of perfect righteousness. His perfect, active obedience was necessary for His and our salvation . . . We are constituted as righteous by the obedience of Christ which is imputed to us by faith [R. C. Sproul, Faith Alone, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), p. 104]."
Here are the words of John Calvin, the father of Calvinism :
"....when it is asked how Christ, by abolishing sin, removed the enmity between God and us, and purchased a righteousness which made him favourable and kind to us, it may be answered generally, that he accomplished this by the whole course of his obedience. This is proved by the testimony of Paul, “As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19). And indeed he elsewhere extends the ground of pardon which exempts from the curse of the law to the whole life of Christ, “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made unto the law, to redeem them that were under the law” (Gal. 4:4-5). Thus even at his baptism he declared that a part of righteousness was fulfilled by his yielding obedience to the command of the Father. In short, from the moment when he assumed the form of a servant, he began, in order to redeem us, to pay the price of deliverance . . . [John Calvin, Calvin's Institutes, vol.2, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), p. 437]."
Important Additional Comments about Calvin's words :
Calvin is giving a misleading account concerning Romans 5:19 by changing some important definitions. It wasn't Adam's disobedient life that made us sinners. It was Adam's "one act of disobedience" by eating the fruit--which God said not to eat. Up until that "one act" Adam was not disobedient. In the same way, Paul wasn't referring to Christ's life of obedience as what makes us righteous, but Christ's "one act of obedience at the cross".
"Therefore, as through one man’s offense (Adam's one sin) judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, EVEN SO THROUGH ONE MAN'S (JESUS CHRIST) RIGHTEOUS ACT THE FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, RESULTING IN JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, SO ALSO BY ONE MAN'S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS. (Romans 5:18-19 NKJV -- Emphasis Added)
The New King James version of the Bible brings out this truth. In Romans 5:18 (concerning Jesus Christ) the text doesn't say, "one man's righteous life". It says "one man's righteous act". The book of Hebrews makes the same point;
"But this Man (Jesus Christ), AFTER HE HAD OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. FOR BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED." (Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV -- Emphasis Added)
(Other Scriptures that support the same truth: 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:28, Romans 4:25, Romans 5:9, Romans 3:24-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Calvin also gives misleading information concerning the quote from Galatians 4:4-5. In his personal comments about this Scripture he attempts to project a meaning that "redeeming those under the law" involved Christ's entire life (from His birth to the cross). Yet, the Scriptures teach that we are redeemed by a specific act where Christ's blood was spilled at His crucifixion. Our Redemption was not paid for or initiated before the shedding of Christ's blood.
"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)
Calvinism commonly uses these kinds of skillfully distorted definitions to change God's original intention of Christ's salvation, while maintaining the illusion of looking and sounding like fundamental Bible doctrine.
Reformed theologian Dr. J. I. Packer describes his belief this way:
"In classical (Reformed) Protestant theology the phrase “the imputation of Christ's righteousness,” means, namely, that believers are righteous and have righteousness before God for no other reason than that Christ, their head, was righteous before God, and they are one with Him, sharers of His status and acceptance. God justifies them by passing on them, for Christ's sake, the verdict which Christ's obedience merited. God declares them to be righteous because He reckons them to be righteous; and He reckons righteousness to them, not because He accounts them to have kept His law personally, but because He accounts them to be united to the one who kept it representatively." [J. I. Packer, Justification, in Wycliffe Dictionary of Theology, (Ed.) Harrison, Bromiley, Henry, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999), p.306.]
Important Additional Comment: In other words, Packer is saying that we are reckoned as being righteous not because we successfully kept the law, but because Christ kept the Law for us (or representatively).
"Justification by Faith" According To The
New Testament Scriptures
The following statement is from Charles Stanley Rotherham. He comments on the Reformed definition of justification through the imputed righteousness that Christ possessed from His life of "perfect Law-keeping".
"I would say, in answer to many enquiries on this solemn subject, I cannot find this doctrine in Scripture: it cannot be the ancient doctrine of God's Church. The basis is wrong . . . Justification is not on the principle of law at all. “The righteousness of God without law is manifested.”
Important Note: Rotherham is quoting from Galatians 3:11,
which says; "But that no one is justified by the law in the
sight of God is evident (or manifest), for “the just shall live by faith."
This quote is taken from "Justification in the Risen Christ", by Charles Stanley of Rotherham, of the Plymouth Brethren (taken from a work entitled From New Birth to New Creation, complied by R.A. Huebner, pp.37-38)
Other Scriptures That Support Galatians 3:11
And Rotherham's Comments
"....And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:9--Emphasis Added)
"Therefore BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT". (Romans 3:20--Emphasis Added)
Contrary to the teachings of Reformed theology and Calvinism....
The Law does not provide New Testament justification.
The Law does not provide New Testament righteousness.
Saint Paul spent his entire ministry preaching about God's gift of eternal life. He also worked to expose those who twisted Scripture and used it "out of context" to change "God's gift" into a "conditional salvation", a salvation by works or a "justification than must be authenticated by works". First century church leaders, such as Paul and Peter, warned that these kinds of teachings do not come from God (2 Peter 2:1-2, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-8).
A major part of the problem lies with a wrong understanding of the nature of "imputing or imputation". It is correct to say that Christ's righteousness is "imputed" to the believer's account. Reformed theology also appears to teach this kind of "imputed righteousness". There are two kinds of righteousness found in Scripture. In the Old Testament (before the cross), righteousness was said to come from keeping the Law. But, under the New Covenant of Christ, WHICH BEGAN AFTER THE CROSS, God rejects a righteousness that comes from Law-keeping. This is why Philippians 3:9 uses the phrase "...and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law." Galatians 3:10-12 makes an even stronger statement;
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse."
After the cross, Scripture warns that the "Law-keeping" type of righteousness is spiritually illegal and carries a curse. This should be of concern to any honest student of the Bible.
Jesus Christ is Righteous
Because He is God
Reformed preachers and their followers advance their misleading doctrine by changing the underlying definition of the "imputed righteousness of Christ". Their version of "Christ's righteousness" comes from His life-long perfect obedience to the Law. However, Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (John 1:1-17). That means He possesses the perfect righteousness that comes from being God. This kind of righteousness is radically different. Although Jesus did perfectly keep the Law during His earthly life, this isn't the kind of righteousness God imputes to the believer. The New Testament refers to the imputed righteousness of the believer as "the righteousness of God". IT IS NOT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW. Philippians 3:9 calls it "the righteousness which is of God by faith". It is "of God" because it's God's very own perfect righteousness that exists BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. The New Testament book of 2 Corinthians says it this way;
"For He made Him who knew no sin TO BE SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." (2 Corinthians 5:21 -- Emphasis Mine)
Once again, it’s not the righteousness that comes from Law-keeping as taught by Reformed theology. It's the "Righteousness of God" that is imputed to us as a result of Christ's "one sacrificial act" at cross. This "imputation" not only makes us perfectly righteous (with God's own righteousness), but also "FREELY JUSTIFIES US" apart from any merit or work requirements.
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. BUT TO HIM WHO DOES NOT WORK BUT BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man TO WHOM GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM WORKS: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN." (Romans 4:4-8 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
More information about the definition of
"imputed or imputation" is available at
the following link.
Imputation: The New Covenant Method
God Uses
To Transfer His
Spiritual Benefits To Us
How can God legally impute His own righteousness
to us? To find out, click on the following link.
The Believer's Position In Christ
The New Testament Scriptures teach that it was the cross of Christ (and the events it initiated; His death, burial and specifically His resurrection) that transferred justification and the cancellation of our sins to the believer. Saint Paul said it this way;
(Note: We understand that repeating Scriptures previously quoted seems redundant. However, in this case it is necessary to illustrate an important point.)
"Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? BUT IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, THEN CHRIST IS NOT RISEN. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. AND IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN, YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE; YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS! THEN ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP (OR DIED) IN CHRIST HAVE PERISHED." (1 Corinthians 15:12-18 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
Paul made the following comments about Abraham's "free justification by faith" as an example for us today.
"And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. AND THEREFORE "IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Now it was not written for his sake alone that it (righteousness) was imputed to him, BUT ALSO FOR US. IT SHALL BE IMPUTED TO US WHO BELIEVE IN HIM WHO RAISED UP JESUS OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD, WHO WAS DELIVERED UP BECAUSE OF OUR OFFENCES, AND WAS RAISED BECAUSE OF OUR JUSTIFICATION." (Romans 4:19-25 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. BUT TO HIM WHO DOES NOT WORK BUT BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man TO WHOM GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM WORKS: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN." (Romans 4:4-8 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
"Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so THROUGH ONE MAN'S RIGHTEOUS ACT THE FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, RESULTING IN JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
These Scriptures are showing us a marvelous truth. Notice that Paul credits our belief (or faith) in the "raising of Jesus our Lord from the dead" as what makes our imputed justification possible--NOT LAW-KEEPING. Also notice that our righteousness and justification is called "the free gift", meaning that it's unmerited and undeserved (this is what the Bible calls God's Grace).
Millions of professing Christians are suffering unnecessarily under the wrong teachings of Reformed theology, Calvinism and all of its different expressions spread throughout the institutional Christian Church. Maybe they should put more weight on Paul's New Testament words than on the aberrant teachings of their religion.
Closing Thoughts: Comments From
Other Christian Writers
We have quoted Christian writer and author David Dunlap and
also George Zeller of Middletown Bible Church. To read this
material from its original source the presentations can
be found at the following links:
The Dangers of Reformed Theology
The Erroneous Doctrine of Vicarious Law-Keeping
Other Helpful Studies At The Middletown Church Site:
Index of Other Commentaries On The Problem With
Reformed Theology From Middletown Bible Church
Index of A Biblical Analysis of Lordship Salvation
From Middletown Bible Church
Attention: These Internet links will not be
available if you are working offline.
Important Note:
Providing this information should not necessarily be
interpreted as complete agreement with the theology,
eschatology or political views of Middletown Bible Church
or these authors. It should also be understood that
Middletown Bible Church and these authors may not
necessarily agree with all the teachings found on
our website.
Comments from Christian Writer
and Author David Dunlap
"...the gospel writers make it very clear that up to the time of the suffering of Christ on the cross, our Lord did not 'drink the cup' of God's wrath and become the sin-bearer. The righteous God did not forsake the Son prior to the cross. The Son, prior to the cross, never uttered the awful lament, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken Me . . .” (Mk. 15:34). THE CROSS OF CHRIST WAS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE HOLY GOD POURED OUT HIS UNRESERVED AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT AGAINST SIN. There the holy God poured out His unmitigated wrath without mercy, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE INFINITE MERCY OF GOD WITHOUT WRATH. In this regard our Lord states, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour. BUT FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR” (John 12:27). Is not Scripture exceedingly clear that it was upon the cross that our Lord suffered for our sins and bore the wrath of God against sin?"
[End Quote]
Comments from George Zeller
"The Scripture tells us to “prove all things [test all things by the Word of God]; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ it is our responsibility to test and examine what men teach in light of the inerrant Word of God. We will attempt to do this with respect to the teachings of Reformed Theology. May the Lord grant that this analysis would be fair and accurate, and most of all true to His Word."
"In spite of its many strong points, Reformed Theology errs in some very crucial areas. Its extreme Calvinism forces it to have a gospel only for the elect. Its deadly legalism permeates its entire teaching on the Christian life and sanctification. Its teaching on regeneration and saving faith takes away from the sinner’s personal, God-given responsibility to believe the gospel. Its emphasis on Lordship salvation complicates and corrupts the gospel message by requiring the sinner to perform additional acts of surrender and obedience in order to be saved. This detracts from the simple gospel of the grace of God which Paul preached and defended with his life."
"The Reformed theory of “vicarious law-keeping” is a distortion of the doctrine of justification, and the teaching that Christ bore our sins prior to the cross is a serious misunderstanding of what took place on Calvary’s tree. Putting believers under the law of Moses as a rule of life puts the focus upon Mt. Sinai rather than Mt. Calvary, and incalculable harm is caused whenever the cross is not central in the Christian life."
"In addition to these problems, Reformed Theology has abandoned the literal, normal interpretation of the Scriptures when it comes to prophecy in general and the millennial reign of Christ in particular. Many Reformed men have embraced preterism, a system of prophetic interpretation which has destroyed the prophetic significance of hundreds of passages in the Word of God, thus robbing the Church of its “blessed hope” and robbing Israel of its promised kingdom. When the Church loses its evangelistic zeal due to extreme Calvinism and when the Church ceases to look for the Lord’s coming due to preterist influences, then a sad spiritual condition will inevitably result. With an open Bible and with a poor and contrite heart and with an attitude of trembling before the written Word of God, may we continue in those things which are fitting for sound doctrine!"
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