PCRT ‘09 — Session Five: “Present Reality of Justification”

Session Five: Jerry Bridges — “The Present Reality of Justification”

Text: Gal 2:15

Review: to be justified by the Law, we must keep it perfectly. To rely on the Law is to be under a curse.

Faith is a two-sided coin: 1) renunciation of any confidence in our own performance and 2) We rely entirely on the finished work in Christ.

Gal 2:20c

When Paul talks about the life he now lives in Christ, he is always talking about justification, not sanctification. Problem: If justification is a past event, why does Paul speak in the present? It was a present reality that he could look to every day in his life.

Our problem: post-conversion, we want to relate to God based on our performance. We have to continue to decide to rely on Christ’s death. We must preach the Gospel to ourselves every day.

Consider your sins and lay them before the cross. Do this daily.

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NB: Now that this bit has run its course, I’m taking a brief academic hiatus in order to finish a paper for one of my classes, which is due in two weeks.

PCRT ‘09 – Seminar: Faith and Works: Justification in Paul and James

Seminar: Derek Thomas — “Faith and Works: Justification in Paul and James”

Text: James 2

James 2:14

Romans 3:28 (2:13)

This is not just Paul v. James; it’s Paul v. Paul (Rom 3:28 and Rom 2:13). Paul is clear in 3:28 that we are justified by faith apart from works. 1 Cor 3; Eph 6:8; Col 3:24-25. –> A clue: P.E. Hughes commentary on 1 Cor 5:10: not a penal judgement but a retributive one.

James 2 – Is the NT teaching so consistent and straightforward?

Proposed harmonizations:

1) In James 2, you have a different use of justification from Paul. dikaio (I don’t suppose there’s a way to have Greek characters in WordPress’ editor, is there?) –> James: vindication. To be in the right with respect to certain claims. Works prove salvation. (Derek Thomas says this argument is “pants”, which means “lame”.)

2) Different use of faith pistis and justification. Has in view professing faith and the vindication of true faith.

3) James has in view a different view of nominal faith and works. Gal 5:6 –> faith always works by love. Machen takes this view.

(Note: These views hold to inerrancy, and they’re trying to reconcile what is said. Arguments that there are simply contradictions in the Bible aren’t worth consideration.)

James seems to be contrasting two different people: one with Faith A and the other with Faith B. Both think they have genuine faith.

Faith A – no works

Faith B – shown by what it does

James asks whether A can save. Clearly he expects to answer no — because saving faith is always accompanied by works.

Abraham was rightly related to God in the covenant and demonstrated that to the Lord of the covenant. The vindication of declarative righteousness is in works. Two senses:

James 2:18 – What a man does is the touchstone of faith

Faith isn’t an abstraction, it’s a way of describing a person united to Christ.  –> What Paul says in Gal 5.

A note on Norman Shepherd: he began by interpreting the less clear rather than the clear (violating the rule of faith). Argued that James should be seen the same as in Paul and stresses the importance of James 2:14. Doing these things ensures that you will end up with a skewed view of justification that is ultimately the same as Rome’s.

PCRT ‘09 — Session Four: Justification in Union with Christ

Session 4: Derek Thomas — “Justification in Union with Christ”

Text: Gal 2:17

Imputation is the means by which righteousness is imparted to the account of the sinner. To impute is to count legally.

Union with Christ in Paul: his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus was an important factor. (“Saul, why do you persecute me?”)

When we are united in Christ by the Holy Spirit, we receive what is to be ours (Phil 3:8-9).

We are justfied only because we are in union with Christ -> this union prevents the making of a legal fiction. Reformed position: Union & justification are distinguishable but not separable.

Our salvation is based on Christ’s obedience.

PCRT ‘09 – Session Three: God the Justifier and the Just

Session 3: Steve Lawson — “God the Justifier and the Just”

Text: Romans 3:21-31

The central importance of the doctrine of justification can’t be understated. Luther called it the chief article. It nourishes and defends the Church. Without it, the Church cannot stand for even one hour.

The very character and attributes of God are inter-woven with this doctrine. It puts the glory of God on full display.

What does justification tell us about God?

1) v. 23 — God is absolutely holy. Describes intrinsic glory. Glory is used synonymously with holiness. God is so holy, and we are so sinful that there is an infinite chasm between him and us. This is the argument of Leviticus: we can only approach God on his terms. (My note: RPW FTW! *cough*)

2) v. 25 — The wrath of God. A necessary and proper stance of a righteous God to sin. Infinite fury and vengeance. Ps. 5, 7:11; Rom 1:18. God’s judgement is now placated.

3) Righteousness. The state of God being just. He always does what is right. Justice is the exercise of righteousness. Illustration of the scales (revisiting the prior night’s ledger illustration but with scales).

4) v. 24 — Grace. The gift of God’s grace manifested in the Gospel of Christ. A gift for the guilty.

5) v. 24 — Immutability. Presented as a finished transation. Once for all time forensic justification. Rom 8:29-30

6) vv. 29-30 — Sovereignty. It is God who justifies and He is sovereign in Heaven and on Earth. We are what God says we are. Rom 8:31. Our justification is kept secure by God’s sovereign authority.

Our response?

1) Worship

2) Walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Obedience)

3) Witness (Evangelism)

PCRT ‘09 — Session Two: Justification Through Faith Alone

Session Two: Derek Thomas — “Justification Through Faith Alone”

Text: Romans 3:21-31

Importance of the doctrine of justification through faith alone: Melancthon said that the formal cause of the Reformation was the issue of Scripture; the material cause was justification. Calvin said that justification is the hinge on which the Gospel turns.

1) Need for justification v. 23 –> all have sinned. Rom. 1 –> the man or woman without the benefit of revealed religion is bombarded with the revelation of God in creation, even his wrath is revealed; there is no excuse. The evidence is in the sinfulness of their lives. Sin is evidence that God’s wrath has come, not that it is coming.

All have sinned, and the purpose of revelation is to stop every mouth from self-justification. Man has fallen short of the end for which they were created, to glorify God (WSC 1). Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo — part of the reason for the atonement is the restoration of God’s glory.

2) Provision for justification. The Gospel: he who knew no sin became sin for us. The Gospel is not that Jesus is Lord, but that he became sin for us. What does it mean to be justified? Pro. 17:15. To constitute a person just in a right relationship with the Law. God gave himself to us to save us from himself.

3) Implications of justification. vv. 27-31 –> boasting is excluded. Faith is not the ground for justification but the instrument. Even faith is a gift (giving all the glory to God). A second implication — the law is not overthrown. Law has a function to play in the life of the Christian.