Ok guys. You’re a Calvinist. You know the truth, right?
So, what’s wrong with this T-shirt?
Nothing. That’s the correct answer. Luther, awesome, message, awesome.
The problem is the message from New Reformation Press:
This shirt bears one of Dr. Martin Luther’s most well-known phrases, “Simul Iustus et Peccator” or “At Once Justified and Sinner” (also commonly translated as “Simultaneously Sinner and Saint”).
Being baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, the sinner is declared blameless, Jesus’ righteousness being imputed to the sinner’s account for Jesus’ sake. This concept of justification is the core of the Gospel rediscovered in the Reformation of the 16th century.
In a time when there is an increasing push for Christians to please God with their own works, this shirt helps push back in the understanding that Christians remain sinners, even in faith, and continue to need the perfect works of Jesus imputed to them since all our works will always be as “filthy rags” to God. The only thing that we have to offer to our salvation is our sin.
But in Christ, you can remain confident that God sees Christ’s merit in your stead.
Wear this simple, yet powerful, message and spread the good news of the Gospel.
Now wait…
Here’s what’s wrong with it.
The good works of a Christian are not ‘filthy rags.’
Reformation21 says:
In a time when there is an increasing push for Christians to please God with their own works, this shirt helps push back in the understanding that Christians remain sinners, even in faith, and continue to need the perfect works of Jesus imputed to them since all our works will always be as “filthy rags” to God. The only thing that we have to offer to our salvation is our sin.
Well I’m pushing, without apology. They’re wrong, and Scripture says they are. You SHOULD be pleasing God with your good works.
Listen to me. Right now.
If you are in Christ, you’re works are not ‘filthy rags’ and these young men running this new Calvinist site are so very wrong.
Whoever is running this ‘new Calvinist’ sham needs to be spanked. I’d like to do it myself, but, better spanked by God, and I pray they will be so.
The works we do, as Christians, are pleasing to God if they be with right motive, right means, right attitude, and right end. Such good works are the work of the Holy Spirit in us – with us, not as if we are merely along for the ride. Deeds done in our flesh continue to be sin.
The shirt reveals a real problem – claiming to proclaim the gospel with an extra-biblical message. Neo-calvinists tend to want to shock people – that shirt is designed to do that.
I’m a little confused, so maybe you can help to clarify…are you saying that as a Christian our works are acceptable in the sight of God? If so the implication is that we need Christ for our justification but not for our sanctification.
We should not lose sight of the fact that even our good works as Christians are filthy rags if they are not met with the sanctifying work of Christ.
At best you seem to be presuming too much from a simple t-shirt…at worst you seem to be promoting the idea that we have our own righteousness when we become a Christian rather than continuing to trust in the righteousness of Christ
Not the shirt Tim, focus on the message from Ref21
I’m not sure who Tim is…but i was interacting with your post. You’ve said things in your post that my reply above is related to…and i’d love for you to interact with that post.
As Christians, our good works are absolutely not “filthy rags”. That opposes the clear teaching of Scripture. We are encouraged to good works, to do and obey.
Eph_2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Php_2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
1Ti_2:10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.
1Ti_5:10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
1Ti_6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
Tit_2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Tit_2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Tit_3:8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Tit_3:14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
Heb_10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Jas_2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Jas_3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
2Co 5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
The good works of a Christian are not filthy rags, brother. They are pleasing to God.
Joel, I completely understand your thinking…however, not ONE of the passages above even hints that the believer’s works, of themselves are anything BUT filthy rags apart from the enabling and empowering work of the Spirit of God. That is all Luther said. Any “good work” done in the flesh, that is, without the conscious, continual and deliberate reliance upon the finished work of Christ, and upon the power of His Indwelling Spirit is not a good work at all. It doesn’t matter what the actual nature of that work is.
Be careful that, in your zeal, you do not imply that that somehow, at Justififcation, we get all that we need and are equipped with all that we will need from then on, enablement-wise. Once again, I understand your zeal, but the passages you cite do not support the point you make, but rather argue that the Spirit MUST enable the believer for good works or those those works will be lacking.
It is surely so that the believer produces good works, but that is in the context of obedience and Spirit enablement as portrayed Biblically. It is not a given experience, naturally flowing whatever the circumstance.
At least, that seems to be what the Scriptures says…
I do think you’re missing my point. Those works are not good as they stand on their own, but only as they are done in faith and mixed with the merit of Christ Himself.
I’m trying to show the importance of Christ in both our justification AND our sanctification. We can’t become Christian and then say, “now our works are good…no more need for Christ in them”.
Even the good works of a Christian, if they are not joined to the merits of Christ, are filthy rags before God.
Joel,
We are not Reformed or Calvinist. We are Lutherans. We would say that even our best “Spirit -led’ works are still tainted with our sin and can never be held up to God as something meritorious.
Hear Jesus Himself:
Luke 17:10
So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
Pat Kyle
New Reformation Press
Patrick,
I would certainly say that there is error in what you are saying in your post. I would have liked to see more nuance in Joel’s opening post of this thread, but i certainly agree with the spirit of his post if it is meant to be against the kind of think you have said here.
It is quite a strain to take Luke 17:10 as a proof verse for the Christian’s work done in Christ being filthy rags. Consider that the verse says nothing negative about the works done, but rather calls them those things that “ought” to have been done. And what ought to be done if not good works?
Joel,
Were my previous comments lost in moderation, or did they not come through?
Patrick,
Apparently for some reason your comments were caught by the spam filter. It happens on occasion, and I rarely ever check it. I’ve marked everything from NRP as ‘not spam’ so, hopefully, that won’t happen again.
I can’t speak for the writers of Reformation 21, but I understand what they are saying differently.
They said, Christians “continue to need the perfect works of Jesus imputed to them since all our works will always be as ‘filthy rags’ to God. The only thing that we have TO OFFER TO OUR SALAVTION is our sin.” (my emphasis).
As far as salvation goes, everything is as filthy rags; Paul called it garbage (Phil 3:8). In Christ, however, our ‘filthy rags’ are all we have to offer and they are (by grace alone) pleasing to him, as you show in the various verses you quoted in your Nov 24th, 10:13 comment.
Gentlemen,
You have shown the need for good works as a Christian as we all would agree, however, you have not demonstrated that our good works of themselves are untainted by our sin. In order for that to be accomplished they would have to be conceived of and done with an absolutely pure and right motive, executed perfectly, and all this with an eye to keeping all the ramifications of our works from causing harm or ill in unforeseen ways. None of us is capable of doing this,so our works, done in faith, are always accompanied by God’s grace and forgiveness. They have to be because they are not perfect
Our works are acceptable to Christ only when done through and in faith in HIm, But, like a small child bringing a drawing or other thing they have created to a parent, we bring our flawed works to our heavenly Father in faith and love and He accepts them because of Christ.
However if we look at our scripturally obligated good works as a means to please the Lord, in and of themselves they are filthy rags.
Hear John Calvin from Book 2 of his Institutes:
pg.42, “Now if even our righteousness. when viewed in the light of truth, be found to be “as filthy rags;” (z) what judgment will be formed of our acknowledged unrighteousness? ”
Would not the ability to do good works, and the works themselves be at least part of what would constitute our righteousness?
Upon further reflection this morning before chuirch, I realized that your dislike of our ad for the shirt stems from a misunderstanding of what the shirt itself points out, and that is the distinction between God’s law and the Gospel. Just as under God’s law we remain sinners even after justification, under the Gospel we are pure and blameless, righteous and holy in Him. Likewise, when examined under the searing light of God’s law, our works are filthy rags, but under the glorious grace of the Gospel they are an acceptable offering, pleasing to Him. So we are looking at two sides of the same coin from God’s perspective.
How you address the issues depends on your audience. At New Ref Press, our readers are mostly burned out refugees from the wastelands of Evangelicalism, who have heard more than their fair share of ‘how to’ sermons on sin management, three steps to good works, their standing as a Christian based on the strength of their commitment and the quality/quantity of their works, etc. To the bruised reeds and the smoldering wicks we proclaim the Gospel and try to undermine some of the trust in works inculcated by years of semi-pelagian (in some cases, full on pelagian) teaching. Hence the reference to our works as filthy rags.