Tags
How the Law is a Blessing
We obey the commandments, therefore, not in order to merit God’s favor but because we have already experienced his favor. The Decalogue was given to Israel after God delivered them from Egypt. The law was a response to redemption not a cause of it. In one sense, the law shows us our sin and leads us to the gospel. But in another sense, law ought to follow the gospel just as the giving of the Decalogue followed salvation from Egypt. We obey God’s words not because we cower under threat of judgment, but because we stand confidently with our Deliverer and gladly accept his good rule for our life.
More by DeYoung on the Law and Sanctification, an important discussion on the subject:
DeYoung is dead wrong. The Lord uses many other motivators for obedience other than gratitude. One of many examples would be to judge ourselves so that we will not be judged of the Lord (1Cor 11:31). DeYoung also deceptively (deliberately) makes no difference between *merit* for justification and merit for sanctification. He’s trying to play both sides of the fence. Pathetic.
I don’t care to spend 50 minutes listening to the seminar. PPT – does DeYoung say there is NO other motivator for obedience other than gratitutde or does he merely mentiong that gratitude is a motivator?
No, he does NOT say that. In fact, DeYoung covers the subject well.
Good to hear. I guard myself with DeYoung but have been greatly blessed by some of his work.
“We obey the commandments, therefore, not in order to merit God’s favor but because we have already experienced his favor.”
Uh, that’s false. We certainly do obey God to gain His favor. “We make it our goal to please Him.” Worse yet, and again, DeYoung is making merit in sanctification equal to merit for justification because he sees the two as the same.
“The Decalogue was given to Israel after God delivered them from Egypt.”
The law was communicated to Adam, Eve, Cain, and Able. “Sin is the transgression of the law,” and God told Cain that sin desired to control him, but he must master it. But with what? To make a theological point from the order of biblical events while attaching symbolism to each is sloppy hermeneutics of the worst order.
“We obey God’s words not because we cower under threat of judgment, but because we stand confidently with our Deliverer and gladly accept his good rule for our life.”
That’s not true, and DeYoung doesn’t make a distinction between judgement in sanctification and judgement in regard to the unregenerate. Paul warned the Thessalonians that “the judge standeth at the door” because of the way they were treating each other. Paul didn’t say that to scare some sense into them? Really? The church wasn’t supposed to be scared when Ananias and his wife were struck dead? Really?
There is barely a sentence in the excerpt that is not error.
We please God by loving obedience not for justification, but during sanctification and that is exactly what DeYoung is saying. You’re wrong paul.
Joel,
At the T4G he said obedience in sanctification is justification-driven. That’s heresy. Plain and simple.
If he said that, I would love to see the link. Got it? Please share!
Assertions without documentation are useless. “Justification driven” might simply mean that one looks back on what Christ did and is motivated by a grateful heart to obey His commands. The implications of one’s justification are broad and long lasting, even though the event was a once-for-all-time centuries ago.
You posted the link on your Twitter account. That’s were I got it. His 3 points were: growth in godliness requires [1] Spirit powered, [2] gospel-driven, [3] faith fueled effort. The same ole’ New Calvinist song and dance. Justification (gospel) does not power our effort. Justification is a finished work. To say otherwise is heresy. “Oh but Paul, there just talking about gratitude for our justification.” Oh really? Then why call it “gospel-DRIVEN”? That’s clearly saying that sanctification is powered (driven) by justification. This seems pretty straight forward to me.
I would appreciate you showing me that link, because I can’t find it. The video I posted is not from T4g. I know of no place where DeYoung has said, and I quote you Paul “At the T4G he said obedience in sanctification is justification-driven. That’s heresy. Plain and simple.” I’ve not tweeted t4g. Where during T4g did DeYoung say that? Seriously, I’d like to see the link for that, in fairness to DeYoung and my readers.
ppt – you cannot rightly substitute “gospel” for “justification” – they are not the same thing. The gospel is a good news report which leads to justification for the elect and can rightly motivate Christians to obedience.
Again Paul, where’s the link? If you don’t have one, just say so. Truth is truth, and DeYoung is spot on. No link, then it’s all hot air, and no one will respect the claim.
Manfred,
These guys are paid big bucks for communicating God’s word. Being thankful for something and being driven by it are obviously two different things.
ppt – I intensely disagree with dislike the use of the word “driven” in the context used by DeYoung, having studied the biblical use of the word while researching Rick Warren. I do know some folk who use “driven” to mean “motivate” and I do what I can to correct them. That being said, we still must try to determine what the author meant – not what it means to us as readers.
Manfred,
So, our sanctification is driven by the good-news report or the results of it? Which is it? The mere message “drives” us? Or the finished work of the results? This is why they replace “justification” with “gospel.”
ppt – Are you of the opinion that there can and is only one source of proper motivation for the Christian to pursue godliness? Are there not many facets of God’s character that, in different ways, motivate a Christian and work in his sanctification? Love of God, Fear of God, Thankfulness to God, etc.
Joel Taylor @JoelTaylor_
Spirit-Powered, Gospel-Driven, Faith-Fueled Effort http://t4g.org/media/2012/04/spirit-powered-gospel-driven-faith-fueled-effort/ via @T4Gonline // Kudos to Kevin
Ok, I never heard him say that, but I’ll listen again.
Manfred,
Absolutely, absent “the same gospel that saves us sanctifies us.” I concur with your other point to some degree, but gain, these guys are paid big bucks to communicate.
Joel,
Gospel = justification. Their mantra is “the same gospel that saved us also sanctifies us.” What saved us?
It’s exactly that point that is discussed in the video posted, and clearly, in defense of DeYoung, for what its worth, that is not what he teaches or believes (according to this video).
ppt – You have stated in several places that “Gospel = justification”. That statement is flat out and blatantly wrong. The gospel is the report of what Christ has done and God uses it to raise spiritually dead sinners to life in Christ, declaring us righteous. That declaration is our justification – the gospel is not.
Sorry guys, I am not going to play word games. Deyoung is completely orthodox and is best buddies with the T4G gang. Ya, let’s go with that. Good night.
What do you make of this comment?
“For the doctrine of justification is directive of Christian practice, and in no other evangelical truth is the whole of our obedience more concerned; for the foundation, reasons, and motives of all our duty towards God are contained therein. Wherefore, in order unto the due improvement of them ought it to be taught, and not otherwise. That which alone we aim (or ought so to do) to learn in it and by it, is how we may get and maintain peace with God, and so to live unto him as to be accepted with him in what we do.”
(John Owen, “The Doctrine of Justification By Faith,” The Works of John Owen, vol. 5, p. 10)