Thursday, June 04, 2009

Fundamentalism and Faith-Righteousness

I've been thinking lately about assurance.

There is only one safe place to play the role of fundamentalist, and it concerns God's righteousness, which is by faith. Everything else may move and shift as we learn and grow and listen to one another. I notice the teaching of the gospel of justification is illuminated within God's framework of faith-righteousness. It is within the framework of faith-righteousness that Paul describes and proves the New Testament revelations concerning Christ, in Romans 4 (below). Faith-righteousness has been the only source of approval and acceptance with God, for sanctification or justification, since the beginning of time.

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 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.”

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 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 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 offenses, and was raised because of our justification.


Our doctrines are open to correction and adjustment as we try to build our theology, our understanding of God and man, out of the Bible to a comprehensive answer for our hope. But there is one thing that will never change - the gospel of grace through faith in Him. And the second part to that is the gospel will never change for our sanctification: "The just shall live by faith."



The truth of faith-righteousness was the grounds on which Paul separated from, and got bitter with, the agitators.

15 comments:

goe said...

Hi Michele,

Thanks for droppin by my corral :) I left a comment for you, but you know something? I'm starting to get a little nervous about answering questions on blogs because there's just too many gunfights goin on isn't there? A lot a lead be flyin! I'm as bad as anyone else sometimes.

Anyway, it's good to see you diggin in the word! That's the most important thing. Rom. 4 has always been one my favorite passages. There is a lot of gold to be found there for sure.

Sanctification said...

Hi Gary,

I actually blogged this one in part because of your testimony. :D Gotta get back to readin'.

Sometimes I just am blown away by God's righteousness being by faith. I mean, it's pretty spectacular....

Nick said...

In my study of Romans 4, the Greek term "logizomai" is the English term for "reckon/impute/credit/etc," (all terms are basically equivalently used) and when I look up that term in a popular Protestant Lexicon here is what it is defined as:

----------------
QUOTE: "This word deals with reality. If I "logizomai" or reckon that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions."
http://tinyurl.com/r92dch
----------------

The Protestant Lexicon states this term first and foremost refers to the actual status of something. So if Abraham's faith is "logizomai as righteouness," it must be an actually righteous act of faith, otherwise (as the Lexicon says) "I am deceiving myself." This seems to rule out any notion of an alien righteousness, and instead points to a local/inherent righteousness.

The Lexicon gives other examples where "logizomai" appears, here are 3 examples:

-------------------
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude [logizomai] that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon [logizomai] ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon [logizomai] that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
-------------------

Notice in these examples that "logizomai" means to consider the actual truth of an object. In 3:28 Paul 'reckons' faith saves while the Law does not, this is a fact, the Law never saves. In 6:11 the Christian is 'reckoned' dead to sin because he is in fact dead to sin. In 8:18 Paul 'reckons' the present sufferings as having no comparison to Heavenly glory, and that is true because nothing compares to Heavenly glory.

To use logizomai in the "alien status" way would mean in: (1) 3:28 faith doesn't really save apart from works, but we are going to go ahead and say it does; (2) 6:11 that we are not really dead to sin but are going to say we are; (3) 8:18 the present sufferings are comparable to Heaven's glory.
This cannot be right.

So when the text plainly says "faith is logizomai as righteousness," I must read that as 'faith is reckoned as a truly righteous act', and that is precisely how Paul explains that phrase in 4:18-22. That despite the doubts that could be raised in Abraham's heart, his faith grew strong and convinced and "that is why his faith was credited as righteousness" (v4:22).

goe said...

Nick,

Faith is only "right" in the sense that we are obligated to believe what God tells us is true. It has no intrinsic righteousness or merit in and of itself. It is only the channel through which we receive God's GIFT to us. The Catholic understanding of "faith" and "logizomai" turns this on it's head. "To the one who does NOT work, but believes in the one who justifies the UNGODLY, his faith is counted (logizomai) unto him for righteousness."(Rom. 4:5) "Logizomai" means to impute Christ's righteousness to us on the basis of His substitutionary atonement FOR us (justification=DECLARE righteous- cf Rom. 3:24-26), not "MAKE righteous" (sanctification).

goe said...

I meant to say--..."believes in HIM who justifies the ungodly..

Not...."believes in the one who justifies the ungodly..."

Sanctification said...

Hi Nick,

Thanks for commenting on romans 4, I learned a little more from the comments you left.

-Michele

Sanctification said...

Gary, Thanks for answering in a way I haven't learned about yet, what I also believe concerning the role faith plays.

goe said...

Hi Michele,

Thanks for the link to your testimony. I read it this morning and sent you a message on FB. Your testimony on that thread was fascinating stuff. I can relate to so much of what you said. I'm even going to print it because it's something I want to keep in my files. Thanks for reminding me of it because I missed that back in December. What I had read before was something different. Hope you have a great day with the Lord today.

Nick said...

goe,

Thanks for your response. I disagree with your claim "It has no intrinsic righteousness or merit in and of itself. It is only the channel through which we receive God's GIFT to us," because it simply doesn't mesh with Scripture (esp logizomai and 4:18-22). Logizomai does not mean to impute an alien righteousness, that's not how Scripture uses the term.

goe said...

Nick,

I assume by "alien" righteousness, you are referring to the righteousness of Christ which is imputed to our account through faith alone (Rom. 4:5) I couldn't disagree with you more Nick. If that is what you mean then you are denying the only hope you, I or anyone else has for salvation. In the same way that our sin was imputed to Christ's account on the cross, so His righteousness is imputed to our account. 2 Cor. 5:21. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute (logizomai) sin." Rom. 4:8 This is what Paul meant by "justification." It's the only kind of justification that is acceptable to God (Lk 18:9-14). You are confusing justification with sanctification. "We are justified (declared righteous) FREELY by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus....Rom. 3:23-26. This justification is given freely by his grace to the "one who does NOT work, but believes in Him who justifies (declares righteous) the UNGODLY." Rom. 4:5

Sanctification said...

Hi Gary,

You're the first person in a while who has read it and not said to me,

"Your experience is in charge of your theology."

I've had everyone from Pastor Rokser to... well, many others tell me this. But I'm trying to explain that I read justification from scripture for why my testimony is of course true.

It's very anti-theologian.

But I think that's the kind of salvation Jesus wanted to proffer.

I greatly look forward to hearing your reaction. Let me re-link it just in case someone else reading along cannot find it,

my testimony

Michele

Nick said...

Sorry for this late response.

Goe, you said our sins were "imputed to Christ"? Paul is fully aware of the term "impute" yet I see him nowhere say sin was "imputed to Christ." That's a concept which I've seen people bring up, but I don't believe it is Biblical.

alvin said...

Ole’ Nick at night be in BIG TROUBLE if God didn’t take care of his sin’s BECAUSE Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

But dat be for EVERYONE!!!! Would God tell people something they MUST do without making a PROVISON for them to do it???? Not likely . . . . .He be do’n what be always right . . .yep God be GOOD . . . .an desire’n all people be saved . . . .heeheeee . . . . .dat be my God . . . .da God of the Bible:)

“For God so loved the WORLD . . . . .WOW REALLY!!!!! That must mean ME:)

That He gave His only begotten Son . . . . . .How did he give Him?

Oh yah as a Lamb……Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the WORLD . . . .WOW that means ME . . . .but where did He take dat sin to??????

That God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESSPASSES TO THEM . . . .well WHO did He impute them to so we can tell EVERYONE the good news that God isn’t counting their sins AGAUNST THEM so they need to be reconciled?????

Jesus is the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the WORLD that they might be reconciled . . . .He became sin so that their sin is NOT IMPUTED . . . .and that includes Nick at night . . . . .heeheeeee

That WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him . . . . . .that WHOEVER is the WORLD that God loved . . . . .so Ole’ Nick knows he didn’t get left out . . . .cuz Jesus done went and told him . . .YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

Should not perish but have everlasting life . . . . .WOW and all Nick has to do is BELIEVE like a little babe . . . .heeheeeee

The WISE an Prudent CAN’T be Know’n these things . . . . .ONLY little BABES can KNOW their names are written in heaven because Jesus promised . . . . .Dat be GOOOOD NEWS:)

So Nick be a believing and not unbelieving:)

Ugly was here right on dis spot . . . .getty-up Ruthy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Sanctification said...

Hi Nick,

I'm sorry, perhaps this might be a touch and go thing both for you and Gary? Gary is running an inordinate number of errands but looks forward to catching and replying to you.

I am confident Alvin makes a suitable substitute... though you might have a little extra challenge translating from Mark Twainese. ;)

Thanks for commenting because I'm listening along.

Michele

Sanctification said...

Hi Alvin,

I don't know what Gary would have said on impute, to answer Nick, but I'm glad you replied. I wonder if he sees the gospel in the same way?

Thanks

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