The Heart of the Matter

One does not have to hang out in the blogosphere for very long to find heated debates and critiques of this and that -- emergent, charismania, reformed, truly reformed, seeker, etc.  This is nothing new in church history and I, for one, do not think the church today is any worse or better condition than it ever has been.  Redeemed sinners have always been redeemed sinners.  And redeemed sinners often treat enemies as friends and friends as enemies. 

But there is something unusual afoot.  One of the amazing works of God in our day is that leaders are uniting across barriers formerly uncrossable.  They are uniting around the Gospel.  And I think here is the place to define and to determine who is for Christ and who is against him.  It was called the "rule of faith" by Tertullian.

So I wanted to offer a post that gave some questions that are definitive of the Gospel -- whether the Gospel preached by an Arminian like Wesley or a Calvinist like Edwards.  As we debate the various trends and movements in the church -- I find these questions helpful to determine when I am contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints and when I am having an intramural dispute with fellow believers.

1. Do you believe that God is the Creator of all things and that mankind was formed by him in his image, to live for his glory?
2. Do you believe that Adam sinned and by his sin brought the corruption of all his descendents so that we are born in sin?  That our sin is so great that we can do nothing to save ourselves from God?s judgment.
   
3. Do you believe that man's sin offends his Creator -- that God abhors sin and will bring his wrath against sin to consummation in final judgments?
4. Do you believe that God sent Jesus as Savior -- that Jesus who is fully God and fully man, without sin, died in our place as our substitute on the cross -- bore in himself the full measure of God's wrath?
   
5. Do you believe that salvation is entirely through the Person and Work of Jesus -- that we contribute nothing to it and can take nothing away from it.  If any sinner stands acquited before God in the last day it will be through Christ alone?
6. Do you believe that the human part of salvation is faith -- and that faith is the heart looking completely away from itself to Jesus as Savior?
7. Do you believe Jesus will return at the end of the age to bring to completion this present age, to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate the kingdom of God forever?

I believe all of these are points to which all Christians have adhered throughout the history of the church.  Call it "mere Christianity" if you will -- it is the Gospel, and on that Gospel we stand or fall.

I would not have us end discussion over doctrinal differences -- the way of love for each other and love for truth is not to act as though we are all agreed on every point.  Avoidance of discussion is the love of truth.  But it is urgent that we know the nature of our debate.

I close with the following quotes and references from the life of Charles Simeon.

Simeon, a Calvinist, wrote:

Many there are who cannot see these truths [the doctrines of God's sovereignty], who yet are in a state truly pleasing to God; yea many, at whose feet the best of us may be glad to be found in heaven. It is a great evil, when these doctrines are made a ground of separation one from another, and when the advocates of different systems anathematize each other. . . . In reference to truths which are involved in so much obscurity as those which relate to the sovereignty of God mutual kindness and concession are far better than vehement argumentation and uncharitable discussion.

Simeon recounts how he conversed with John Wesley (Wesley's answer is in italics):

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But befor I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

 Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

 No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree.

You will find an excellent sermon by John Piper about Simeon on the www.desiringgod.org website.

Comments

[Adrian Warnock]

Thanks for mentioning Charles Simeon - a name in danger of being forgotten!

I hope its not out of order for me to let you know that Charles Simeon's works may become available again. Follow this link to my site for more information.

[Steve Dumas]

You have a great blog. I love your focus on the cross of Christ and your passion for the gospel. You cover topics that are near and dear to my heart. In fact, yours is one of the best blogs I visit.

I love the exchange between Simeon and Wesley. Your "mere Christianity" questions cover the main points of the gospel, and provide grounds for agreement and cooperation between Christians on both sides of the Wesley/Calvin divide.

My only question is in regards to the wording of no. 6. If by "human part of salvation" is meant that God requires all of us to respond in repentance and faith, i.e. human responsibility, then I'll join in saying "Amen" to this "mere Christianity". But, if some sort of synergistic salvation, whereby God does his part and then waits for us to do ours, is implied, then I am not so sure.

Isn't faith a work of grace, and thus "God's part" as with the rest of salvation? I am not denying that we exercise faith. We most certainly do. In that sense it is the "human part", but in that sense alone.

The sentiment here is good. But I hate to say it: The devil's in the details.

Thanks, brother, for letting us see Christ shine here. You are obviously fighting the good fight, and holding out the gospel of Christ in all of his glory.

MARK's reply: certainly not synergistic. The very definition of the "human part" is a looking entirely away from self. But I did not wish to define this in a way that was alien to our arminian brothers . . . who would not believe that saving faith is created in the exact same way. They believe in prevenient grace to all, but not sovereign grace to some.

On this we are all agreed -- I make no contribution. I look completely to him.