This evening in our mid-week Bible study we are looking at Why Justification By Faith Alone Is Essential To Our Church Life Together. Dennis Johnson's chapter "Simul iustus et pecator: The Role of Justification in Pastoral Counselling" in Scott Clark [ed.], Covenant Justification and Pastoral Ministry is a real treasure trove of applied doctrine in this area. I highly recommend the chapter and the book as a whole for a contemporary statement of historic Reformed theology. I'll follow this up with a post entitled Legalism Kills in the next few days.
Here are some extracts from the handout:
Defining Legalism
"Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through obedience to God." (C. J. Mahaney)
1. Do you agree with this definition?
2. Why do Christians struggle with legalism?
3. How does legalism affect our relationship with God?
4. How does legalism affect our relationship with other Christians?
5. How can legalism be dealt with?
Connecting Justification and Ongoing Sanctification
Treasuring justification by faith alone supplies the only right motive for obedience
Treasuring justification by faith alone stops us from basing our assurance of God's approval on our record of obedience
Treasuring justification by faith alone stops us from seeking reassurance of our spiritual standing through comparison and contrast with others
2 comments:
Martin,
You need to read 'Extreme Righteousness' - Tom Hoverstol (Moody) It is sub-titled "Seeing ourselves in the Pharisees". Was one of the key books for me in my post-Leeds era. If you get it, you'll recognise why it was key for me & how it helped me see legalism in things I'd grown up with.
Ben,
Your dad gave me a copy. A friend is reading it at the moment.
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