My
recent reception in the mail of two publications, Horton's, The Christian
Faith - A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way, and the Spring 2012
issue of The Westminster
Theological Journal, has prompted me to take a brief break from my Irenaeus research
to share a few reflections on some of the data discussed in these works.
Back
on May 31st, 2010, I published a post on Williams B. Evans' Spring 2010, Westminster Theological Journal article, DÈJÁ VU ALL OVER AGAIN? THE
CONTEMPORARY REFORMED SOTERIOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
, which spoke
of a "Reformed civil war" concerning certain aspects of soteriology.
This "Reformed civil war" is showing no signs of ending, for in the
most recent issue of The Westminster
Theological Journal (Volume 74.1 - Spring 2012), yet another
article on this "civil war" was published: William R. Edwards, John
Flavel On The Priority Of Union With Christ: Further Historical Perspective On
The Structure Of Reformed Soteriology.
Edwards'
essay begins with:
A relatively
small but significant debate continues within a segment of the Reformed
community regarding priority within the structure of soteriology. Although
there is a much longer history, the context for the current debate reaches back
most immediately to various critiques of the New Perspective on Paul and the
Federal Vision. These movements emphasize union with Christ while objecting to
the doctrine of justification as historically understood within Reformed
theology. In particular, the role of imputation, whereby Christ's righteousness
is attributed to the believer, is openly challenged. (Page 33 - see above link
for full article.)
Edwards then
writes that, "The response from Reformed circles defending the traditional
formulation of the doctrine of justification has, generally speaking, followed
along two lines." The first, "continues to assert the central role of
union with Christ as the overarching principle in the application of
redemption", while the second, "places greater emphasis on the
priority of justification for the entire structure of salvation". He lists
Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Lane G. Tipton, Mark A. Garcia, and William B. Evans as
representatives of the first view, and Michael S. Horton, John V. Fesko, W.
Robert Godrey, and David VanDrunen of the latter.
Via an
interaction with the 17th century Reformed theologian John Flavel, Edwards end
up siding with first group, arguing that their position is, "no new
reading of Calvin", and that, "those maintaining the priority of
union with Christ are standing well within the Reformed tradition."
In
addition to Edwards' WTJ contribution, I found online, the following blog
post by him: A
Guide to Recent Discussions on Justification and Sanctification.
And
before ending, I would like to list a few more resources, that can be accessed
and/or obtained online, which are related to the topic of 'union with Christ':
William
B. Evans - Sanctification
and the Nature of the Gospel
Michael
S. Horton - Covenant
and Salvation: Union With Christ
More later,
the Lord willing...
Grace and
peace,
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