Medieval Mistakes

Founders.org ^ | Winter, 2002 | Sinclair Ferguson

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The point of the parable is not works versus grace. It is presumption versus humility.

The point of the parable is the erroneous presumption that works is grace.

THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN by Martin Luther

"He (the Pharisee) presumes to stand firm by his own works, and does not see that he and all men, even the true saints themselves with all their own righteousness and life, cannot stand before God; but are guilty of his wrath and condemnation, as David testifies in Ps., 130:3: "If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" And Ps. 143:2: "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living is righteous." Therefore he does not seek either grace or forgiveness of sins, nor does it occur to him that he stands in need of them..."

Certainly it seems more "humble" to say salvation is all of God and none of man (Salvation is of the Lord), than to assert, as you have done, that salvation is a "cooperative effort" between the Creator and the creature. Given your understanding, the accomplishment of salvation is made contingent upon and totally dependent on the willing accord of man who becomes the final arbiter of God's grace. God merely makes the offer; man accepts or rejects it.

"He only who is reduced to nothing in himself, and relies on the mercy of God is poor in spirit ("poor" translated from ptochos, which literally means "to crouch or cower as one helpless.") -- John Calvin

[zeeba neighba]

No, I don't have much affinity for the weepy-eyed 19c sentimentalism

Allow me a gentle laugh. When members of the audience would get mad at the sermon and walk out, Spurge would in effect say, Good, and don't let the door hit you in the hinderparts on the way out!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

LOL. As God wills.

[annalex]

I'd be happy to discuss the Catholic teaching on cooperation with grace once we are done with the parable. I am the one reading the parable as written, and Calvin does violence to it with his mental contortions. Note that the pharisee thanks God for his condition. He does not presume anything about his works, nor does Christ indicate that his attitude about the tithing and fasting is the problem. The pharisee's presumption, very clearly expressed, is that he is not like the reprobates, and for that he is rebuked.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Calvin does violence to it with his mental contortions...

I'm assuming you meant your criticism for Luther, the author of the article to which you refer, and not Calvin.

I'm also assuming you're reading these links you're trashing.

The pharisee's presumption, very clearly expressed, is that he is not like the reprobates, and for that he is rebuked.

The Pharisee is rebuked because he positions himself the author of his salvation by his good works.

Are you thankful to God you are not a reprobate? Or do you congratulate yourself on that achievement?

[annalex]

Luther. Sorry.

The pharisee does not position himself as author of anything. The only "positioning" mentioned in the Gospel is that he thanks God. This is why the article is based on an assumption that is extrascriptural.

I am thankful to God for many things but I do not know and cannot presume ending up, or not, among the elect when I die. I am a baptised man, I pray for God's mercy, repent for my sins, take Communion, and do what my Church says. Beyond that, I cannot and should not venture. To do otherwise would be to commit the pharisee's error, -- the mortal sin of presumption.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Beyond that, I cannot and should not venture. To do otherwise would be to commit the pharisee's error, -- the mortal sin of presumption.

I did not know "presumption" was a "mortal sin." We're told to be modest in our demeanor, but certainly not modest in our faith. On the contrary, we are told to be confident and bold and preach His word to all nations and races on earth so that the elect might hear it and be gathered to Him.

The Pharisee did not lose his salvation; he never had it in the first place.

Does it ever occur to you that men have a vested interest in keeping you unsure of your salvation? I prefer to follow Scripture which is filled with God's assurance to the faithful. We persevere because of His strength, and not our own. God keeps up from falling away because Christ is working within us, and none will be lost of those who belong to His Son.

Either God decreed His elect from before the foundation of the world, or He didn't.

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." -- John 6:38-40

"Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" -- Philippians 1:4-6

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." -- John 10:27-29

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." -- Philippians 2:12-13

"He shall choose our inheritance for us" -- Psalm 47:4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." -- 1 Peter 1:3-5

"For non-reformed theologies...at the end of the day, the security of the believer finally rests with the believer. For those in the opposite camp [Reformed], the security of the believer finally rests with God -- and that, I suggest, rightly taught, draws the believer back to God himself, to trust in God, to a renewed faith that is of a piece with trusting him in the first place." -- D.A. Carson

"When God calls a sinner, He does not repent of it. God does not, as many friends do, love one day and hate another; or as princes, who make their subjects favorites and afterwards throw them into prison. This is the blessedness of a saint; his condition admits of no altercation. God's call is founded upon His decree, and His decree is immutable. Acts of grace cannot be reversed. God blots out His people's sins, but not their names." -- THOMAS WATSON

"If our religion be of our own getting or making, it will perish; and the sooner it goes, the better; but if our religion is a matter of God's giving, we know that He shall never take back what He gives, and that, if He has commenced to work in us by His grace, He will never leave it unfinished." -- C.H. Spurgeon

And from the following link comes this clear call to patient security, founded on Christ's sacrifice alone:

"CALVIN'S DOCTRINE OF THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH" , a pastoral theology of certainty by Dr. David B. McWilliams

"The result is incredible boldness in Christian living. The Spirit of adoption seals the testimony of the Gospel to us and "raises up our spirits to dare show forth to God their desires." {57}

Hence comes an extraordinary peace and repose to our consciences. For having disclosed to the Lord the necessity that was pressing upon us, we even rest fully in the thought hat none of our ills is hid from him who, we are convinced has both the will and the power to take the best care of us.{58}

When we pray stripped of self-confidence but with confidence in the Lord, we are assured to succeed in that for which we pray. "... We enjoin believers to be convinced with firm assurance of mind that God is favorable and benevolent to them...". {59}

We receive this singular fruit of God's promises when we frame our prayers without hesitation or trepidation; but, relying upon the word of him whose majesty would otherwise terrify us, we dare call upon him as Father, while he deigns to suggest this sweetest of names to us. {60}"

[annalex]

Yes, presumption is a sin. even though it is often confused with hope, which is a virtue. See for example, Aquinas: Whether presumption is a sin?

John 6:38-40 does not explain what "seeing and believing" in Christ exactly means. The next episode of the same chapter shows that, for example, those unable to comprehend the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist left Him. Christ's promise a few verses down, "except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day" (John 6:54-55) excludes them. But they had been among His disciples initially and up till that moment had had faith in Him.

Likewise, Christ warns specifically that "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 7:21). St. Paul advises to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12).

These verses point to a need for a continuing cycle of confession, repentance, and spiritual growth, -- a need to battle sin with perseverance -- before we can be sure of our salvation. Hope we must. Presume -- cultivate inordinate hope -- is a cardinal sin, related to pride. Despair, incidentally, is another case of inordinate hope, also sinful. Aquinas actually holds it to be more sinful than presumption.

How can we grow in hope and not fall into presumption or despair? We know that the perfect sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to save us all, without exception. We know the commandments of Christ. Christ gave us visible means of grace through the sacraments of Confession and Eucharist. We thus know that having confessed and repented our sins, and having received the Body of the Lord, -- physical actions that cannot be misinterpreted, -- we enter a state of grace which, are we to die the next moment, assures our salvation. This, -- not the presumption of salvaton based on a single declarative act of untested faith, -- is the right hope of the Gospel.

[annalex]

The tradition lists six sins against the Holy Ghost:

• Despair
• Presumption
• Impenitence
• Obstinacy
• Resisting Truth
• Envy of spiritual welfare of others.

See, for example, SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Presumption can be of two kinds. The Pelagian presumption of one's own capacity is the kind we have no dispute about; at issue is the second type of presumption, of salvation regardless of one's actions.

[Alex Murphy]

If despair's a sin, then I've been destined for Hell since I was born....

[annalex]

since I was born....

Sin requires cooperation of the informed will. Since your age of reason, perhaps.

A life rich in Christian spirituality brings forth growth in virtues, hope among them. While prejudice against the Church keeps you away from the Holy Sacraments, as a Protestant you should have no difficulty in turning to the Gospels to grow in hope.

24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?
25 But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with patience.

(Rom. 8)

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.
12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known.
13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

(1 Cor 13)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

We thus know that having confessed and repented our sins, and having received the Body of the Lord, -- physical actions that cannot be misinterpreted, -- we enter a state of grace which, are we to die the next moment, assures our salvation.

"Assures your salvation" only for that moment, correct?

Because 20 minutes later, you may and probably will sin again, and thus the cycle repeats itself, ad infinitum, until death.

Sin, sacrament, forgiveness, perfection. Sin, sacrament, forgiveness, perfection. Sin, sacrament...

The real trick becomes dying at the correct moment in the cycle.

But Scripture tells us our sins were forgiven on the cross. Christ paid the price for our transgressions, once for all time. To believe that single fact is to be born again by His grace.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." -- Romans 5:10-12,19

Our new birth is assured by Christ's obedience, and not our own, since all our righteousness is as filthy rags. That is the great comfort you are missing -- that our salvation does not depend on our good works, but on the accomplished work of the Holy Ghost within us.

This glorious "presumption" is given by God for the comfort of those who belong to Him. I presume it joyfully, gratefully.

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-18.

"I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." -- Galatians 2:20-21

Our faith is the result of His sacrifice, determined by God from before the foundation of the world as the means to bring His sheep home. Our faith is not an incomplete faith, requiring a perpetual restoration. It is an abiding, constant and eternal faith, finished in His perfect work on the cross.

Men would have it otherwise in order to better keep us uncertain. Same as it ever was.

But as Paul instructs us, "Do not frustrate the grace of God" by doubting the "presumption" of His accomplished redemption.

[annalex]

The scripture you gave me say what you claim only in your mind. Yes, Christ made the perfect sacrifice for our sins as 2 Corinthians quote explains, but no, the work and struggle goes on in each one of us individually, -- as Christ's talk of obeying the commandments, and carrying the yoke indicate, and as Paul's passages of fighting a battle, running a race, and fear and trembling teach.

The quote from Galatians does not teach assurance of individual salvation either, but it is also out of context since it refers to the works of Jewish law, such as dietetic law and circumcision. It says nothing about the works of love and charity, -- the virtues St. Paul held highly, as does the Church.

Sin, Confession, Eucharist is supposed to be an upward spiral to sainthood, -- "be perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect", but yes, for many, it becomes a cycle. Again, struggling in this cycle we hope for Christ's mercy as He knows our heart, and we hope that at the hour of our death Mary will pray for us even if we are not able to pray ourselves.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I asked this before, but didn't get a clear answer. It's a simple enough question.

Do you thank God you are not a reprobate?

[annalex]

I did not mean to be unclear. I do not know if I die reprobate or not. I have hope and I avoid presumption. I cannot thank for what has not happened yet. I do thank Christ for giving me the unmerited gift of His sacrifice.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I do not know if I die reprobate or not. I have hope and I avoid presumption. I cannot thank for what has not happened yet.

The dictionary definition of REPROBATE:

Noun -- "One who is predestined to damnation.

Adjective -- "Rejected by God and without hope of salvation."

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." -- Romans 1:19-20, 24-25

"For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates." -- 2 Corinthians 13:4-6

Trust God and the faith He gave you in Jesus Christ's righteousness alone.

[annalex]

The call here is for hope of continuing purification and conversion, -- which the Church sounds, -- not to the pharisee's "thank you Lord you did not make me like the publican" presumption.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Is there a chance you might be a reprobate, using both the dictionary and Scriptural definitions?

Your assurance in Christ's atonement appears shaky, if that is the case.

And the Pharisee's error was in thinking he was responsible for his salvation by his good works, rather than acknowledging it is Christ's sacrifice alone which saves a sorry sinner like you and me.

[annalex]

You still don't understand. I am not a reprobate or elect as I stand today. I know my original sin has been wiped out by baptism and my personal sin will be forgiven by Christ if I ask for forgiveness while still alive and conscious. But until such time when I receive particular judgement I don't know where I will end up and it is sinful for me, -- and for you -- to speculate.

We discussed the pharisee prayer and despite your obstinacy to the contrary, its fault is in its presumption, not in any Pelagianism you impute to him, as he thanks God, and not himself, for his visible virtues.

[InterestedQuestioner]

Hi Suzy,

Sorry it's taken awhile for me to respond. I agree with much of what you wrote in 458.

"What I do know is that I need to trust Him because whatever the reason it has to be ultimately good."

I think what you've said here is absolutely foundational for the Christian life. We trust God to be who he is, and we put our faith in His having our best interests at heart.

"So how do we explain the Fall? I think this is a problem for all Christians, not just Calvinists."

I don't see the fall as being problematic. Adam and Eve were given a single commandment: " but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." They were also given the freedom to either obey or disobey God.

They were deceived by the serpent (may God rebuke him,) who told them that they would not die if they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but rather that they would become like God. What the serpent did was to call into question their trust in God. Was God really looking out for their best interests, or was He perhaps trying to keep them from becoming just like He is? They chose to believe that God was not looking out for their best interest. Through our ancestor's sin, our relationship to God was severely damaged, but the choices that are put before us are fundamentally the same. When tempted, we are asked if we believe that what God is asking of us is really in our best interest. Faith in God is the root and foundation of our relationship with God. At the basis of our Faith is our commitment to believe that God IS good, and that God wills only what is good for us, and to trust what God in what he asks of us. Interestingly, Thomas Aquinas wrote in the 13th century something to the effect that the Glory of Christ's redemption of man on the Cross was greater than the Glory of a universe in which the Fall did not occur.

"Man chose to sin and God allowed it. Why? I don't know and I don't think that anyone else does either."

I think that God permits us to sin, because he gives us the freedom to love or not love Him. Ultimately, Heaven is a place prepared for those who love God, and love cannot be forced.

"I believe that evil is less, not more. I do not believe that the creature can be more than the Creator, so I do not believe that man creates evil."

The verb "create" seems to be causing some difficulties in this context. We don't have a problem with the idea of a person creating a work of art, or for that matter, a problem for them self. There seems to be some concern that it would be an act of disrespect to the Almighty if we somehow ascribed the creation of something to man, rather than God. To create evil is to sin, and our sins are our own--we will the evil, the all Good Creator does not. God permits evil because he permits man to use free will, and he even uses men's evil to achieve His own Good ends, but it would be very wrong for us to ascribe our sins to the Will of God.

Would that sound like a way of framing the questions that you would find acceptable, or do you see a problem with the reasoning? Would you agree that God does not create evil?