November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Since that time, Norman Shepherd’s views on justification have spread far and wide in Reformed and Presbyterian churches in a system of beliefs that has become known as the “Federal Vision.” Therefore, Reformed and Presbyterian churches take notice of a book on the doctrine of justification written by the faculty of WTS. We want to know, “What does Westminster Theological Seminary teach about justification today” Ferguson’s introduction gives hope that the doctrine of justification is alive and well at WTS. He laments that there has been neglect of the doctrine in much of the evangelical world, as evangelicalism became more concerned with humans and their problems than with the Savior and His work. The authors of this book, Ferguson assures us, do not make the same mistake. Ferguson then gives a helpful outline of some of the main teachings of the New Perspective on Paul (NPP). When it comes to justification, the NPP teaches that justification is not by faith alone, but by faith and works. Ferguson informs us that the authors of this book have a “shared concern about the influence” of the NPP (p. Book Reviews xiii). Apparently, this book will address head-on the heresy of justification by faith and works and will defend the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith alone. But only apparently. Some of the articles have nothing to do with the current controversy over justification. This includes the somewhat strange inclusion of John Murray’s old essay “The Imputation of Adam’s Sin.” The essay itself is a careful and helpful exegesis of Romans 5:12ff. Murray gives a good explanation of how it is that the entire human race can be guilty for the sin Adam committed: Adam represented the race, and therefore his sin was imputed to the race. But exactly why this essay is included in the book is hard to say. An explanation of the purpose of republishing this essay would have been helpful, especially since the essay takes up a full third of the book. Even more strange is the inclusion of William Edgar’s * For the history of this episode, see O. Palmer Robertson, The Current Justification Controversy (Unicoi, Tennessee: The Trinity Foundation, 2003). November 2007 117
Protestant Reformed Theological Journal new essay, “Justification and nothing to do with the covenant Violence: Reflections on Atonement of grace. Instead, it is a highly and Contemporary philosophical comparison of Apologetics.” This article is an man’s knowledge of God attempt to use the doctrine of through general revelation and justification to stir up “true zeal the believer’s knowledge of for social action” (p. 148). For God through saving faith. It is Edgar, justification is the way man’s knowledge of God to address feminists’ concerns through general revelation that about the oppression of women, Oliphint calls “covenant faith.” concerns about violence and An article with such a title had ethnic cleansing, and other social the potential of getting to the concerns. To say the least, heart of the controversy over it is disappointing to see a professor justification. As it is, the article of a Reformed seminary fails to address any key issues setting an agenda of social action in that controversy. for the church, especially The rest of the articles, when he uses the precious doctrine however, at least address the of justification to do so. controversy over justification. Stranger yet is K. Scott From them one is able to determine Oliphint’s article, “Covenant what WTS teaches about Faith.” The title indicates that justification today. Oliphint will examine the role If Ferguson’s introduction of faith in the covenant of grace, gave hope that the doctrine of and relate the covenant to justification. justification taught at WTS is That would be a sound, the article by Peter worthwhile article, especially Lillback, current president of since Norman Shepherd and the WTS, takes that hope away. Federal Vision take a particular Lillback’s essay, “Calvin’s Development view of the covenant as their of the Doctrine of starting point. They begin with Forensic Justification: Calvin a conditional covenant, in and the Early Lutherans on the which faith and works are conditions Relationship of Justification to man’s staying in the and Renewal,” is a historical covenant, and work from there investigation into the doctrine to conditional justification, that of justification taught by Calvin is, justification by faith and on the one hand and the early works. But Oliphint’s essay has Lutherans on the other hand. 118 Vol. 41, No. 1
Page 1 and 2:
Volume 41 • November 2007 • Num
Page 3 and 4:
Book Reviews 85 Barnes, Peter. Gala
Page 5 and 6:
Protestant Reformed Theological Jou
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70: Protestant Reformed Theological Jou
Page 119: Protestant Reformed Theological Jou
show all

November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?