Viewed from one perspective, the Protestant Reformation was an effort to remake every sector of the church according to biblical direction. In another sense, however, the spiritual heart of the Reformation was more simply an effort to rebuild the understanding of the Christian life, incorporating Luther's insight on justification. The full success of this venture has been repeatedly thwarted by the ease with which sinful people can twist the essential truth of Luther's insight.
On the one hand, justification by faith can be transformed into the wholly unbiblical teaching of justification without sanctification, which Bonhoeffer has called "cheap grace."
On the other hand, Puritan and Pietist efforts to guard against this abuse often led to an admixture of ascetic legalism in the realm of spiritual discipline. An unbalanced stress on auxiliary methods of assurance- testing one's life by the inspection of works and searching for the internal witness of the Spirit- obscured Luther's teaching on assurance of salvation through naked reliance on the work of Christ.
Later the shift toward rationalism in parts of the church began to obscure the holiness of God and the depth of sin, introducing a moralism which found no use at all for the doctrine of justification.
These three aberrations from the biblical teaching on justification- cheap grace, legalism, and moralism- still dominate the church today.
On the one hand, justification by faith can be transformed into the wholly unbiblical teaching of justification without sanctification, which Bonhoeffer has called "cheap grace."
On the other hand, Puritan and Pietist efforts to guard against this abuse often led to an admixture of ascetic legalism in the realm of spiritual discipline. An unbalanced stress on auxiliary methods of assurance- testing one's life by the inspection of works and searching for the internal witness of the Spirit- obscured Luther's teaching on assurance of salvation through naked reliance on the work of Christ.
Later the shift toward rationalism in parts of the church began to obscure the holiness of God and the depth of sin, introducing a moralism which found no use at all for the doctrine of justification.
These three aberrations from the biblical teaching on justification- cheap grace, legalism, and moralism- still dominate the church today.
Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of the Spiritual Life, 100.
Wow, what an insightful paragraph. I encourage you to read it again slowly. Think about what you see and experience from believers and the church. Think about the issues and problems that you know about. Think about our lack of witness to the grace and power of God. Why has the Spirit been short-circuited in our lives and the life of our churches?
The Protestant Reformation needs to continue. We don't need a reformation of manners. We need a new heart, new Spirit, new start.
Today is a good day to begin. It is a Monday. Let's start the week by praying for five minutes for revival. Pray for yourself, your family, your friends, and your church. Pray that somehow, someway, the reality of justification by faith would sink deep within.
May this week be a turning point.
The Protestant Reformation needs to continue. We don't need a reformation of manners. We need a new heart, new Spirit, new start.
Today is a good day to begin. It is a Monday. Let's start the week by praying for five minutes for revival. Pray for yourself, your family, your friends, and your church. Pray that somehow, someway, the reality of justification by faith would sink deep within.
May this week be a turning point.
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