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The Citizen of New Jerusalem Podcast


Jan 12, 2018

Adam interviews Presbyterian ruling elder Shane Anderson on the subject of grace and works in the Christian life. A proper Reformed family kerfluffle has roiled the ranks over the past four months concerning the role our works play in our relationship with God.

On this episode, Shane and Adam attempt to iron out a few of the biblical details, and to set straight some of the misunderstandings that are keeping brothers and sisters on separate sides of this battle.

Adam truly does not believe we are all saying different things. We are justified once for all by grace alone, through faith alone, which is a gift of the sovereign, electing love and favor of God alone. There is no more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Our standing with our Father in heaven is fully secure in Christ, by Christ, and because of Christ alone.

And because of this gratuitous justification, we are also sanctified by grace alone through faith alone, and yet, in the mystery of God's will at work in ours, we live lives of pursuing holiness when we have the Holy Spirit. There is no other kind of Christian life than to be doing good works in faith. These works do not justify us before God, but by these works we will be judged and rewarded. In this sense, good works are necessary for our completed, final salvation.

That... is Reformed orthodoxy, and therefore, biblical orthodoxy, my dear friends.

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