DaveJes1979
Puritan Board Freshman
I see Richard Gaffin has a new book, "By Faith, Not By Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation." Here is the thesis of the book:
"œThe central soteriological reality is union with the exalted Christ by Spirit-created faith. That is the nub, the essence, of the way or order of salvation for Paul. The center of Paul´s soteriology"¦is neither justification by faith nor sanctification, neither the imputation of Christ´s righteousness nor the renewing work of the Spirit. To draw that conclusion, however, is not to "˜de-center´ justification (or sanctification), as if justification is somehow less important for Paul than the Reformation claims. Justification is supremely important, it is absolutely crucial in Paul´s "˜gospel of salvation´ (cf. Eph. 1:13). Deny or distort his teaching on justification and that gospel ceases to be gospel; there is no longer saving "˜good news´ for sinners. But no matter how close justification is to the heart of Paul´s gospel, in our salvation, as he sees it, there is an antecedent consideration, a reality, that is deeper, more fundamental, more decisive, more crucial: Christ and our union with him, the crucified and resurrected, the exalted, Christ. Union with Christ by faith"”that is the essence of Paul´s ordo salutis."
I have noticed that alot of the FV folks (following the Mercersberg guys) have a rather lofty, and often muddled, view of the doctrine of union with Christ. Does this thesis of Gaffin's rub anybody wrong?
What say you? I was thinking of buying the book.
"œThe central soteriological reality is union with the exalted Christ by Spirit-created faith. That is the nub, the essence, of the way or order of salvation for Paul. The center of Paul´s soteriology"¦is neither justification by faith nor sanctification, neither the imputation of Christ´s righteousness nor the renewing work of the Spirit. To draw that conclusion, however, is not to "˜de-center´ justification (or sanctification), as if justification is somehow less important for Paul than the Reformation claims. Justification is supremely important, it is absolutely crucial in Paul´s "˜gospel of salvation´ (cf. Eph. 1:13). Deny or distort his teaching on justification and that gospel ceases to be gospel; there is no longer saving "˜good news´ for sinners. But no matter how close justification is to the heart of Paul´s gospel, in our salvation, as he sees it, there is an antecedent consideration, a reality, that is deeper, more fundamental, more decisive, more crucial: Christ and our union with him, the crucified and resurrected, the exalted, Christ. Union with Christ by faith"”that is the essence of Paul´s ordo salutis."
I have noticed that alot of the FV folks (following the Mercersberg guys) have a rather lofty, and often muddled, view of the doctrine of union with Christ. Does this thesis of Gaffin's rub anybody wrong?
What say you? I was thinking of buying the book.