The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

S U M M A R Y THE WHOLE CHRIST BY SINCLAIR FERGUSON

Key Insights Best Quotes Infographics Study Questions

BOOK BRIEF BY A c c e l e r a t e B o o k s . c o m OVERVIEW The Whole Christ

By revisiting the Marrow Controversy—a famous but largely forgotten eighteenth- century debate related to the proper relationship between God’s grace and our works—Sinclair B. Ferguson sheds light on this central issue and why it still matters today. In doing so, he explains how our understanding of the relationship between law and gospel determines our approach to evangelism, our pursuit of sanctification, and even our understanding of God himself.

Ferguson shows us that the antidote to the poison of legalism on the one hand and antinomianism on the other is one and the same: the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ, in whom we are simultaneously justified by faith, freed for good works, and assured of salvation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Author: Sinclair Ferguson Sinclair Ferguson is a Reformed Scottish Publisher: Crossway theologian who earned a Ph. D at the University Date: January 31, 2016 of Aberdeen. He is the Chancellor’s Professor of Pages: 256 Systematic Theology at the Reformed Theological Seminary in the U.S., and he is the honorary evening preacher at St Peter’s Free Church of Scotland, Dundee.

OVERVIEW Ferguson is well-known for his teaching for Since the days of the early church, Christians Ligonier Ministries. He has also authored or have wrestled with the relationship between contributed to numerous books, including: The law and gospel. If, as the apostle Paul says, Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (2013), salvation is by grace and the law cannot save, Devoted To God (2016), Some Pastors and what relevance does the law have for Christians Teachers (2017), The Holy Spirit (1997). His today?

preaching can even be found on Christian hip- Through this lens, it becomes clear that hop albums such as “The Attributes of God” by antinomianism and legalism are two sides of Shai Linne. the same coin—a distorted view of God and His law as it relates to humanity. It is true then that “The Whole Christ” began as a series of lectures “…legalism and antinomianism share a offered by Ferguson in 1980 at a conference in common root that has invaded not only mind Indianapolis. At the request of people who but heart, affections, and will—how we feel heard about the original addresses and his toward God as well as the doctrine of God we desires to eventually publish a book on the profess.” (p. 84-85) topic, Sinclair set out to edit and improve the original transcripts into written form some 36 Both legalism and antinomianism can be years later. hidden beneath the surface of sound confessions of faith. Legalism treats the law of Ferguson’s main desire for publishing The God in daily life as if God’s love is maintained Whole Christ arose from a desire to radically through a covenant of works. Antinomianism, shape the ministries of his readers as The on the other hand, treats obedience to the law Marrow Controversy shaped the ministry of as if it is separate from freely enjoying God. Thomas Boston, one of the most prominent Neither of these extremes is the answer to the figures involved in the controversy. other, and neither can provide real assurance of salvation.

Assurance can only be found in the glorious God of the gospel. When the gospel is warped, MAIN IDEA assurance is sure to be warped with it. It is only The Whole Christ is a glance back at The when Christians have deep faith in the Father’s Marrow Controversy (1717-1722) in order to love, trust in Jesus’ work on the cross, and help Christians move forward on the path of continual experience of the Spirit’s presence biblical grace recovered during that that can they have biblical assurance. The controversy. journey ahead for every believer is to know and share the Totus Christus—the whole Christ. The Whole Christ traces the footsteps of Thomas Boston and the Marrow Men as they sought to recover the necessities of understanding the heart of the gospel—Christ Himself.

Characteristics of this legal spirit include, but KEY INSIGHT #1 are not limited to: viewing the law as primarily negative; viewing God primarily as an unloving, forbidding God; divorcing God’s gracious character from His revealed will; submission to the law with no connection to the Father; No Legalism is joy in Christ while claiming that your chief end Subtle is to “enjoy Him forever”; No affections for the Lord in your strict obedience; A self-righteous Legalism is more subtle temper; Comparison with others. than justification by works. The “legal frame” is very dangerous because it enters churches and pulpits very stealthily. It can correctly confess the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works, Too often, legalism is narrowly defined as the but only in confession and not conduct. The belief that salvation is gained by works apart legal frame is multidimensional and multi- from grace. Traditionally, the picture that layered, so it is easily masked by narrow comes to mind with legalism is a Roman definitions and extreme forms of legalism. Catholic or Judaizer seeking to be justified by

doing good works and keeping the law. Though Having “an evangelical head and legalistic this is legalism at its worst and a very real heart” is a reality for many believers— picture of legalism, it is only a picture of especially those who are doctrinally sound and legalism at the surface level. confessionally trained. It matters not what is

believed with the mind if it is not lived out in Legalism is dangerous for a multitude of the heart. Guarding against legalism in practice reasons, especially because ”it distorts and will always be much more difficult than may actually destroy the gospel. It is inimical to protecting oneself from it in theory. The the grace of God in Christ. It lies at the heart of remedy for this is a proper view of God and His many pastoral problems and is one of the most grace. common spiritual sicknesses.

Unfortunately, it is an infectious disease, especially if a pastor or preacher has contracted it.” (p. 123) So it is important to be able to recognize some of its common symptoms.

INSIGHTGRAPHIC #1

revealed will. In fact, “it cannot be too strongly emphasized, therefore, that everyone is a KEY INSIGHT #2 legalist at heart. Indeed, if anything, that is the more evident in antinomians.” (p. 86)

Though a legalist at heart and similar in Antinomianism expression, the antinomian differs from the expresses legalist in that he or she: denies the importance of the law in the life of believers for fear of Legalism legalism; overstates the distinction between Israel and the Church in order to avoid the law; Antinomianism is the fruit and opposes the law rather than obeying it; expression of legalism. believes the law to be something that deprives God’s people of good.

Whereas the legalist remains in an improper Antinomians are traditionally understood as bondage to the law, the antinomian allows those who are so against the law that they their legalistic view of God and His law to drive actually deny that it is necessary for the them to disobedience rather than grace. For Christian. They are characterized by loose example, “it bears repeating: in Eve’s case living and license to do whatever they desire. antinomianism (her opposition to and rejection However, like legalism, antinomianism can be of God’s law) was itself an expression of her traced by to a distorted view of God and His legalism! law. When this distortion of God’s character is Antinomians, like legalists, can wear different complete, we inevitably mistrust him; we lose faces which can make them difficult to identify. sight of his love and grace; we see him Just as the legalist has a legalistic frame, “some essentially as a forbidding God.” (p. 83) who propositionally have held the antinomian view have nevertheless had reputations for godly living.” (p. 140)

The antinomian is similar to the legalist in that he or she: views the law in a negative light; sees God as a forbidding God in the giving of His law; finds no joy or affection in keeping the law; divorces God’s gracious character from His

INSIGHTGRAPHIC #2

opposed to any assurance of salvation because KEY INSIGHT #3 they believe that faith is subject to error. Along with this fear comes the fear that assurance leads to antinomianism rather than a life of obedience. Assurance of For the Roman Catholic believer, assurance Salvation would overthrow the extended sacramental A natural and actual fruit of process required to attain final justification. However, none of these reasons for opposing faith in Jesus Christ. assurance of salvation are biblical.

Too often Christians lack assurance of Assurance is a reality for the Christian because salvation. Both legalism and antinomianism it is tied to the finished work of Christ. contribute to lack of assurance. Christ is at the heart of full assurance of salvation, and when Further, it is not nourished by works of men but He takes a backseat in our theology, assurance rather by a deepening knowledge of Christ and will be sure to follow. His work in the gospel. Assurance, then, is grounded not in the temporal but in the During the Middle Ages, the idea of Christian eternal. assurance came under attack by the Catholic Church. The Council Of Trent (1545-1563) laid Though assurance is attainable and beneficial out doctrine that considered the notion of for the Christian, there are enemies which assurance for all believers as “vain confidence”. assail God’s children and keep them from a sense of their security in Christ. One major The Council Of Trent taught that no Christian enemy to assurance is the tendency to forget should doubt the mercy of God, the merit of that salvation is all of grace and none of our Christ or the efficacy of the sacraments. merit. Another enemy of assurance is difficulty However, they also taught that no one can in seeing the triune God as loving. know with certainty of faith that he has obtained the grace of God. The council Lastly, failure to see justification as a final and considered the Protestant teaching on complete work of God can contribute to a lack assurance as the “principle heresy” of of assurance in the life of the believer. Protestantism.

Along with the Council of Trent, many are

INSIGHTGRAPHIC #3

INTRODUCTION the Marrow Controversy was about how we preach the gospel; what role, if any, God’s CHAPTER law and our obedience play in the Christian life; and what it means to have assurance of salvation.” (p. 34) The Whole Christ is a discussion of gospel preaching and gospel living understood within the framework of “The Marrow Controversy”. It APPLICATION QUESTIONS represents a reflection of the theoretical and pastoral implications found by Thomas Boston How has legalism shown itself in your heart? and the controversy surrounding his discovery How did you address it? and understanding of The Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher. Do you see antinomian tendencies when you read scripture passages that you don’t This book is not primarily a study of “The like? Why do you respond in that way? Marrow Controversy”. Rather, it is a launching point from which to consider the importance of What can you do if you discover that you the gospel and how it impacts legalism, have a deficient view of the gospel? antinomianism, and assurance in the church today. Since understanding the gospel intimately affects the lives of believers, CHAPTER 1: HOW A conversations and reflections such as these are of high importance. MARROW GREW

A poorly worded creed—the Auchterarder Creed—sparked a major controversy in QUOTES February 1717. The creed carried a simple sentence that shaped what would become “Perhaps the best way to describe it is by known as the Marrow Controversy. What was borrowing from the world of classical music: the sentence? The Whole Christ might well be subtitled, ‘variations on themes from The Marrow “I believe that it is not sound and orthodox to Controversy.’” (p. 19) teach that we forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ, and instating us in covenant “There are reasons for interest in this with God.” (p. 28). apparently recondite topic. On the surface

This creed was ruled as unsound and APPLICATION QUESTIONS unorthodox by the Scottish general assembly, but the Marrow Men, led by Thomas Boston, If you had to affirm the Auchterarder Creed, fought against such a charge. While on a what would you answer be? Why or why pastoral visit, Thomas Boston found a little- not? known Puritan book called The Marrow Of Modern Divinity. This book would greatly shape Does it matter how the gospel is preached his views of legalism and the offer of the as long as it is preached? gospel. How would you know if legalism or The Marrow Of Modern Divinity would also antinomianism were making their way into stoke the fire of the Marrow Controversy as a your view of the gospel? Who in your life “chance” conversation led to the republishing would be honest enough to let you know? of the book. The book was eventually banned and Boston and the Marrow Men were considered antinomian. Thus, a war was waged to debate legalism and antinomianism in Scotland. CHAPTER 2: GRACE IN The Marrow Controversy became the greatest THE GOSPEL controversy in the history of the church in Scotland. The gospel offer was at the heart of the Marrow Controversy. Can Christ truly be offered to unbelievers, even if they are not the elect? QUOTES Better yet, should the gospel offer be Christ’s atoning sacrifice or Christ Himself?

“Turn the question over in your own mind. To offer Christ to all is not a denial of limited How would you respond? Do you agree that atonement. Boston was not denying limited ‘it is not sound and orthodox to teach that atonement or the fact that only the fruit of we forsake sin in order to our coming to electing grace is repentance. Rather, Boston Christ?’” (p. 28) and the Marrow Men felt that Christ, the center

of the gospel, should be offered when the “At the root of the matter lay the nature of gospel is presented. To argue for preparation is the grace of God in the gospel and how it to argue for repentance to proceed grace. should be preached.” (p. 35)

For the “Marrow Men”, the gospel ought to be APPLICATION QUESTIONS offered to all people, and unbelievers should be freely offered the totus Christus (The Whole When you present the gospel, do you Christ) not just His benefits. present Christ or just His benefits?

This, however, was beyond orthodoxy for the If you consider limited atonement to be a Church of Scotland. biblical truth, how can you truly offer Christ to any unbeliever?

How has your view of the gospel been focused less than the Whole Christ? QUOTES

“…Jesus Christ is the gospel.” (p. 40)

“Ostensibly—as becomes clear from the criticisms leveled against the Marrow—the CHAPTER 3: controversy was about the offer of the PREPARATION, gospel. But much more than the semantics of gospel presentation was at stake. The DISTORTION, POISON issue was the heart of the gospel itself. The Marrow Men were concerned to stress the importance, and true nature, of God’s grace. Preparationism teaches that sin must be This they saw is rooted in a yet deeper issue: forsaken before the Christ is offered and grace the nature and character of God himself received. In essence, preparationism says, “you revealed in the gospel.” (p. 37-38) can have Christ and all His benefits once you have sufficiently shown that you genuinely “What was at the heart of their gospel desire it.” However, how much is enough? message? Calvin has a beautiful expression From where does the power to receive grace that summarizes it: the gospel is Christ come? These issues were at the core of the ‘clothed with his gospel.’ This, to use an Marrow Controversy. Augustinian term, is totus Christus, the whole Christ, the person in whom Preparationism stems from a distortion of incarnation has been accomplished and in God’s love. The distortion is still very prevalent whom atonement, resurrection, ascension, today, and it says that Christ died to persuade and heavenly reign are now realized.” (p. 46) the Father to love us, and sinners must show

that they are worthy of that love. Worse yet, APPLICATION QUESTIONS this distortion of God’s love forces sinners to look inward for a condition to merit grace. Have you ever felt that some people are closer to salvation because they want it Preparationism is a dangerous poison which more than others? Why is this a subtle form chokes out grace and makes it more about the of preparationism? sinner than the Savior. When this poison enters the pulpit, preaching loses efficacy because it How does a pastor’s view of grace affect his loses grace. congregation? Have you seen this positively or negatively in your own church?

QUOTES

“…the warrant for justifying faith in Christ CHAPTER 4: DANGER! does not lie within.” (p. 61) LEGALISM

“A misshapen understanding of the gospel impacts the spirit of a minister and affects Legalism is subtle and more dangerous than the style and atmosphere of his preaching most people imagine. Typically, legalism is and of all his pastoral ministry.” (p. 71) likened to trying to earn salvation by good works. While this is certainly true, there are “When people are broken by sin, full of many legalists who would deny this definition shame, feeling weak, conscious of failure, while remaining in their legalism. ashamed of themselves, and in need of counsel, they do not want to listen to Legalism is a web of deceit which can even lead preaching that expounds the truth of the to antinomianism because it begins by discrete doctrines of their church’s distorting the character of God and His love. confession of faith but fails to connect them Since the garden of Eden, legalism has plagued with the marrow of gospel grace and the humanity, and can even rest in the hearts Father of infinite love for sinners. It is a (actions) of people who have evangelical heads gracious and loving Father they need to (doctrine). know.” (p. 72) Legalism, whether in the head or the heart, divorces the true character of God from the law

of God, thus making both God and the law APPLICATION QUESTIONS seem unloving and unenjoyable. It robs believers of their enjoyment of God, His When you read the parables of the legalistic righteous ways, and His graciousness. Pharisees do you see aspects of yourself in them? Only hearing and responding to the gospel will cure the heart of legalism. It is not only needful Do you have an evangelical head and a to have gospel doctrine but also gospel- legalistic heart? How do you know? inspired practice. Where there is one without other, legalism will always be pervasive. How is it that we are all legalists at heart? How has God transformed your life in that regard?

QUOTES

“Legalism is embedded in the human heart virtually from the very day of man’s creation CHAPTER 5: THE ORDER and resides in us from conception.” (p. 86) OF GRACE

“What is legalism? The generic answer of evangelical Christians would probably be The ordo salutis (order of salvation) is of high something like, ‘Trying to earn your importance when considering salvation. At the salvation by doing good works.’ But around forefront of this discussion is in what order do and underneath that, there gathers a web repentance and faith come into play in the that extends more widely, which is woven salvation of believers. Biblically, repentance intricately and invisibly to trap the unwary. must not have priority logically or And the web is always much stronger than chronologically before faith. we imagine, for legalism is a much more subtle reality than we tend to assume.” (p. Legalism seeks to include repentance (work) in 75) the mix with justification (by faith alone). This was seen with the Roman Catholic “It is failure here that leads to the mistake of understanding of penance. It can also be seen prescribing a dose of antinomianism to heal in how Protestants view the gospel offer as well legalism, and vice versa, rather than the as the relationship between justification and gospel antidote of our grace-union with sanctification. Christ.” (p. 86)

Repentance must be preceded by faith, though APPLICATION QUESTIONS the two are often presented as chronologically inseparable. This view of the order of salvation When you present the gospel, do you call must guide the believer’s daily life as well. people to repent and believe? Why is it Salvation by faith, apart from works, needs to important not to lose either call? be a constant companion of the believer. Do you live today as though your works warrant your justification? How does the gospel prevent this from happening?

Is your justification final? How do you QUOTES know? How does that shape your reading, meditation, teaching, counseling, or “Repentance is suffused with faith; preaching of God’s Word? otherwise it is legal. But then without repentance, faith would be no more than imagination.” (p. 103)

“Free justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone lies at the heart of CHAPTER 6: SUSPICIOUS the application of redemption. The faith that unites us to Christ also sucks in every SYMPTOMS spiritual blessing in him: peace with God, exultation in the hope of the glory of God, in tribulations, and even in God himself.” (p. Legalism creates a self-righteous temper and 108) bondage in the soul because it treats the law as a contract, and God as angry judge simply “Believers are free now from the law “as a waiting to destroy believers who fail. covenant of works.” Christ has both kept God’s commandments for us and paid the There is a bondage of the soul in legalism penalty of their breach in our place. We are because it robs the believer of joy and gospel free from the condemnation and the reign freedom. Though Moses is deeply associated of sin. Paul has already made this clear in with the law, it is ultimately Satan who uses the Romans 3:21–6:23.” (p. 121) law to berate believers with shame and failure. It is Satan who undermines the believer’s relationship with God.

Christ Himself—God’s grace to us—is the cure

for legalism. His atoning work on the cross and APPLICATION QUESTIONS its application to the saint’s soul is the cure for How have you seen the self-righteous the poison of legalism. temper in your “good” deeds?

Do you believe you have more in common with the Pharisee than the tax collector? How do you know? QUOTES When have you seen the gospel used as a balm to cure your self-righteousness? “It should shock us because evangelical Christians may existentially have more in common with the Pharisee than with the tax collector.” (p. 125)

“Legalism produces what our forefathers called a self-righteous ‘temper.’” (p. 123) CHAPTER 7: THE FACES

“Grace lances the boil of merit.” (p. 128) OF ANTINOMIANISM

“What, then, is the remedy for legalism? At There are several strands of antinomianism, the stage we have reached in reflecting on some of which may not be recognized as the Marrow, it scarcely needs to be said. It is legalism. Dogmatic antinomianism is the form grace. But it is not ‘grace’ as commodity, of antinomianism that most people are familiar grace as substance. It is grace in Christ. For with. This form boldly (and wrongly) asserts God’s grace to us is Christ. Yes, it is the that the importance and authority of the law is atonement; but not atonement as theory, or totally removed from the life of the believer. as an abstract reality, something that has an

identity of its own outside of and apart from The exegetical strand of antinomianism uses the Lord Jesus. For Christ himself, clothed the misinterpretation of scripture to abrogate as he is in his gospel work, is the atonement the law. This strand typical denies that multi- —’He is the propitiation for our sins.’” (p. faceted use of the law in scripture and argues 134) for a flat view of the law which denies the moral, ceremonial, and civil aspects of the law.

Experimental antinomianism is licentious living

which treats the law as unnecessary for the APPLICATION QUESTIONS believer. What is your view of the law? Does it fit

within one of these categories of Today, a dominant form of antinomianism is antinomianism? the notion that God loves people as they are

and anything that seeks to change them is How do you see antinomianism in the legalism. Just like legalism, antinomianism culture of the church in the West? What separates the grace of God from the law of God. about in your own church?

QUOTES

“But more than that, Marrow theology insisted that levels of sanctification can CHAPTER 8: CAUSES neither increase nor diminish our AND CURES justification. To the legalist the gospel of the Marrow Brethren sounded suspiciously like antinomianism.” (p. 138) Antinomianism is antithetical to the gospel, and correcting it with legalism will fail. “Although in one sense antinomianism is Legalism is the root cause of antinomianism, so the “opposite” error from legalism, in adding law to a foundation of legalism will lead another sense it is the “equal” error, for it to more legalism. It is only by grace that similarly abstracts God’s law from God’s believers receive the power to obey the moral person and character (which undergoes no law. That is the key to Paul’s argument in change from old to new covenant). It fails to Romans 7. The law is good but the sinful nature appreciate that the law that condemns us in humans leads to rebellion and rejection of for our sins was given to teach us how not to the law. sin.” (p. 141) God was gracious in giving the law. The moral “So we are confronted here with an old law was not made obsolete with the civil and problem. Does the gospel dismantle the ceremonial laws, but is upheld by believers law? It was a consolation to the Marrow through the Spirit. This is clearly seen in the law Brethren that the preaching and teaching of to love God and love others. In order to obey both Jesus and Paul aroused the same the law of love, believers need guidance on questions and criticism.” (p. 138) how to love.

couched in doctrinal and theological terms, Just as it was not legalism for Christ to obey the but it both betrays and masks the heart’s law, it is not legalism for the Christian to keep distaste for absolute divine obligation, or it. Instead, the Spirit’s indwelling leads us to duty.” (p. 161) uphold and obey the law because it is good

because its Giver is good. “Neither the Old Testament believer nor the

Savior severed the law of God from his The cure to both legalism and antinomianism gracious person. It was not legalism for is the gospel—Christ Himself—and hearts Jesus to do everything his Father transformed by the gospel. commanded him. Nor is it for us.” (p. 173)

“This full and free offer of Christ, this dissolution of the heart bondage that evidences itself in both legalism and QUOTES antinomianism, this gracious obedience to God to which our union with Christ gives “The antinomian is by nature a person with rise as the Spirit writes the law into our a legalistic heart.” (p. 157) hearts—this is still the marrow of modern divinity. Indeed it is the marrow of the “There is only one genuine cure for legalism. gospel for us all. It is so because the gospel It is the same medicine the gospel is Christ himself, clothed in its garments.” prescribes for antinomianism: (p. 176) understanding and tasting union with Jesus Christ himself. This leads to a new love for and obedience to the law of God, which he APPLICATION QUESTIONS now mediates to us in the gospel. This alone breaks the bonds of both legalism (the law How have you used antinomianism to cure is no longer divorced from the person of legalism in your life? Why did it fail? Christ) and antinomianism (we are not

divorced from the law, which now comes to Do you view the law as good and necessary us from the hand of Christ and in the in your life? Why or why not? empowerment of the Spirit, who writes it in

our hearts).” (p. 157) If you are free in Christ, why does God give

you laws? “This is a fundamental pastoral lesson. It is

not merely a matter of the head. It is a What were the results of viewing God’s good matter of the heart. Antinomianism may be laws wrongly in your life?

CHAPTER 9: THE QUOTES MARROW OF “From one point of view, therefore, the ASSURANCE Reformation was born out of the womb of the rediscovery of certitude—spiritual certainty or assurance.” (p. 182) In the midst of the Marrow controversy, the Marrow Men also had to fight to prove their “To use formal language, in distinction from view of assurance of salvation. Though it is the ‘direct act’ of faith in Christ, which clear that false assurance is a reality that was implies a certain assurance of him (‘He is addressed in the scriptures, genuine assurance able to save to the uttermost those who is taught with as much certainty and clarity. draw near to God through him’), assurance of salvation is a ‘reflex act.’ It does not have Though perspectives on assurance evolved in Christ as its direct object but the believer such a way as to nearly rule out its possibility, him- or herself. The direct act of faith says, assurance of salvation was foundational to the ‘Christ is able to save,’ while the reflex act Reformation. says, ‘I am someone who has been saved through faith in Christ.’” (p. 186) The Westminster Confession of the faith held that assurance of salvation could be attained “In Christ we are no longer dominated by without means of special revelation. However, the flesh, but by the Spirit; but we are not one of the chief arguments against the Marrow yet delivered from the flesh. So long as this Men was that the Marrow Of Modern Divinity eschatological tension exists for the taught assurance as being of the essence of believer, so long will there be—in Calvin’s faith. view—a gap between the definition of faith and the actual experience of the believer…” Boston and his friends argued, with Calvin and (p. 189) the Westminster Divines, that assurance was possible for all saints primarily because faith itself is a firm confidence in the work of Christ.

Though not every believer will always APPLICATION QUESTIONS experience assurance and may have their assurance assailed and weakened in this life, Is assurance of salvation necessary for the faith is sure because of its object—Jesus Christ. believer? How does your answer impact your counsel, teaching, or preaching?

Do you experience assurance of salvation in they have trusted in Christ through His witness your own life? How is that affected by in their lives. circumstances? Contrary to the views of some, the Holy Spirit Can you have genuine faith but consistently bears witness with believers to God that they lack assurance of salvation? have trusted in Him. Even in weak faith, the believer has the Spirit who cries out, “Abba, Father”.

CHAPTER 10: HOW ASSURANCE OF CHRIST QUOTES

BECOMES ASSURANCES “It bears repeating: assurance of salvation is OF SALVATION the fruit of faith in Christ.” (p. 197)

“In particular, assurance is nourished on a Assurance of salvation should never be clear understanding of grace and especially divorced from faith, for the very act of faith of union with Christ and the justification, carries at least the seed of assurance with it. adoption, and regeneration that are ours The discussion of assurance, then, is whether freely in him.” (p. 199) the work of Christ has been applied directly to the specific believer. “Herein lies the paradox: we want to talk and think about how to get better Enemies of assurance include: legalism (even if evidences; Boston is concerned that we get it is subtle), distortion of God’s love, and a a better grip of Christ. Then the evidences failure to see justification as final and will grow like fruit.” (p. 204) complete. It is true as well that high levels of assurance are not found where there are low “Thus there are different strands of levels of obedience. Obedience to God, influences that together make up the righteous living, killing sin, and walking in love complex harmony that is Christian are vital signs of genuine faith and lead to assurance. Actual assurance has a assurance. psychological as well as a theological dimension. Precisely for this reason, even The Holy Spirit gives believers assurance that when we have developed a clear doctrine of

assurance, our actual experience of it may be prevented by numerous obstacles.” (p. CHAPTER 11: 212) HINDRANCES STREW ALL THE WAY

APPLICATION QUESTIONS Since assurance ought to be characteristic of a normal and healthy walk with God, when there Have you ever had to rely on the objective is a lack of assurance, the symptoms need to reality rather than the experience of be diagnosed and the cure prescribed. assurance in your walk with God? What

helped you through that season? What are the hindrances to assurance? The list

is numerous. The most subtle hindrance to Why, when searching for assurance, do assurance is looking to progress in people look to themselves rather than sanctification to validate genuine faith. As Christ? How have you seen that struggle in stated previously, faith in Christ must not be your own heart? set aside in order to examine whether a person

is in the faith, for it is by faith that sanctification How do legalism and antinomianism impact takes place. assurance? Which aspect affects your

assurance more? Other hindrances to assurance include: walking in disobedience, misunderstanding the purpose of afflictions in life, misunderstanding the relationship of the believer to sin (that the believer is dead to sin, but not sinlessly perfect), natural temperament, attacks from Satan, misinformed consciences, general spiritual negligence, psychological and psychosomatic illness.

True assurance will produce godly fruit rather than legalism or antinomianism. The fruit of assurance includes: boldness in witness, eagerness and intimacy in prayer, confidence in trials, and joy in worship.

QUOTES APPLICATION QUESTIONS

“The New Testament regards the enjoyment Which of the hindrances of assurance are of assurance of salvation as normal and prevalent in your life? What has been your healthy Christian experience.” (p. 213) response to them?

“Perhaps the single most subtle hindrance Do you consider assurance to be an to assurance is also the most common, the important aspect of a daily walk with God? tendency that has already been mentioned: Why or why not? confusing and compounding the foundation of salvation with the means by How have you seen the evidences of which assurance of salvation is confirmed assurance aid in your sanctification? and developed.” (p. 213)

“We are not the best interpreters of divine providence. Nor is our conviction of the Father’s love for us grounded in his providential ways with us. The fatal mistake here is to base our assurance of grace and CHAPTER 12: salvation on the fact that “God is blessing CONCLUSION CHAPTER my life.” When we do so, we have no anchor if life turns sour. No, God anchors us to himself in Christ.” (p. 215) The Marrow Controversy was and is a litmus test and a catalyst. It is a litmus test to reveal a “Christian assurance is not self-assurance legal spirit hidden in the hearts of believers. and self-confidence. It is the reverse: Searching out whether there is gospel hardness confidence in our Father, trust in Christ as forming is a great need for all believers, our Savior, and joy in the Spirit as the Spirit especially ministers given that it affects of sonship, seal of grace, and earnest of our everything from personal devotion to teaching inheritance as sons and daughters of God. and preaching. When these are the hallmarks of our lives, then the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ has The Marrow Controversy is a catalyst to cause come home to us in full measure.” (p. 226) Christians to look at its pastoral and theological implications and drive them to love, enjoy, preach, and live in light of the gospel. The Marrow Controversy and reflection

Christ and through the Holy Spirit. This is upon it leads to a deeper enjoyment of the salvation by grace alone, in Christ alone, gospel—Christ Jesus, Himself. through faith alone. It is Ephesians 1:3–14,

Christ-centered, Trinity-honoring, eternity- The essence of the gospel is offering salvation rooted, redemption-providing, adoption- by offering Christ. Offering people the Totus experiencing, holiness-producing, Christus, the whole Christ, is to offer them assurance-affecting, God-glorifying salvation by grace alone through faith alone in salvation.” (p. 227) Christ alone. This salvation shaped the preaching of Paul, Timothy, Thomas Boston, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, and countless others throughout church history. This “tincture” which greatly affected Thomas Boston can impact pastors and church leaders today. APPLICATION QUESTIONS

How have you been tempted to let gospel hardness set into your heart?

How has The Whole Christ become a QUOTES catalyst to increase your love and enjoyment of Christ in your personal “The Marrow emphasis on the grace of God devotion, teaching, and preaching? and on the God of grace, who in Christ is the gospel, functions as spiritual angiography— it injects a gospel dye into our spiritual heart arteries and reveals whether there has been any degree of gospel hardening.” (p. 227)

“You may have encountered that expression before in its time-honored Latin form, Totus Christus. It goes back at least as far as Augustine. It is echoed by John Calvin when he tells us that Christ does not consider himself to be complete apart from us. It is language that stresses that all our salvation comes to us from God the Father in Jesus

CONCLUSION CLOSING THOUGHT

Faith in the gospel is at the core of true The Marrow Controversy served as an excellent Christianity. Too often, the gospel is taken for launching point for reflecting on the themes of granted and cloaked in cliches resulting in legalism, antinomianism, and assurance of Christians perpetually plagued by legalism and salvation. The Whole Christ is an excellent antinomianism. Do you have the whole Christ treatment of the importance of the gospel in or have you settled for a cheap alternative? the whole of the Christian life. Touching evangelism, counseling, teaching, preaching, and personal devotion, Ferguson passionately appeals to faith in Christ, not just the benefits he offers.

Since legalism and antinomianism are two sides of the same coins or two fruits from the same root, the answer to them both is simple— the gospel. Assurance of salvation is hindered by both legalism and antinomianism, so the pursuit of assurance must also be a pursuit of Jesus Christ, the heart of the gospel.

The Whole Christ offers some excellent and noteworthy insights regarding legalism, antinomianism, and assurance:

Legalism Is Subtle: Legalism is more subtle than justification by works.

Antinomianism Expresses Legalism: Antinomianism is the fruit and expression of legalism.

Assurance Is Attainable: Assurance of salvation is a necessary and actual fruit of faith in Jesus Christ.

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