Comments on: Justification by Union According to Calvin and Westminster http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:39:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jack Smith http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-569 Jack Smith Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:32:21 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-569 Amen Mr. Horne. It's too easy to let our systematics overwhelm our exegesis. Amen Mr. Horne. It’s too easy to let our systematics overwhelm our exegesis.

]]> By: mhorne http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-530 mhorne Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:32:56 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-530 That's my opinion, Paul. That’s my opinion, Paul.

]]> By: pduggie http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-529 pduggie Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:15:10 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-529 It strikes me that Berkhof's distinction in union sounds like a tautology. "legal unity" with Christ is the grounds for imputation is like saying imputation is the basis for imputation. It strikes me that Berkhof’s distinction in union sounds like a tautology.

“legal unity” with Christ is the grounds for imputation is like saying imputation is the basis for imputation.

]]> By: mhorne http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-466 mhorne Sat, 06 Oct 2007 02:08:02 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-466 This is not an answer, but it is worth considering. someone just sent me some quotations Here is John Owen from his <i>Justification by Faith</i>:<blockquote>The foundation of the imputation asserted is union. Hereof there are many grounds and causes, as hath been declared; but that which we have immediate respect unto, as the foundation of this imputation, is that whereby the Lord Jesus and believers do actually coalesce into one mystical person. This is by the Holy Spirit inhabiting in him as the head of the church in all fullness, and in all believers according to their measure, whereby they become members of his mystical body. That there is such a union between Christ and believers is the faith of the catholic church, and hath been so in all ages" (5.209).</blockquote>And again, from his commentary on Hebrews: "Our union with him is the ground of the actual imputation of his righteousness unto us" (Hebrews 4.150). Thomas Boston, <i>Fourfold State</i>: "The first particular benefit that a sinner has by his union with Christ, is justification; for being united to Christ, he has communion with him in in his righteousness, 1 Cor 1.30 . . ." This is not an answer, but it is worth considering. someone just sent me some quotations

Here is John Owen from his Justification by Faith:

The foundation of the imputation asserted is union. Hereof there are many grounds and causes, as hath been declared; but that which we have immediate respect unto, as the foundation of this imputation, is that whereby the Lord Jesus and believers do actually coalesce into one mystical person. This is by the Holy Spirit inhabiting in him as the head of the church in all fullness, and in all believers according to their measure, whereby they become members of his mystical body. That there is such a union between Christ and believers is the faith of the catholic church, and hath been so in all ages” (5.209).

And again, from his commentary on Hebrews: “Our union with him is the ground of the actual imputation of his righteousness unto us” (Hebrews 4.150).

Thomas Boston, Fourfold State: “The first particular benefit that a sinner has by his union with Christ, is justification; for being united to Christ, he has communion with him in in his righteousness, 1 Cor 1.30 . . .”

]]> By: Brian http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-464 Brian Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:16:52 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-464 Yes, I would be interested to see how you interact with Berkhof. His entire section on "Mystical Union" (pp. 447-53) appears to represent an approach to union with Christ that is very different than yours. "This imputation of the righteousness of Christ to His people in the counsel of redemption is [...] certainly the eternal basis of our justification by faith, and is the ground on which we receive all spiritual blessings [...]. And this being so, it is basic to the whole of soteriology, and even to the first stages in the application of the work of redemption such as <i>regeneration and internal calling</i>." (from p. 448) Yes, I would be interested to see how you interact with Berkhof. His entire section on “Mystical Union” (pp. 447-53) appears to represent an approach to union with Christ that is very different than yours.

“This imputation of the righteousness of Christ to His people in the counsel of redemption is [...] certainly the eternal basis of our justification by faith, and is the ground on which we receive all spiritual blessings [...]. And this being so, it is basic to the whole of soteriology, and even to the first stages in the application of the work of redemption such as regeneration and internal calling.” (from p. 448)

]]> By: mhorne http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-462 mhorne Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:32:27 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-462 Thanks, Brian. I think Berkhof is probably just wrong biblically, and also contrary to Calvin and Westminster. If you applied this consistently you would have to become Arminian since this would mean that people who are not united to Christ are capable of faith by which they are justified. As a Calvinist, I believe that one must be renewed in Christ in order to believe and be justified. The unregenerate person is morally incapable of believing the Gospel. I had forgotten Berkhof said that. I might add him into a new version of this brief essay or right another one just dealing with his position. I appreciate being reminded. Thanks, Brian. I think Berkhof is probably just wrong biblically, and also contrary to Calvin and Westminster. If you applied this consistently you would have to become Arminian since this would mean that people who are not united to Christ are capable of faith by which they are justified. As a Calvinist, I believe that one must be renewed in Christ in order to believe and be justified. The unregenerate person is morally incapable of believing the Gospel.

I had forgotten Berkhof said that. I might add him into a new version of this brief essay or right another one just dealing with his position. I appreciate being reminded.

]]> By: Brian http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-461 Brian Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:22:20 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-461 "The mystical union in the sense in which we are now speaking of it is not the judicial ground, on the basis of which we become partakers of the riches that are in Christ. It is sometimes said that the merits of Christ cannot be imputed to us as long as we are not in Christ, since it is only on the basis of our oneness with Him that such an imputation could be reasonable. But this view fails to distinguish between our legal unity with Christ and our spiritual oneness with Him, and is a falsification of the fundamental element in the doctrine of redemption, namely, of the doctrine of justification." (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 452.) “The mystical union in the sense in which we are now speaking of it is not the judicial ground, on the basis of which we become partakers of the riches that are in Christ. It is sometimes said that the merits of Christ cannot be imputed to us as long as we are not in Christ, since it is only on the basis of our oneness with Him that such an imputation could be reasonable. But this view fails to distinguish between our legal unity with Christ and our spiritual oneness with Him, and is a falsification of the fundamental element in the doctrine of redemption, namely, of the doctrine of justification.” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 452.)

]]> By: henry johnson http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster/comment-page-1#comment-16 henry johnson Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:12:42 +0000 http://www.hornes.org/theologia/mark-horne/justification-by-union-according-to-calvin-and-westminster#comment-16 Is the mystical union of Christ and his church a truth to be believed, or does it become a truth only by faith? If the gospel is true before our believing, then union with Christ before faith is true, isn't it? Is the mystical union of Christ and his church a truth to be believed, or does it become a truth only by faith? If the gospel is true before our believing, then union with Christ before faith is true, isn’t it?

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