This book looks very interesting. The relationship of Jesus and Paul has been controversial for quite some time, even in popular levels. The list of scholars looks great.
Norman Shepherd’s First Article, part 3
March 31, 2008 at 11:55 am (Federal Vision, Heresy)
Shepherd goes on in this article to attempt to set Godfrey against the Westminster standards. Here is the entire paragraph (pg. 58):
Godfrey’s chapter makes quite clear that he cannot really accept what the Westminster Confession says about the necessity of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The Confession says, “Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ; yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it” (chapter 15, section 3). The Confession defines justification as including the pardon of sin, and therefore makes repentance necessary for justification. And as already noted it defines repentance so as to include not only a grief for and hatred of sin, but a turning away from sin with an endeavor to walk with the Lord in all the ways of his commandments. For Godfrey, the Confession really mixes a toxic cocktail of faith plus works as necessary for justification.
Now, there are several things I wish to point out here. Firstly, Shepherd seems to have missed the import of the clause “or any cause of the pardon thereof.” This allows him to make the ambiguous statement “therefore makes repentance necessary for justification.” I would hope that all would say that repentance is necessary for justification. But how is it necessary? Is it necessary as a cause, necessary as a concomitant, necessary as an instrument, what? Shepherd does not clarify here. Certainly, the confession rules out the necessity of repentance as a cause, by the phrase I have highlighted. Given this fact, and also given the fact that chapter 11 clearly states that no evangelical obedience forms any part of the instrumental cause of justification, therefore I conclude that repentance is necessary as a concomitant. That is, repentance is necessary as an adjunct to saving faith. It says “without which.” This should remind us of other statements that say that faith is never alone in the one justified, even though it is alone in justification. So also, repentance being an evangelical obedience, it is a necessary adjunct to faith. Some might say, with good plausibility, that repentance happens before faith, and is a result of regeneration. I would be happy with this formulation. At any rate, Shepherd’s critique of Godfrey is much too vague to clarify much.
Update to Commentary Recommendations
March 31, 2008 at 10:34 am (Books (reviews and recommendations))
I have updated my commentary list, especially in 1 and 2 Samuel and Daniel.
Green Baggins 