Richard Gaffin makes a convincing argument that ' if we are to understand Paul on salvation on salvation, including the order of salvation, we must understand him on sin' (p. 29, By Faith, Not by Sight). He argues this mainly on the recurrence of phrases like 'for our sins' in the most important of Paul's brief summaries of the Gospel.
He identifies several facets of Paul's treatment of sin:
- It is 'anti-relational' (primarily the in relation to God)
- It is 'illegal'
- It is 'universal'
- It is an 'enslaving and corrupting power'
Gaffin considers that sin has 'all sorts of disastrous and ruinous consequences' but the two basic consequences are:
- 'guilt'; and
- 'enslavement'
Classically, described as the penalty and power of sin (although Gaffin doesn't mention this). In my view the NPP (esp. Wright) focuses mainly on the latter, and the old perspective on the former.
I think the old perspective is right to emphasise the penalty, as the power of Satan and sin is primarily that of accusation (after all that is what Satan means). But we must celebrate the freedom from both.
Very helpful, thanks.
ReplyDeleteJustin Mote led us masterfully through Romans 1 during the week and showed how the original act of suppressing the truth leads to both enslavement and universal guilt. He then traced how the cross deals with both through Romans. Very interesting to see how freedom from slavery to sin (and challenges to whether we are really free) are traced out in chapters 5-7: I'd never read them that way.
Yes. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteOne link I forgot to draw was with Romans 1, which sees sin as something we are given over to as a penalty by God. The enslavement (in part) is a punishment from God. God is the Alpha and the Omega and we are not Manichaeans who belief there are warring heavenly powers. The guilt has to be dealt with first to effect the freedom.
Justin put it like this:
ReplyDelete1. Humanity suppresses the truth, leading to a response of God's wrath
so that...
2. Humans are handed over to slavery to sin, shown by individual sins
so that...
3 No-one is justified in God's sight
The cross deals with this:
1. God's wrath is satisfied through the sacrifice of Christ
so that...
2. Christians can be redeemed from slavery to sin
so that...
3. It is possible to be justified in God's sight, with him both just and justifier
Thanks Peter,
ReplyDeleteI think I would change about with Justin's order though. I think I would say that:
1. God's wrath is satisfied through the sacrifice of Christ
so that...
2. It is possible to be justified in God's sight, with him both just and justifier
so that...
3. Christians can be redeemed from slavery to sin
Justification leads to glorification which is redemption (8:30). After all chapters 5-7 begin with 'Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.'
Having said that both justification and peace/life/freedom are in union with Christ. He didn't just purchase our justification which led independently of his work to freedom from slavery. Christ's work is not just the foundation, but everything.
e.g. Paul says both:
'We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.' which sees freedom/life as intimately connected with Christ's work.
AND
'who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.' which sees our acquittal as intimately connected with Christ's work.
BTW thank you for your prayer letter the other day.