We have the usual book news and then provide an overview of the union with Christ discussion complete with a bibliography for those interested in reading more on the subject.
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I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Romans 16:17-18)
I can’t believe my eyes!
Is that because of the topic or the fact that there actually is a Reformed Media Review that came out!?
The fact that RMR is back
However, I enjoyed the discussion. I’ve been perplexed over the WTS/WTS-C debate. I appreciate y’all starting to clear it up. (Although, I could use several more episodes on the topic.)
Sure – I’m glad we finally got one out the door. I’m trying to get a couple things in place that would let us put more episodes out with regularity.
The union with Christ “discussion” is a complicated one. I’m glad this episode is starting to clear it up for you, although it wasn’t as organized as it could have been.
Tim,
I think we really only scratched the surface on the WSC/WTS issue. The debate centers on the question, “From what do all the benefits of God’s saving work in Christ flow?” The answer some of the WSC profs seem to gives is, “From justification.” The answer Gaffin gives is, ‘From Union.” I am making a sweeping generalization that is probably true of some of the professors at WSC and not of others there. I am also wanting to say that Gaffin does see a priority, or centrality, in justification as distinguished from the other benefits of the ordo salutis, such as sanctification and glorification. This is a very difficult issue. Start with Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied. This will at least acquaint you with some of the language and more intricate issues that are surfacing in this discussion.
I never really got to the Union debate…Just thinking about Jeff fondling new volumes…I had to go for a long walk.
Two more historical-theological resources are worth adding to the reading list on the union with Christ debates:
First, “Calvin’s Understanding of the ‘Twofold Grace of God’ and Contemporary Ecumenical Discussion of the Gospel” by Cornelius Venema (Mid-America Journal of Theology vol. 18, 2007, pp. 67-105) introduces Calvin’s duplex gratia Dei from a historical-theological perspective.
Second, the same author has a dissertation on Calvin’s duplex gratia: Accepted and Renewed in Christ: The Twofold Grace of God and the Interpretation of Calvin’s Theology.