Union Mania!
November 25, 2011
As a supplement to Paul Levy's notice about Dr. Letham's book on union with Christ, readers of Ref21 might be interested in the audio of a fall conference held recently at Calvary Church of Amwell in Ringoes, New Jersey, called "Alive in Christ: Saving Union with Christ" (scroll to the bottom of the link for the Mp3s; or, for cleaner versions, go here). The speakers were Drs. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. and Lane G. Tipton, both of whom see covenant union with Christ as the indispensable context of our election, the cross work of Christ, saving faith, together with every benefit of redemption, including justification, sanctification, and adoption. I've been enjoying listening my way through and especially recommend Dr. Gaffin's "Biblical Overview" on the topic of union.
As many are no doubt aware, there is a lively debate among the Reformed (both past and present) over whether or not a forensic benefit of redemption (i.e., justification) should be conceived as preceding (either temporally, logically, or causally) transformatory aspects of redemption (e.g., regeneration, sanctification) in the life experience of the believer. Some will even want to see justification preceding and effecting mystical union with Christ itself. To put it a bit differently, does the Reformation's emphasis on justification in its historical polemic against Rome match up with a deeper structural reality in the application of redemption? Or are the believer's vindication before the bar of God's justice and his Spirit-wrought liberation from sin's enslaving power equally basic, distinct, inseparable, and simultaneous benefits applied in the context of faith union with the risen Christ? In my mind, this is a debate worth having, with many significant and very real implications not only for our understanding of salvation, but for the kind of pastoral guidance we give to those struggling with shame, assurance, besetting sins, and more.
As a disclaimer to Levy (who observed the "plain-Jane" cover titles to Letham's books), the titles of the lectures in this link aren't much to go for either (e.g., "Regeneration," "Sanctification")--but only if one prioritizes the fleeting dialectical play of fragmenting, flamboyant aesthetics in book/lecture titles over the enduring theological substance of Reformed Christianity...
As many are no doubt aware, there is a lively debate among the Reformed (both past and present) over whether or not a forensic benefit of redemption (i.e., justification) should be conceived as preceding (either temporally, logically, or causally) transformatory aspects of redemption (e.g., regeneration, sanctification) in the life experience of the believer. Some will even want to see justification preceding and effecting mystical union with Christ itself. To put it a bit differently, does the Reformation's emphasis on justification in its historical polemic against Rome match up with a deeper structural reality in the application of redemption? Or are the believer's vindication before the bar of God's justice and his Spirit-wrought liberation from sin's enslaving power equally basic, distinct, inseparable, and simultaneous benefits applied in the context of faith union with the risen Christ? In my mind, this is a debate worth having, with many significant and very real implications not only for our understanding of salvation, but for the kind of pastoral guidance we give to those struggling with shame, assurance, besetting sins, and more.
As a disclaimer to Levy (who observed the "plain-Jane" cover titles to Letham's books), the titles of the lectures in this link aren't much to go for either (e.g., "Regeneration," "Sanctification")--but only if one prioritizes the fleeting dialectical play of fragmenting, flamboyant aesthetics in book/lecture titles over the enduring theological substance of Reformed Christianity...
