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In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jon Pratt for a discussion on his new book, “My Sheep Follow Me: A Study of Perseverance and the Threat of Antinomianism.” - Central Seminary Channel
Filthy Rags or Fragrant Offerings? How Does God View Our Good Works?
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“…as Christians, we sometimes underestimate the change in status that took place when we were united to Christ and adopted into God’s family. We speak of ourselves as though nothing had changed in our relationship, and as if God still viewed our efforts to please him as offensive. But this is false, as we’ll see from Scripture.” - TGC
There’s No Contradiction Between God’s Empowerment and Our Efforts to Battle Sin
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“But God’s Word never says, ‘Since you’re a sinner, there’s no reason to expend effort to gain victory over sin.’ On the contrary, Paul says, ‘For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me’ (Colossians 1:29).” - Randy Alcorn
7 Things You Need to Know About the ‘Good News Mission’
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“It may sound like good news, but when held up to the truth of God’s Word, the message preached by the religious group known as the Good News Mission turns out to be false and dangerous.” - TGC
10 Errors to Avoid When Talking about Sanctification and the Gospel
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“Can we please God? Should we try to? Is there a place for striving in the Christian life? Can God be disappointed with the Christian? Does the gospel make any demands? These are good questions that require a good deal of nuance and precision to answer well.” - Kevin DeYoung
Theologically Loaded Catch-Lines, Episode 1: What Does It Mean to “Cease Striving”?
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“With this large sampling of [NT] appeals to be sanctified (1) by striving and (2) in pursuit of approval, where did the idea emerge that we should ‘cease striving’ and eschew ‘approval’?” - DBTS Blog
Reactions to antinomianism: “four of the five waves listed above offer cures that are worse than the malady.”
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“…while Shepherdism, the New Perspective, the Federal Vision, and the King Jesus Gospel are emphatically wrong in polluting the doctrine of justification with human merit, their call to emphasize the obedience of faith should not go unheeded.” - Mark Snoeberger
The Enduring Appeal of Antinomianism: Why a 17th-Century Theological Debate (Still) Matters Today
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“While I’m not an expert on American evangelicalism, I think aspects of 17th-century antinomianism have become mainstream in many of our churches. Many believers assume that some, if not all, of the moral law no longer applies, or that it only applies because the commands are re-affirmed in the New Testament” - TGC
Why "Preach the Gospel to Yourself" Is Not Enough
A battle has been raging for some years now regarding how believers progress in sanctification. It has probably been raging in one form or another for centuries. For those who have not been following it, a few words on why the question is important.
First, by definition, genuine believers want their character and conduct to please the One they call Lord. Second, they also discover quickly by experience (if not by reading the NT) that they do not immediately please Him completely and consistently. Third, they want to know what they should do to improve. In short, “What must I do to be sanctified?” is a question every true disciple is interested in answering correctly.
One school of thought that has made major inroads in the last few years generally reacts negatively to calls to Christian duty and obedience—especially when those calls focus on our nonconformity to the world we live in. Warnings against “legalism” and appeals to “get the gospel right” or to be truly “gospel centered” are typical. To the extent that this perspective offers a clear view of sanctification at all, it often boils down to “just preach the gospel to yourself; that’s all you need to do; God will do the rest.”
