Scott Clark charges that moralism continues to make its way into Christian theology.
The trick is to use the right words, but change the meanings, or just mix the various elements of orthodox belief in unorthodox ways.
Clark observes that: “In Reformed circles moralism often persists undetected because it begins by sounding orthodox but like the scorpion the sting is in the tail.”
Nothing is really new about this. The same error has found its way into the church at various times through its history. The Holy Spirit then works to clean the error out through revival. Is it any wonder that many now look at revivals like the reformation with something approaching condescending disdain?
Clark composes a catechism (set of questions and answers, used to help teach) which helps clarify the nature and extent of a comtemporary error besetting some areas of the church which would describe itself as reformed and evangelical.
(Hint for those of you new to this, if you read any of these answers and a warning bell does not sound in your brain, something is amiss.)
Q: What is justification?
A: Justification is God’s initial declaration of righteousness upon those who trust in Christ, live in the grace of baptism, and obey the gospel.
Q: What is faith?
A: Faith is repentance, trust in Christ, and faithfulness.
Q: What is repentance?
A: Faith
Q: What is the gospel?
A: The gospel is that everyone who believes and cooperates with grace will be justified.
Q: What is grace?
A: A free, unmerited gift that God gives to all the faithful members of the covenant.
Q: What is the covenant?
A: It is God’s unconditional, free promise that if we obey his gospel and cooperate with grace we will be justified.
Q: What is God’s law?
A: God’s law is his moral will revealed in creation, at Sinai, i.e., the gospel.
Q: What is the distinction between law and gospel?
A: It is the distinction between the old law and the new.
Q: What is regeneration?
A: Regeneration is the new life conferred upon those who are baptized and thereby united to Christ, elected, justified, adopted, and who continue in that grace.
Q. What is baptism?
A: Baptism is that promise to the children of believers and to adult converts and the sacrament whereby we are elected, united to Christ, justified, and adopted if we continue in grace.
Q: What is the Lord’s Supper?
A: That sacrament whereby God renews his covenant to save those who believe and cooperate with the grace given in baptism
Q: Who should come to the table of the Lord?
A: All baptized persons
Q: What is perseverance of the saints?
A: Perseverance is cooperation by the baptized with the grace given then in baptism and the supper unto final justification.
Q: Can a person lose his salvation?
A: No one can lose their salvation unless they fail to cooperate sufficiently with the grace of baptism.
Q: What is final justification?
A: God’s recognition of the inherent, intrinsic Spirit-wrought sanctity and righteousness by grace and cooperation with grace in those only who have trusted in Christ and have kept their part of the covenant.
Read the entire article ‘The Moralist’s Catechism‘ here.
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