(Note: While this entry was still in draft mode, Steve Wedgeworth blogged about a similar tension. It might be helpful to read his post.)
Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty,[James 2:10-11] goodness,[Exodus 20:1-2] and holiness of God,[Habakkuk 1:13; Leviticus 11:44-45] and against his righteous law,[1 John 3:4; Romans 7:12] deserveth his wrath and curse,[Ephesians 5:6; Galatians 3:10] both in this life,[Lamentations 3:39; Deuteronomy 28:15-18] and that which is to come;[Matthew 25:41] and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.[Hebrews 9:22]
Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,[Acts 20:21; Matthew 3:7-8; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 16:30-31; John 3:16, 18] and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.[Proverbs 2:1-5; 8:33-36]
Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.[Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47]
So where in this statement do we have a precise definition of justification by faith alone, only at the point of effectual calling, that is carefully distinguished from subsequent obedience and sanctification?
On the one hand, we obviously have here some concern with justification. Sin deserves God’s wrath and curse. We cannot be forgiven, and our sin cannot be expiated, without the blood of Christ. Otherwise we have no escape from God’s wrath and curse in this world or the next. And to escape God’s wrath and curse requires faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But the requirements are more than faith. Repentance is added. This is arguably simply the convex side of the same thing of which faith is the concave. But an ongoing life if diligence in the use “the outward means” is also required. This question takes us through the whole of life through death to the Day of Judgment. Escaping God’s wrath speaks to both this life and the life to come, just as the answer to q. 152 explicitly spells out.
I’m not against precision. But I think the vagueness of these questions and answers is plainly faithful to the Bible. I bring it up because I’ve notice a lot of people condemned lately for allegedly violating orthodoxy by not keeping precise distinctions in their statements. I don’t think it is a denial of the distinctions to observe that they are now being used in ways that seem incompatible with the Westminster Standards. Really now, does anyone doubt that, if they could be induced to temporarily forget the source, the statement quoted above would be condemned as works righteousness–as blending faith and works, justification and sanctification–by any recent guardian of orthodoxy
On the one hand, Luther’s insight was important for emphasizing that faith doesn’t rest on the success of our own efforts. And in his historical context, the insight was especially meaningful given the corruption of the Catholic church at the time – selling indulgences etc.
On the other hand, I’ve often thought that it’s subsequently led to a kind of false dichotomy in which works receive too little emphasis. The New Testament, after all, does have a great many passages exhorting us to do good. It’s not like we’re supposed to choose either faith or works!
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