Jesus Preached a Different Gospel?
A bite-sized lesson in doctrine: 1 Concept, 2 Definitions, 3 Passages...
Welcome to a special edition of Theology Thursday!
Here is your bite-sized lesson in orthodox, Biblical doctrine in 3 simple steps as we approach Reformation Day:
ONE concept explained
TWO concise definitions that must be kept distinct
THREE Scripture passages to meditate on
Concept: Justification & Jesus
Did Paul and our Lord Jesus preach different gospels? The question is often asked because people tend to think that Jesus preached a “gospel of the Kingdom” and Paul preached a gospel of Justification by faith. But in fact, Jesus did preach the same gospel. Throughout the gospels, Jesus gives us an education in grace, which frees sinners from the legal demands, promises, and threats of the law of God. As far as who receives the blessing of this legal verdict of “not guilty,” Jesus clearly affirms that it is those who come with humility, those who are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3), and nowhere is this forensic idea seen more than in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a story to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous…” Two individuals made their way to the temple of God, and the Pharisee relished his own goodness, thanking God that he was not like other men. But the tax collector came to the temple languishing under the weight of His wickedness and couldn’t even bring himself to lift his eyes to heaven, “but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13). Here’s the big reveal: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other” (Luke 18:14; emphasis mine). Jesus progressively unfolds that which comes into full flower in the teaching of Paul: those who are declared righteous, who are pardoned from sin, past, present, and future, are those who don’t seek to establish their own righteousness but receive, in humility, with the empty hands of faith, the righteousness of Another.
Definitions/Distinctions:
Forensic Justification: “Forensic” is a legal term that refers to investigating a crime and establishing a verdict based on certain evidence (think “Forensic evidence”). Our relationship with God depends upon receiving a verdict that is better than we deserve.
Definitive Sanctification: This refers to our relationship with God that is not just legal but vital and moral. Definitive sanctification speaks of the true, clean break we’ve made with this world when we believed, leading to a renewed affection for Christ and His commands that once were looked at with disdain.
Passages:
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:11–14
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1–2
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
Romans 6:1–2
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