The imbalance on the issue of Justification is troubling. I say this with the background as a man who challenged a church because of their mimicry and adherence to the New Perspective. When I joined the OPC I was shocked at how much sin and license was justified by invoking WCF chapter 20 (On Christian Liberty), when clearly ignoring the exposition of the law as it was set forth in the catechisms (in particular the Larger). For to many Reformed Christians the doctrine of Justification has been misused as a means of continuing some pet sins, or at least minimizing the heinous nature of indwelling sin. It seemed to me that often the “secret life” of the believer took a back seat to the public life of the believer. Great orthodox doctrine, horrible personal holiness.

Calling people to do good works is not legalism or moralism. Saying that good works is a necessary consequence of Justification is not mixing works with salvation. Insisting that one must persevere to be saved is using biblical language. All of this is in the balance of saying that I am saved fully, surely, and utterly by the complete work of Christ–I have no hell to fear because I am saved by the blood of the lamb. Yet I am bought with a price and am now a slave to my master and am bound to good works to be done in faith and in the surety of Christ’s work.