I am going to be writing an essay for an online theological journal that will eventually be published as a book chapter in a series of edited books being published by Wipf & Stock on the doctrine of so called Eternal Security. My essay is going to be looking at the doctrine of assurance of salvation in the theology of Thomas Torrance. I think the basis from which I will explicate this, from Torrance, will flow from something that is always prominent on my blog; this:
“God loves you so utterly and completely that he has given himself for you in Jesus Christ his beloved Son, and has thereby pledged his very being as God for your salvation. In Jesus Christ God has actualised his unconditional love for you in your human nature in such a once for all way, that he cannot go back upon it without undoing the Incarnation and the Cross and thereby denying himself. Jesus Christ died for you precisely because you are sinful and utterly unworthy of him, and has thereby already made you his own before and apart from your ever believing in him. He has bound you to himself by his love in a way that he will never let you go, for even if you refuse him and damn yourself in hell his love will never cease. Therefore, repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.” ~T. F. Torrance, “The Mediation of Christ”, 94
Coupled with a discussion on Christ’s vicarious humanity, and subsequently, his vicarious faith for us. So what is the ground of assurance of my salvation? It is grounded not in “my faith” or in “my salvation,” but in Christ’s faith, and Christ’s salvation. So I don’t look any further than Christ himself as the source and guarantor of eternal life. The only way to undo “my” salvation is to undo the incarnation of Christ. Since that cannot be undone then neither can my salvation. How do I know that I am in him? Because I have the same Spirit that Jesus has. How do I know that? Because he died for me and all humanity. So I don’t have to wonder if I have effectual faith, or temporary faith, etc.; these concepts are not part of the basket of soteriological realities that are attendant with a properly construed doctrine of God, christology, election etc.
I am just doodling here …
Soooo… Universalism?
Yes Bobby. There is no measure of my faith as regards my salvation, because it is His faith and faithfulness that gave the full measure. It is not how I believe, It is in whom I believe.
“That I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness..” (Phil. 3: 8-9, NET Bible)
@Matt,
No … universal atonement, but not salvation. Along with Calvin and Torrance I see an asymmetry between election and reprobation—pace Calvin’s commentary on II Cor 2.15, I relegate the “why” (or cause) of reprobation to the device of per accidens. And so I can speak of a positive election and place reprobation in a different category; the category of non-starter π . As far as assurance; with Calvin and TFT, I see this as the essence of saving faith. After Calvin, and with Torrance, I see the ground of assurance in Christ’s vicarious faith extra nos, which we participate in by the Spirit anointed creativity—or the grace realized in the humanity of Christ for us.
Having a universal atonement in play sidesteps the attendant problems associated with an limited atonement; namely, the concern with I am one of the elect for whom Christ died—following the procedure, to “prove” this, of looking at my good works (or perseverance) [so the practical syllogism]. If I don’t have this system (like the TULIP) in place; then the usual questions that surround assurance are non-existent. Although there still might be psychological questions, but then I have the luxury of simply pointing folks (and myself) to Christ and the his hypostatic life.
@Duane,
Amen!
@Fr Robert,
Exactly! Mirifica Commutatio.
Bobby: It does appear that I am at least somewhat moving in your direction? My 62 year old mind & spirit is still at work! π Though as an Anglican I am still caught-up somewhat in the so-called Federal Vision, and something of the Mercersburg Theology…Messrs., Phillip Schaff and John Nevin. (I have simply always loved these two guys!) I am always that eccentric, eclectic and even somewhat a Pauline mystic. And I am Reformed! But then so is/was Barth. The mental “juice” is flowing! π
Fr Robert,
Good, I’m on the way too π !
I have nothing very insightful to add, just thought I’d say I thought that was an interesting post which gave me food for thought – thanks.
Tyler,
Good π … thank you! Blessings.
@Bobby, thanks for the clarification, but I think you betray yourself a bit:
“So what is the ground of assurance of my salvation? It is grounded not in βmy faithβ or in βmy salvation,β but in Christβs faith, and Christβs salvation. So I donβt look any further than Christ himself as the source and guarantor of eternal life. The only way to undo βmyβ salvation is to undo the incarnation of Christ. Since that cannot be undone then neither can my salvation. How do I know that I am in him? Because I have the same Spirit that Jesus has. How do I know that? Because he died for me and all humanity.”
How does any of this permit differentiation of the reprobate? You haven’t got any way here of knowing that you, personally, are elect and therefore in Christ. You speak of salvation guaranteed with respect to you in particular in no way that that distinguishes you from your genus, humanity. Which is to say, “humanity, for which Christ died,” and not only “humanity for which Christ died.”
Fix, or admit? π
Sometimes I am so certain that many so-called Christian bloggers are full of beans! My head aches! π
@Matt,
I see the dialectic … standing π . It’s a surd, some might think of my seemingly contradictory stance as more of a turd or beans π
You’re a Barthian-Lutheran; are you a Christian universalist?
I’ve actually written on that:
http://parrhesia-lalein.blogspot.com/2011/04/romans-barth-and-universalism.html
Analysis and critique are more than welcome! π
I haven’t yet found a non-universalist stance that appeals to me. Consider me more persuaded by universalism of salvation, in the ways that you are by a universalism of atonement. On which point: I don’t have a functional separation between atonement and salvation — I’m not sure I believe in the one without the other. And as a Lutheran I confess that (Spirit-indwelling) faith — trust in God because of the gospel — is necessary for forgiveness of sins and justification of the sinner. But that article of the Augustana says nothing about salvation, and our view on grace rules out categorical reprobation.
Bobby: Your post toward CMP caught me on a bad day! The blogs doth get old sometimes! It is such an imperfect medium! I guess I need a break!
Matt,
Suzanne McDonald, in her book, “Re-imaging Election” leaves things opened as you do. Yet, as she must according to scripture, she will not conceive of personal salvation w/o personal faith and Spirit indwell-ment (Pauline); nor will I.
At a functional level I don’t think I have a categorical spot for reprobation either; that’s why it’s easier to just say this is a surd, inexplicable, mystery, or per accidens. My friend Jason Goroncy (who is a Christian Universalist, you know him) in his chapter for Gregory MacDonald’s book “All Shall Be Will,” which is on PT Forsyth’s “universalism” identifies the problematic nature that inheres between PTF’s theo-logic and his actual praxis and conclusions; in other words PTF’s theo-logic should lead him to a full blow Christian universalism, but his biblical chastity won’t let him. Analogously, I think that’s where I am (with, maybe you π ).
@Fr Robert,
Sorry to hear that you’re having a bad day; I hope and pray it get’s better, brother! pax.
I had a patient pass away (only 43), and the family is not doing well, sadly.
Were they believers?
The man who passed was, but the family is a mixed bag, funny Lutherans, but I swear some appear simply un-Christian. As they argue over money, and appear to just forget the death of the man, sad!
I’m glad to hear the man was; I’ll be praying for the situation.