Tuesday, July 7, 2020

An Example of Reformed Theology Influencing Latter-day Saint Commentaries on the topic of Justification

Discerning Latter-day Saints should always be careful when reading works, even of our scholars, as sometimes, they can be influenced more, not by LDS theology but Protestant concepts (sometimes due to where they received their education; sometimes in an effort to engage in ecumenism).

 

An example of this comes from a popular-level work by two LDS scholars, D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, arguing (falsely) that justification is purely forensic and is based on an imputation of righteousness:

 

A modern scholar explained clearly the difference between justification and sanctification in Paul’s discussions; “In its theological sense, justification is a forensic, or purely legal, term. It describes what God declares about the believer, not what He does to change the believer. In fact, justification effects no actual change whatsoever in the sinner’s nature or character . . . So when God justifies, He imputes divine righteousness to the sinner (Romans 4:22-25). (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse By Verse: Acts Through Revelation [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1998], 163, citing John MacArthur [a Reformed Protestant], Faith Works, 89-90)

 

Ogden, Skinner, and John MacArthur are all dead-wrong. To see why justification is not “purely legal,” actually is transformational, and the concept of imputation is blasphemous, see, for e.g.:

 

Response to a Recent Attempt to Defend Imputed Righteousness

Does LDS Theology Confuse the Relationship Between Justification and Sanctification?

Refuting Douglas Wilson on Water Baptism and Salvation (I will just briefly note here that the LDS understanding of baptism and its effects cannot be reconciled with forensic justification)

Dave Bartosiewicz vs. Transformative Justification and Refutation of Dave Bartosiewicz on justification and the atonement being forensic



 

On MacArthur's Calvinism, see:


An Examination and Critique of the Theological Presuppositions Underlying Reformed Theology

 

It is interesting to note that Rom 4:22-25 negates the Protestant understanding of the atonement. On this, see:

 

Full Refutation of the Protestant Interpretation of John 19:30