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Michael Horton’s Sonship Theology
Swinging from one extreme to another has always been an over-correcting problem in Christendom by those zealous for the truth. In this video, Horton goes from a ‘Christless Christianity’ to just as dangerous an extreme – Sonship theology.
Horton echoes the thinking of the popular mantra’s of New Calvinism : “We must preach the Gospel to ourselves every day” and “the same Gospel that saves you also sanctifies you.” Dangerous, modern stuff.
The imperatives of the Scriptures exhorting Christians to holiness of life and loving obedience are devalued by Horton (being called “do’s and don’ts” and “lists” ) in exchange for a contemplative theology focused on the Son of God alone. It’s also known as Gospel sanctification. It’s found nowhere in Scripture, and in fact, opposes Scriptural teaching.
This stuff is sweeping the SBC and the Church at large brethren, and it is very popular. Why? Because many have been duped into thinking that this is a recovering of the Gospel begun by the Protestant Reformation …and now New Calvinists feel the mantle has been past to them to complete it.
Hogwash.
Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 4:4:
"It is written, "’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
Christ’s exalted view of Scripture as the ultimate and final authority for life, doctrine and the court of appeal for applying doctrine to our daily lives, should also be ours.
Do not merely ‘sit and receive’ and consequently contemplate the Gospel as Horton suggests, expecting holiness of life to follow. It won’t happen. What will happen is you will take on characteristics of the biblical pharisee and hone your duties and thinking to that of a practicing antinomian.
Get up, move and live in obedience to the Word of God, to the glory of God, empowered and enabled for that obedience by His Spirit which is in you, if indeed, you have truly been born again from above and believed.
the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. – I John 2:6
for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing….He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. – I Peter 3:9-12
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind – Ephesians 4:17
5 Pt. Salt 
I think you’re off base here. In this 5 minute video, Horton describes the difference between biblical salvation/justification and the assumed justification that pervades many churches. I did not hear him describe any “gospel sanctification” or advice to not walk in obedience. His focus was in the impossibility of doing things to “help” God in His act of justification.
I wish I didn’t know as much about Horton’s theology as I do. He is speaking specifically about – and these are his words – living and practicing as Christians. he mentions justification, but he’s speaking about living and practicing – sanctification. Horton mentions ‘external, external, external…’ It’s all about ‘the Gospel outside of us’ and this is straight new calvinism teaching, namely, progressive justification, and looking to the Gospel and Christ finished work, specifically, His obedience, for our sanctification as well. I will post more on this and you will see, hopefully, what I’m talking about.
This teaching is 41 years old, and came from Robert Brinsmead (reportedly now an athiest) and the Australian Forum (Present Truth (Verdict) Magazine. Brinsmead was a 7th Day Adventist who, after being converted to Anglicanism, influenced many, including Jon Zens, who influenced Westminster, and whose ‘new’ teaching’ influenced others like Keller, Horton, Piper, et all. New Calvinism is just that. New. More to come.
Is the gospel not outside of us? Salvation and the Truth that saves IS outside the human – not inside us. I know Horton has issues, I did read his chapter on justification from his Systematic Theology and didn’t find it “new”.
I will stay tuned and see what else you post to see if your case holds water, so to speak.
Joel,
To my knowledge, Zens never taught that justification is progressive or that Christ’s active obedience somehow replaces our responsibility to obey. I don’t know when you think WTS taught this but no one taught that when I was there. Perhaps you can enlighten me.
I don’t think any real Calvinist has ever questioned that Jesus accomplished our sanctification as well as our justification. That is just clear and indisputable truth. It is in the application of that accomplishment that he works in us so that we become obedient sons.
I am confused…What actually did you find wrong or anti-Biblical to what Horton said? Granted, this is only a segment, but all seemed Ok where he was headed IMO
Joel,
I thought you might also find the following quote from Ryle interesting, “How true it is that the holiest saint is in himself a miserable sinner, and a debtor to mercy and grace to the last moment of his existence!”
Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots
URL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness.html p. 21
I agree with Ryle’s statement. Christians still sin. However, do you know of a passage of Scripture where believers are called sinners? Oh well, calling saints ‘wicked’ a la Chandler et al is a misuse of biblical terminology.
It is just that some of your buddies have a great problem with it. Paul D, refused to even post it. I agree with you that the saints are no longer “wicked,” although we are still able to commit wicked acts. As I have said before, sin doesn’t lose its character just because it is committed by a saint.
I personally have a much higher view of what believers are able to do than do many reformed people.
Joel – Christ did call Peter Satan. That being the name of the father of all liars and those who are doomed to hell; seems like the same thing as a sinner. And in Romans 7, Paul refers to himself in terms that it’s clear he considers himself to yet be a sinner, though he was an Apostle at the time. Chapter 7 is not a look back at when Paul was spiritually dead, it is considered a commentary on his then-present condition.
I’ve no problem with that.
Ha , small world indeed , Brinsmead’s daughter was my wife’s best friend at school, [ not that my wife was raised SDA] I did the obligatory Wikipedia search on Brinsmead , and it appears as though he later accepted the mainstream Protestant teaching of justification by faith , so it does seem strange that he eventually ended up an athiest. Incidently , Brinsmead’s co protagonist in the SDA , Desmond Ford , lives locally in our area and on occassions has preached in the local Baptist church.
Anyway, I am digressing here, I do believe that there is a need to move on from justification and on to sanctification , and in doing so , recognise that justification is a once only event, however , there is still the biblical command to remember Christ [ death and ressurection ] each time we are gathered together for communion.I did pick up on a Quote that Desmond Ford made regarding Justification and Sanctification , in that he likens them to railway tracks , always running together , but never converging.
How long must my comments await moderation? Perhaps interaction with them would be enlightening.
Your last two comments were approved as soon as I sat down and saw them. How impatient are you Randy? I do have a life you know, lol.
Glad to hear you have a life, and please forgive me if I seem impatient. Feliz año nuevo!
Likewise!
Joel – so then, does not Scripture recognize and call Christians sinners?
Manfred,
Of course Christians sin, we both know that. Sinner does not equal wicked. Scripture neither calls nor refers to Christians as ‘wicked’.
Amen and amen! Sinners we be until Christ comes again, but wicked we be not if we be in Christ!
Joel,
Did you find the post I was talking about?
Yes I did. Quite lengthy. [ Comment policy: #4. If your comment is off topic OR is lengthy, send it to me by email. It will not be posted.]
Joel,
I am not a devotee of Horton nor am I a New Calvinist.
1. You stated, “’the same Gospel that saves you also sanctifies you.’ Dangerous, modern stuff.” I guess that might depend on your definition of “modern.” In the 19th Cent. J. C. Ryle wrote, “He who supposes that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people, has yet much to learn. Whether he knows it or not, he is dishonoring our blessed Lord, and making Him only a half Savior. The Lord Jesus has undertaken everything that His people’s souls require; not only to deliver them from the guilt of their sins by his atoning death, but from the dominion of their sins, by placing in their hearts the Holy Spirit; not only to justify them but also to sanctify them. He is, thus, not only their “righteousness” but their “sanctification.” (I Cor. 1:30).”
Yes, Jesus is our sanctification, but Scripture is also clear on our own exertion in mortifying sins – we have duties, you know that.
Robert Traill wrote,
“And simple as the old remedy for thirst may appear, it is the root of the inward life of all God’s greatest servants in all ages. What have the saints and martyrs been in every era of Church history, but men who came to Christ daily by faith, and found “His flesh meat indeed and His blood drink indeed?” (John vi. 55.) What have they all been but men who lived the life of faith in the Son of God, and drank daily out of the fulness there is in Him? (Gal. ii. 20.) Here, at all events, the truest and best Christians, who have made a mark on the world, have been of one mind. Holy Fathers and Reformers, holy Anglican divines and Puritans, holy Episcopalians and Nonconformists, have all in their best moments borne uniform testimony to the value of the Fountain of life. Separated and contentious as they may sometimes have been in their lives, in their deaths they have not been divided. In their last struggle with the king of terrors they have simply clung to the cross of Christ, . . . .”
J. C. Ryle also wrote,
“(3) For another thing, if we would be sanctified, our course is clear and plain—we must begin with Christ. We must go to Him as sinners, with no plea but that of utter need, and cast our souls on Him by faith for peace and reconciliation with God. We must place ourselves in His hands, as in the hands of a good physician and cry to him for mercy and grace. We must wait for nothing to bring with us as a recommendation. The very first step towards sanctification, no less than justification, is to come with faith to Christ. We must first live and then work.
(4) For another thing, if we would grow in holiness and become more sanctified, we must continually go on as we began, and ever be making fresh applications to Christ. He is the head from which every member must be supplied (Ephes. iv.16.) To live the life of daily faith in the Son of God, and to be daily drawing out of His fulness the promised grace and strength which He has laid up for His people—this is the grand secret of progressive sanctification”
That almost sounds like a fresh, daily application of the gospel, don’t you think?
There’s more to Scripture than the Gospel Randy. The command regarding the Gospel is to believe it. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Tim. 3:16 – that’s all Scripture, including the imperatives of God’s Word.
Let me know if you consider this lengthy. If so I will post only a part of it.
It is a little lengthy. Comments of this length in the future, I would prefer be sent by email. Thanks.
Joel,
You also stated, “It’s also known as Gospel sanctification. It’s found nowhere in Scripture, and in fact, opposes Scriptural teaching.”
In my view, it is impossible to read the NT Scriptures without understanding that the same work of Christ that is our justification is also our sanctification. If he died for us, we died with him. Both these benefits occurred in the same act. It is God’s good news not only that we are saved from the penalty of our sins but also that we are saved from the reigning power of our sins. Nothing we do in obedience to Christ would be possible apart from his definitive, objective work of sanctifying us by his sacrificial death. Our task is to 1. account this to be true, (Rom. 6:11), 2. Refuse to obey sin’s commands any longer (Rom. 6:12), 3. Present ourselves as those who are alive from the dead for obedience to God and our members as weapons of righteousness for God (6:13).
My point is that though we are called on to obey and are therefore involved in the process of progressive sanctification, we don’t accomplish it. Jesus accomplished it on the cross. He now, by his Spirit, works in us both to give us the desire to obey and the ability to obey. Thus, we can take credit for none of the advances we make in sanctification. The glory is all his.
Randy, who said anything about ‘taking credit’? No one.
Joel,
I do not reject biblical teaching regarding our responsibility to obey. It is the same grace of God that saves us that teaches us to deny ungodliness. We don’t move from justification by grace to sanctification by our own efforts. Sanctification, too, is by the free grace of God.
Perhaps they [New Calvinists] teach this in a way that denies any human responsibility. If they teach that, it is at that point they need to be corrected. My point is don’t deny one biblical truth in the process of defending another.
Best wishes,
Randy
Joel,
If a person insists that the holiness is his and he has achieved it apart from grace by his own efforts, then he is “taking credit” for his progress in sanctification. I didn’t say or even suggest that you did that, but it happens all the time.
“And in Romans 7, Paul refers to himself in terms that it’s clear he considers himself to yet be a sinner, though he was an Apostle at the time. Chapter 7 is not a look back at when Paul was spiritually dead, it is considered a commentary on his then-present condition”
Manfred, I think it helps to keep reading. Chapter 8….Paul is making a culminating arguement in Romans. I always get a bit weary when people pull out snippets of Romans. After all, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and we are convicted of sin if Justified and can choose to obey or not in sanctification.
We might be sinners because we “miss the mark” of perfection but we are also declared righteous. I think this is why people so misunderstand 1 John. They love to quote the early part that says “if we say we do not sin we are liars” but are not so quick to quote the more uncomfortable rest of 1 John.
Lydia,
I agree with you that Romans 7 should not define the believer’s experience, though I am confident we would disagree about our reasons for this conclusion. Although new covenant believers continue to battle sin, we are not always defeated. In fact, because of the Spirit’s ministry in us, we cannot do the things we would otherwise do, namely, live in sin with abandon.
That said, I don’t think your argument is with New Calvinism but with Calvinism. It has been consistently maintained by Calvinist for centuries that Romans seven describes the spiritual state of an advanced believer. J.C. Ryle wrote, “In the fourth place, is it wise to assert so positively and violently, as many do, that the seventh
chapter of the Epistle to the Romans does not describe the experience of the advanced saint, but the experience of the unregenerate man, or of the weak and un-established believer? I doubt it.” Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness.html. I don’t think he was a New Calvinist.
We are called to obey. We are called to many duties. We are responsible to pursue holiness. No one ought believe that we obtain spiritual growth apart from spiritual effort. Having said that, Who wills you to do as you ought? From whence comes the desire for holiness and genuine good works? Is not Christ the root cause of every good work in us and and by us? Or are the activities and inward maturity that comes about in the Christian the result of spontaneous and self-initiating efforts? In the end, in the presence of God and His Christ in the life to come, will we look back at our efforts as the basis for anything?? No, Look, I am not advocating antinomianism. By all means, strive. Work. Flee sin. Seek excellence. But isnt even the “want to” in striving ultimately yet another grace of a good God??.
Yep.
Excellent point and very well stated.
Even an ax murderer knows what he did was wrong. How does he know that? Because there is societal punishment for it?
Let us take the example of a pastor who has gone the way of fame and celebrity. Wanting a huge church with a fancy building and big salary with lots of outside speaking engagements. Is he being convicted to pursue such things? Or, is it his decision to say yes to such pursuits? Could he say no to them? Or are we simply going to redefine sin for his situation?
I speak as one who was in the mega seeker world for a long time as a training consultant. I have seen the concept of grace excuse a lot of sin. Now I am seeing the NC folks basically say that Jesus obeys for us because of the Cross.
Yes, the Holy Spirit convicts and guides. But we do have the will to ignore it or redefine sin in a way that excuses many things? I believe scripture shows that we do.
Hi.
Could you define Sonship theology? I am a bit confused as to the terminology and its use?
Cheers.