TIME--THOMAS BROOKS

ON JUSTIFICATION--BENJAMIN KEACH

"Men and women become justified only at the point of believing in Christ.^"

Keach had made the same point fifteen years earlier in his popular allegory, Travels of True Godliness (1683). At one point in his journey, Godliness encounters a man whom Keach described as “a haughty looking person who seemed greatly disposed to dispute about religion” and to whom he gave the name “Antinomian.” In response to Godliness’ query about what Antinomian believed with regard to Justification, the latter stated that he believed “all the elect are personally and actually justified from eternity.” Antinomian was confident that the love which God had for the elect before their conversion was identical to that which He has for them after it. “God sees no sin,” he says, “nor ever did, in his elect.” Godliness’ response to this view was unequivocal: It was “a doctrine Jesus Christ abhors” and which brings reproach upon Calvinism. Godliness goes on to say that the very notion of being justified presupposes that one was formerly in a state of guilt and condemnation. If unbelievers are under God’s wrath (as John 3:18, 36 bear witness) and at the same time also “actually justified,” then the very notion of Justification becomes meaningless.²⁷

As Keach rightly realized, this debate about the nature of Justification had immensely practical consequences. In the Antinomian schema, that style of preaching where the lost are explicitly urged to turn to Christ becomes quite unnecessary. What is needed in preaching is simply the proclamation of what God has done in Christ. God will use that to awaken the elect and show them what he has already done for them. Keach’s pulpit ministry, however, was characterized by vigorous evangelism and regular calls to the unconverted to respond to Christ in faith. According to C. H. Spurgeon, in speaking to the lost Keach was “intensely direct, solemn, and impressive, not flinching to declare the terrors of the Lord, nor veiling the freeness of divine grace.”²⁸

Typical of Keach’s evangelistic appeals to the unconverted is the following, cited by Spurgeon to illustrate the above statement:

Come, venture your souls on Christ’s righteousness; Christ is able to save you though you are ever so great sinners. Come to Him, throw yourselves at the feet of Jesus. Look to Jesus, who came to seek and save them that were lost. . . . You may have the water of life freely. Do not say, “I want qualifications or a meekness to come to Christ.” Sinner, dost thou thirst? Dost thou see a want of righteousness? ‘Tis not a righteousness; but ^‘tis a sense of the want of righteousness, which is rather the qualification thou shouldst look at. Christ hath righteousness sufficient to clothe you, bread of life to feed you, grace to adorn you. Whatever you want, it is to be had in Him. We tell you there is help in Him, salvation in Him. “Through the propitiation in His blood” you must be justified, and that by faith alone.²⁹

Here we see Puritan evangelism at its best: cleaving to Christ alone for Salvation, and intensely desirous that others might truly know this joy.

JEHOVAH STILL CHASTISES NATIONS-W.F. BELL

"For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs" (Habakkuk 1:6).  "I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble" (Habakkuk 3:7).

Ancient Israel was chastised by the hand of Jehovah for their departure from Him.  "Chaldeans" were no problem for the great Jehovah to raise up as an instrument of His displeasure.  Many throughout history have found themselves on the losing end when contending with "the Mighty God of Jacob."  Numerous have been the nations, like Israel, whom the Lord put in "affliction" and were made to "tremble."  America is learning that lesson well in our day, though we may not say so or believe it.

Many try to tell us what we need in America to correct our problems.  Most of these miss the mark, not dealing with the root problem, which is sin.  But who wants to hear this?  Our nation becoming "socialized" may be chastisement upon us to wake us up!  For sure, beloved, Mr. Romney is not the answer!  No politician is!  No political party is!  Let's get some things straight: abortions will never be stopped short of a heaven-sent awakening, no matter who is in the White House!  All of our complaining about "the economy" is worthless in light of our awful sins!  But Obama-bashing is not the answer.  The answer to our dilemma is nothing but the mercy of God upon us!  Mercy is needed to "spare" us!  Grace must be "bestowed" upon us, or we will never repent!  Our spoiled American people need stripping of our luxurious living and self-confidence.  We are lazy to the core and have been lulled to sleep on government handouts.  A divine hand is chastising us, and only a divine hand can awaken us.  Why all these debates? 

The Lord Jesus Christ is still our hope, and only the way of the cross leads home!  The answer is that simple, but who has an ear to hear?  "And some said, What will this babbler say?  Others said, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached unto them JESUS and the RESURRECTION" (Acts 17:18).  Our message is just as "strange" as was Paul's.

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