(This is my August 2015 Newsletter article to my congregation.)
I’m a recovering antinomian. Please pray for me, because antinomianism is a contagious disease. It can spread through preaching and teaching and, like all false teaching, can lead to death. It’s a very dangerous disease and is commonly found among Lutherans, so watch out. And give thanks to God—I think I’m getting over it, by the grace of God.
So what exactly is antinomianism? The Word literally means “against the Law.” Although this false teaching has probably existed since the fall into sin, it is traced back in Lutheranism to a man named Johann Agricola, a contemporary of Martin Luther. In emphasizing that we are justified by grace, and not by works of the Law, Agricola, and others, went too far and said, “The Law simply no longer applies to the Christian.” This led to further confusion about “the third use of the Law.” You probably remember your pastor teaching you in catechesis about the three uses of the Law: 1) Curb or Fence, 2) Mirror, 3) Rule or Guide. The third use of the Law only applies to Christians. Once we are made right with God and a new man is created in us, we now love God’s Law and desire to obey God’s Holy Word. For the Christian, the Law serves to guide us in God’s will and to “rule” our hearts by telling us what our Father desires of us. We do not keep the Law to be saved or to earn God’s favor, but rather because we have been brought to faith and are justified, we desire to keep the Law.
Antinomians argue that there is no place for the Law in the life of the Christian. They say that since Christians are made free from the Law through the Gospel and are made new in Christ they will freely do what God requires of them. They do not need nor do they benefit from God’s Law after conversion to faith. Hopefully you can see how appealing this teaching is for Lutherans. We are taught from baptism on — GOOD WORKS DO NOT SAVE YOU. YOU CANNOT AND DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU PLEASING TO GOD. We have 20/20 vision when it comes to the Gospel and we can spot “works righteousness” and “legalism” a mile away. When someone says, “you have to do this if you are a real Christian,” we rebuke and correct that lie with the clear teaching of the Law (you are completely sinful and unable to save yourself) and the Gospel (Christ Jesus alone is righteous and His death alone atones for the sin of the world).
Perhaps a couple of examples might illustrate antinomianism.
Romans 6:1–2 (ESV) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
In this Bible passage, Saint Paul is combating a form of antinomianism. Some Christians in Rome were under the mistaken notion that once we are baptized we need not worry about or fight against sin in our lives. We are free from the Law and can do what we want. Let us live in the Gospel. Let us not worry about sin, for after all, we are forgiven. Paul argues against such thinking by proclaiming both the Gospel—Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins, and also the Law (Romans 6:12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.).
It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Although this is a common cliché, it is classic antinomianism. You are setting out to break the Law and banking on the Gospel. You are saying “no” to the law, because you “trust” the Gospel, but actually you are playing spiritual games. “I’ll sin now, repent later, and fool God that I’m really sorry.” That is not the way of faith. This cliché is really Romans 6:1 in modern language.
The problem with antinomianism is that it fails to recognize the truth that we are at the same time saints and sinners. Right beside the new man, created in me by the Holy Spirit, resides the old man, that sinful rebel born in me as the result of original sin. Throughout our lives as Christians we need both the Law and the Gospel.
I think I have had a mild case of antinomianism for many years because I have always been fearful of preaching sanctification, “good works,” and godly deeds. I was so afraid of “works righteousness” that I didn’t preach much about “works,” and so afraid of “legalism” that I hesitated to preach the Law as a guide and rule for our lives. After studying the “Antinomian Controversy” this past spring through a continuing education class and doing some reading this summer, I saw a weakness in my own preaching and teaching, which, by the grace of God, I hope to change.
In his classic work on preaching, C.F.W. Walther, combated the antinomianism of his day when he taught young preachers, “You are not rightly distinguishing Law and Gospel in the Word of God if you describe the universal corruption of mankind so as to create the impression that even true believers are still under the spell of ruling sins and sin deliberately.” (Law & Gospel, These XVIII). Although Walther was speaking of original sin and mankind’s total corruption, his words also address an antinomian tendency among Christians. Some Christians believe that the Law has no say in their lives as Christians and that it is acceptable for a Christian to continually and willingly engage in sin because a) they are totally sinful and cannot change that, and / or b) they are forgiven and don’t need to keep the Law. Such false reasoning is contrary to Scripture. Yes, you are totally corrupt, but once the Gospel calls you to faith, a new man also lives in you, who desires to keep God’s Word. The Gospel does not excuse you from the Law. It forgives you, saves you, and redeems you from its threats and punishments, and the Gospel creates in you the desire to keep the Law and love the Law. A Christian will not and does not let sin rule in his or her life. A Christian wants to hear the commandments and delights in God’s Word of Gospel and Law.
Another conclusion I have reached as I have repented of my antinomianism is that both the Law and the Gospel have “earthly consequences” in the lives of Christians. Christ’s death took care of the heavenly, eternal consequences of sin—He took care of judgment, hell, and damnation. There is forgiveness for all sins, but you still will suffer earthly consequences. An adulterer may lose his marriage. A criminal may lose his freedom. An alcoholic may get liver disease. While all of these sins are forgiven before God in heaven that forgiveness does not free you from earthly consequences. In the same way the Gospel also, I believe, has earthly consequences in the life of a Christian. Through faith in Christ I am forgiven all my sins. I am completely free from the demands of the Law before God in heaven. Christ has completely satisfied every command and paid the price for all my sin (original and actual). However, the Gospel’s reality in heaven does indeed have consequences for my life on earth. As a Christian, I desire to do good works, to live a holy life, to flee sin, to resist temptation, to love my neighbor, and to abide by God’s Law. These consequences of the Gospel do not affect or accomplish anything in heaven—they play out on earth. Saint Paul teaches the same to the Colossians—the heavenly reality has earthly ramifications.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:1-10)
I’ll keep checking myself for traces of antinomianism. It’s something I probably won’t be free of until the resurrection from the dead. You should also be on guard for it—it’s lurking around Lutheranism, like the bird flu was lurking around Minnesota earlier this year. Be on guard and be faithful.
In Christ,
Pastor Timm