I love Zondervan’s “Counterpoints” series where different views on various topics in theology are discussed among leading theologians in their various fields. I have also been fascinated with the discussions surrounding the New Perspective on Paul — centered around people like N.T. Wright, James Dunn, Tom Schreiner, John Piper, and others — and the discussion about the role of works at the final judgment related to that topic. Therefore, when I saw this new volume in the “Counterpoints” series on this very issue, I was very eager to read and review it.
This new volume, titled Four Views on The Role of Works at The Final Judgment, features essays written by Robert Wilkin, Tom Schreiner, James Dunn, and Michael Barber, with responses by each of the men to the other’s essay. The four views discussed are as follows:
1. Robert N. Wilkin – “Christians Will Be Judged According To Their Works At The Rewards Judgment, But Not At The Final Judgment.”
In Wilkin’s view, believer’s won’t be at the final judgment. Because the final judgement determines where people will spend eternity, and since believers already have this question answered by means of their belief in Christ, there is no need for believers to be present at the final judgment. Where believers will be judged, according to Wilkin, is at the judgment seat of Christ, where Christians will be judged by their works and will receive greater or lesser rewards according to those works. Wilkin says:
“We do not harbor hidden fears that we will appear at the final judgment only to find we were never saved. Rather, we believe Jesus’ promise that the one who believes in Him ‘has everlasting life . . . [and] shall not come into judgment . . .’ (John 5:24). We rejoice in this security. Let us not go through life fearful of the final judgment. Believers will not be judged there” (50).
This sounds good on the surface, but as you continue to read and think about Wilkin’s argument, you see that it is very much a “cheap grace” sort of argument, where holiness and obedience in the Christian life are not necessary. Perseverance for the Christian is not necessary. All that is necessary is that a person, at one time, believes in the Gospel, and that’s it. It doesn’t matter so much (except in getting lesser rewards) how that person goes on to live the rest of his life. In fact, Wilkin goes on to say that, “Many would agree that there is a necessary connection between believing in Jesus and obeying His commandments. I would not” (39).
2. Thomas R. Schreiner – “Justification Apart From And By Works: At The Final Judgment Works Will Confirm Justification”
Schreiner agrees with Wilkin that salvation is not secured by works, but by faith. However, according to Schreiner, Wilkin is only looking at half of the pieces of the puzzle. Schreiner sees the pieces that Wilkin is laying out, but also sees other pieces to the puzzle throughout the New Testament. He says, “Paul disavows justification by works in some texts, but then in other verses he teaches that we are justified by works” (78). For Schreiner, the pieces fit together quite well because of the new covenant promise that God’s Spirit would enable His people to obey Him. Therefore, for Paul at least, Schreiner says, “works play a role in the final judgment. They are necessary for final salvation” (81).
So what role do works play at the final judgment in Schreiner’s view? First, they do not merit salvation. However, they are necessary for eternal life (83). They demonstrate, though imperfectly, that one has truly trusted in Jesus Christ (97). Schreiner says that at the moment of faith, at the moment of justification in the here and now, the verdict of the final day is already announced in advance (91). After that initial belief in the finished work of Christ, at the subsequent empowerment of the Spirit, the true believer will, necessarily, produce good works in keeping with his confession. The true believer will persevere in these good works to the end. And at the final judgment, the believer’s good works and perseverance will be evidence that his confession was real. Therefore, the believer’s good works will confirm justification.
3. James D. G. Dunn – “If Paul Could Believe Both In Justification By Faith And Judgment According To Works, Why Should That Be A Problem For Us?”
In the third view presented, Dunn is content to leave the puzzle uncompleted. There are gaps in our understanding of how justification by faith alone and judgment according to works fit together. And Dunn is okay with that, because he says Paul was okay with that. Rather than trying to fit the pieces together, Dunn is content to leave them as they are. There is quite a bit of similarity between Schreiner’s and Dunn’s positions. Probably one of the most striking differences, though, is Dunn’s discussion of the possibility of apostasy for the believer. He says, “A disturbing feature of Paul’s theology of the salvation process is the degree of hesitation and concern he shows that it might not be completed . . . The disturbing feature is that Paul regarded the possibility of apostasy, of failing to persevere, as a real danger for his converts (126).
While Dunn would say that it is possible for a true convert to fail to persevere, and thus apostatize, Schreiner would say that the failing to persevere is evidence that the person was never truly converted, because perseverance itself is one of the best marks of who truly has been converted. Thus, while Dunn describes Paul’s warnings as evidence that it really is possible for believers to apostatize, Schreiner would say that those warnings are real, but they are the means by which Paul uses to spur believers on to obedience and perseverance.
4. Michael P. Barber – “A Catholic Perspective: Our Works Are Meritorious At The Final Judgment Because Of Our Union With Christ By Grace”
Finally, Michael Barber attempts to take “a more sophisticated approach” (169) to putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and argues the Catholic perspective that our works are, indeed, meritorious and merit, or earn, salvation at the final judgment. Barber does not argue that works are meritorious for salvation-present, that is, for conversion, but that as a result of that conversion, by the power of grace given to the believer once he is converted, the believer will do good works that will merit his final salvation on the day of the final judgment.
My Thoughts:
There is a lot to think about with this topic, and this book does a great job at laying out the various views and showing that this is not an easy topic to think through. Alan Stanley, the editor, says in his conclusion that “as readers we all have our work cut out for us. One thing I hope this book has done is show that we cannot so easily dismiss the views of there without thoughtful engagement” (210). That certainly is true, and we must thoughtfully and accurately engage the various views.
I came into this book with a particular view on this subject, and after reading this book, I was further convinced on this view. I agree completely with Schreiner and his view. I think it is quite easy to show from Scripture that both Wilkins’ and Barber’s views have gaping holes in them when comparing all of Scripture. With Wilkins, Paul especially is clear that the believer will, necessarily, have good works subsequent to faith, and that the true believer will persevere to the end in those good works. With Barber, Scripture is equally clear that salvation is merited for us not by what we do, but by what Christ has done. Therefore, to say that our good works merit salvation is inconsistent with many New Testament passages.
As I said before, Schreiner’s and Dunn’s views are quite similar, but with some key differences, especially in the area of apostasy. I think that overall Schreiner’s view is the most accurate and faithful to putting together all of the pieces of Scripture that speak on this issue.
I am thankful for this book, and for each of the men that contributed to writing their portions of it. I am confident that this book will cause many to think seriously about the topic, and turn back to Scripture to find out just what Scripture says. This topic is not some minor point of theology that doesn’t deserve a lot of time to be spent on it. Rather, it touches the very core of what the Gospel is, of the nature of saving faith, and of the nature of salvation. This is certainly a very important topic and one that deserves our full attention and thought so that we would rightly handle the Word of Truth.
In accordance with FTC regulations, I would like to thank Zondervan Publishers for providing me with a review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Longing 4 Truth 