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The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters
Since the days of the early church, Christians have wrestled with the relationship between the law and gospel. If, as the apostle Paul says, salvation is by grace and the law cannot save, what relevance does the law have for Christians today?
By revisiting the Marrow Controversy—a famous but largely forgotten eighteenth-century debate related to the proper relationship between God's grace and our works—Sinclair B. Ferguson sheds light on this central issue and why it still matters today. In doing so, he explains how our understanding of the relationship between law and gospel determines our approach to evangelism, our pursuit of sanctification, and even our understanding of God himself.
Ferguson shows us that the antidote to the poison of legalism on the one hand and antinomianism on the other is one and the same: the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ, in whom we are simultaneously justified by faith, freed for good works, and assured of salvation.
By revisiting the Marrow Controversy—a famous but largely forgotten eighteenth-century debate related to the proper relationship between God's grace and our works—Sinclair B. Ferguson sheds light on this central issue and why it still matters today. In doing so, he explains how our understanding of the relationship between law and gospel determines our approach to evangelism, our pursuit of sanctification, and even our understanding of God himself.
Ferguson shows us that the antidote to the poison of legalism on the one hand and antinomianism on the other is one and the same: the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ, in whom we are simultaneously justified by faith, freed for good works, and assured of salvation.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2016
About the author
Sinclair B. Ferguson
179 books484 followersSinclair B. Ferguson is Associate Preacher at St Peter's Free Church in Dundee and also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and prior to that, he was minister of St. George's-Tron Church in Glasgow.
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May 18, 2017
Really informative.
This month’s pick is The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson. That title is intriguing, but the subtitle—depending on who you are—is even more intriguing. It is Legalism, Antinomianism & Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters.
The Marrow controversy was an uproar in the early part of the 18th century in Scotland, and it was occasioned by the republication of a book written by one E.F. (probably a man named Edward Fisher) in the middle of the previous century. The reason it was controversial is the same reason these perennial themes will always be controversial on this side of the Jordan. The relationship between grace and law is certainly a theological problem, but it is far more than that. It is a practical pastoral problem. It is a challenge to the sanctification of every Christian. One side or the other wants control of the spiritual thermostat in your church,
To pick up on a distinction that Ferguson makes in this book, there is far more involved in the grace/law discussion than overt doctrinal commitments. Both sides of the Marrow controversy subscribed to the Westminster Confession. An open legalist avows that the law is the way to salvation. A lesser legalist avows that the law empowers us to live holy lives in the pursuit of sanctification (which it does not, any more than speed limit signs are hooked to your accelerator). But we need to go a step further. There is something that Ferguson describes as the legal temperament.
The human heart is deceitfully wicked, and can turn absolutely anything into a rope (of sand) to climb up to Heaven with. Consider the famous story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the Temple to pray. The one beat his breast and cried for mercy. The other thanked God (soli Deo gloria) that he was not like other men, and that his superiority was all of grace. And so it was that he went home unjustified. But here is the hook.
And so how many of us have gone home and thanked God that we are not like that Pharisee?
John Newton touched the thing with a needle, when he wrote this:
“Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines—as well as upon works! A man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace!”
I want to commend this book to pastors, and to do it with a sense of urgency. Use this book as a diagnostic test, not of your doctrine, but of your doctrinal temperament. And that is because the distance between the adjective and the noun here is sometimes an enormous one. In some cases it is the distance between Heaven and Hell.
This month’s pick is The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson. That title is intriguing, but the subtitle—depending on who you are—is even more intriguing. It is Legalism, Antinomianism & Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters.
The Marrow controversy was an uproar in the early part of the 18th century in Scotland, and it was occasioned by the republication of a book written by one E.F. (probably a man named Edward Fisher) in the middle of the previous century. The reason it was controversial is the same reason these perennial themes will always be controversial on this side of the Jordan. The relationship between grace and law is certainly a theological problem, but it is far more than that. It is a practical pastoral problem. It is a challenge to the sanctification of every Christian. One side or the other wants control of the spiritual thermostat in your church,
To pick up on a distinction that Ferguson makes in this book, there is far more involved in the grace/law discussion than overt doctrinal commitments. Both sides of the Marrow controversy subscribed to the Westminster Confession. An open legalist avows that the law is the way to salvation. A lesser legalist avows that the law empowers us to live holy lives in the pursuit of sanctification (which it does not, any more than speed limit signs are hooked to your accelerator). But we need to go a step further. There is something that Ferguson describes as the legal temperament.
The human heart is deceitfully wicked, and can turn absolutely anything into a rope (of sand) to climb up to Heaven with. Consider the famous story of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the Temple to pray. The one beat his breast and cried for mercy. The other thanked God (soli Deo gloria) that he was not like other men, and that his superiority was all of grace. And so it was that he went home unjustified. But here is the hook.
And so how many of us have gone home and thanked God that we are not like that Pharisee?
John Newton touched the thing with a needle, when he wrote this:
“Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines—as well as upon works! A man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace!”
I want to commend this book to pastors, and to do it with a sense of urgency. Use this book as a diagnostic test, not of your doctrine, but of your doctrinal temperament. And that is because the distance between the adjective and the noun here is sometimes an enormous one. In some cases it is the distance between Heaven and Hell.
February 15, 2024
Finished the audiobook in 2020. Read the hardcopy in 2023–24 with a church group.
Here's an untangled timeline (*regular meeting of the Auchterarder Presbytery [Church of Scotland]):
1645: Edward Fisher (English) publishes Part 1 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity (law and gospel).
1648: Fisher publishes Part 2 (10 Commandments).
c. 1700: Thomas Boston sees the book on a parishioner's shelf, reads it, and agrees with it.
*1716 (Dec.): William Craig passes the theology exam but expresses hesitation to affirm this statement: "I believe that it is not sound and orthodox to teach that we forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ, and instating us in covenant with God" (aka the "Auchterarder Creed").
*1717 (Jan.): Craig affirms the presbytery's questions and is licensed to preach.
*1717 (Feb.): Craig explains his position more fully, and the presbytery declares his preaching license null and void. (Craig appeals.)
1717 (May): CoS GA condemns the "Auchterarder Creed" as antinomian and orders the Archterarder presbytery to restore Craig's preaching license.
1717 (May): Boston tells Drummond about Marrow.
1718: James Hog republishes Fisher's Marrow.
1720: CoS GA passes an act prohibiting ministers from favorably interacting with the book.
1721: Boston and 11 other "Marrow Men" (concerned with legalism) protest at GA, saying that Marrow is biblical.
1722: GA reaffirms its condemnation of Marrow and rebukes the 12 "Marrow Men."
1726: Boston (under the pseudonym Philalethes Irenaeus) publishes an edition of Marrow with his own explanatory notes. Available here.
Ferguson stretches the Marrow Controversy into a book-length treatment of legalism and antinomianism. I say "stretches" (and I don't use the word negatively) because each chapter isn't exactly dedicated to a historical treatment of the controversy, but rather uses the controversy as a springboard to discuss related issues. I listened on audio, so my notes are less detailed than usual.
The book is very good in bringing out the practical, pastoral issues connected to a very technical debate. Some of these issues include how to word the gospel presentation (Can a pastor say indiscriminately, "Christ died for you"?), whether or not repentance is a prerequisite for faith (Does the gospel invitation require some kind of performance before coming to Christ?), and the nature of assurance. I particularly appreciated the concluding chapters on assurance.
You know that if DeYoung and Keller have blurbed the book, Ferguson isn't coming down on Tchividjian's side. Other blurbers include Horton, Begg, Parsons, Kapic, and Beeke. For my reviews of related books, see here and here.
Read one short, positive review here. Mark Jones asks some important questions and makes some observations here; for example, he writes, "The Reformed theologians that I have studied in the seventeenth century were very careful in describing how faith is an antecedent condition for receiving the benefits of the covenant. They had to in order to ward off the Antinomian view that faith was not a condition for receiving the benefits of Christ." One comment I've heard is that Ferguson doesn't dig deep enough to reveal that the author of The Marrow of Modern Divinity misrepresented others' positions; I don't know if this is true or not.
Regarding the question of whether repentance precedes one's coming to Christ, Mark Jones said that "This is a complex question and you should read Witsius’s Conciliatory Animadversions (pp. 119-21). And Ursinus said the preaching of repentance belongs to the gospel."
Forward (by Tim Keller)
Church of Scotland, early 18c
Edward Fisher's The Marrow of Modern Divinity (1645)
Marrow supporters were accused of antinomianism; critics were suspected of legalism
4 things Keller learned
Thomas Boston was a leading Marrow supporter
Can't just "believe your justification"
Introduction
Socratic dialogue (17c)
Marrow definitions
Ch 1: How a Marrow Grew
Knox/16c
Auchterarder Creed trap (1717)—William Craig's preaching license was revoked; the General Assembly denounced the Auchterarder Creed and ordered the Auchterarder presbytery to restore Craig's license
Boston read Marrow (1700)
Marrow republished in 1726 (first republication was in 1718)
Boston and other Marrow men
Ch 2: Grace in the Gospel
Issue of how to word the gospel offer (e.g., "Christ died for you")
Boston: gospel at stake
Hypothetical universalism
Amyraldianism
Boston's concern with rigid Calvinism; proclaim gospel to all
Marrow syllogism
Augustine's totus Christus
Union with Christ (don't separate Christ from his benefits)
John Murray's commentary on Romans
Ch 3: Preparation, Distortion, Poison
Spurgeon and Pilgrim's Progress
Bunyan should have put the cross before the wicket gate (question of whether Bunyan was depicting conversion or assurance)
Perkins vs Bunyan (1-page ordo salutis)—see charts here
Boston's paradigm shift in preaching—free offer of the gospel
Jonathan Edwards on Boston's view of the covenant of redemption
Job's bad counselors
Practical pastoring: how to receive sinners (elder brother wonders if prodigal is sorry enough)
Ch 4: Danger! Legalism
Shakespeare's Malvolio was a legalist
Vos: legalism separates God's law from his person
NPP (legalism tendencies?)
Ch 5: The Order of Grace
Marrow: repentance is not not a prerequisite for coming to Christ; sanctification makes no contribution to justification
Ordo salutis is logical, not necessarily chronological
Penance vs. repentance
Thief on cross isn't an argument for delaying repentance
Law doesn't justify, but it’s a good rule of life (WCF)
Translating Hebrew "covenant" into Greek
Love doesn't ignore the law; it fulfills it
Ch 6: Suspicious Symptons
Pilgrim's Progress: Christian and Faithful
Ch 7: Faces of Antinomianism
Agricola (antinomian) vs. Melanchthon
Connection between antinomianism and hyper-Calvinism
Antinomianism is an over-realized personal eschatology
3-fold uses of the law goes back at least to Aquinas
John: Moses/Jesus relationship is complementary, not antithetical
Paul: "not under law" (Rom. 6:14)—gospel upholds the law
WCF had prooftexts at the request of Parliament
Boston on the symbolism of the Decalogue
Satirical/antinomian version of Philip P. Bliss's hymn: "Free from the Law, O blessed condition, I can sin as I please and still have remission."
You are under law: see those flashing lights?
Ch 8: Causes and Cures
Antinomianism
God's grace in giving the law
Grace implies obligation; Christ said to show love by keeping commandments
Christ fulfilled the law, so that it might be fulfilled in us
The "in-lawed" metaphor: Just as we are connected to in-laws through someone else, we are in-lawed to the law through our union with (or marriage to) Christ.
Ch 9: The Marrow of Assurance
Denying or severely downplaying assurance was a central concern of the RCC during the Reformation.
Medieval movement from congruent merit to condign merit
Calvin and the WCF
Chapter on assurance in WCF
Ch 10: How Assurance of Christ Becomes Assurance of Salvation
Ch 11: "Hindrances Strew All the Way"
Functions of affliction (correction, character building, revelation of grace/glory)
Hindrances to assurance
Implications of union with Christ
Assurance is not pride—it's confidence in our Father
Conclusion
Sir, we would see Jesus.
Appendix: Thomas Boston on Faith
Here's an untangled timeline (*regular meeting of the Auchterarder Presbytery [Church of Scotland]):
1645: Edward Fisher (English) publishes Part 1 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity (law and gospel).
1648: Fisher publishes Part 2 (10 Commandments).
c. 1700: Thomas Boston sees the book on a parishioner's shelf, reads it, and agrees with it.
*1716 (Dec.): William Craig passes the theology exam but expresses hesitation to affirm this statement: "I believe that it is not sound and orthodox to teach that we forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ, and instating us in covenant with God" (aka the "Auchterarder Creed").
*1717 (Jan.): Craig affirms the presbytery's questions and is licensed to preach.
*1717 (Feb.): Craig explains his position more fully, and the presbytery declares his preaching license null and void. (Craig appeals.)
1717 (May): CoS GA condemns the "Auchterarder Creed" as antinomian and orders the Archterarder presbytery to restore Craig's preaching license.
1717 (May): Boston tells Drummond about Marrow.
1718: James Hog republishes Fisher's Marrow.
1720: CoS GA passes an act prohibiting ministers from favorably interacting with the book.
1721: Boston and 11 other "Marrow Men" (concerned with legalism) protest at GA, saying that Marrow is biblical.
1722: GA reaffirms its condemnation of Marrow and rebukes the 12 "Marrow Men."
1726: Boston (under the pseudonym Philalethes Irenaeus) publishes an edition of Marrow with his own explanatory notes. Available here.
Ferguson stretches the Marrow Controversy into a book-length treatment of legalism and antinomianism. I say "stretches" (and I don't use the word negatively) because each chapter isn't exactly dedicated to a historical treatment of the controversy, but rather uses the controversy as a springboard to discuss related issues. I listened on audio, so my notes are less detailed than usual.
The book is very good in bringing out the practical, pastoral issues connected to a very technical debate. Some of these issues include how to word the gospel presentation (Can a pastor say indiscriminately, "Christ died for you"?), whether or not repentance is a prerequisite for faith (Does the gospel invitation require some kind of performance before coming to Christ?), and the nature of assurance. I particularly appreciated the concluding chapters on assurance.
You know that if DeYoung and Keller have blurbed the book, Ferguson isn't coming down on Tchividjian's side. Other blurbers include Horton, Begg, Parsons, Kapic, and Beeke. For my reviews of related books, see here and here.
Read one short, positive review here. Mark Jones asks some important questions and makes some observations here; for example, he writes, "The Reformed theologians that I have studied in the seventeenth century were very careful in describing how faith is an antecedent condition for receiving the benefits of the covenant. They had to in order to ward off the Antinomian view that faith was not a condition for receiving the benefits of Christ." One comment I've heard is that Ferguson doesn't dig deep enough to reveal that the author of The Marrow of Modern Divinity misrepresented others' positions; I don't know if this is true or not.
Regarding the question of whether repentance precedes one's coming to Christ, Mark Jones said that "This is a complex question and you should read Witsius’s Conciliatory Animadversions (pp. 119-21). And Ursinus said the preaching of repentance belongs to the gospel."
Forward (by Tim Keller)
Church of Scotland, early 18c
Edward Fisher's The Marrow of Modern Divinity (1645)
Marrow supporters were accused of antinomianism; critics were suspected of legalism
4 things Keller learned
Thomas Boston was a leading Marrow supporter
Can't just "believe your justification"
Introduction
Socratic dialogue (17c)
Marrow definitions
Ch 1: How a Marrow Grew
Knox/16c
Auchterarder Creed trap (1717)—William Craig's preaching license was revoked; the General Assembly denounced the Auchterarder Creed and ordered the Auchterarder presbytery to restore Craig's license
Boston read Marrow (1700)
Marrow republished in 1726 (first republication was in 1718)
Boston and other Marrow men
Ch 2: Grace in the Gospel
Issue of how to word the gospel offer (e.g., "Christ died for you")
Boston: gospel at stake
Hypothetical universalism
Amyraldianism
Boston's concern with rigid Calvinism; proclaim gospel to all
Marrow syllogism
Augustine's totus Christus
Union with Christ (don't separate Christ from his benefits)
John Murray's commentary on Romans
Ch 3: Preparation, Distortion, Poison
Spurgeon and Pilgrim's Progress
Bunyan should have put the cross before the wicket gate (question of whether Bunyan was depicting conversion or assurance)
Perkins vs Bunyan (1-page ordo salutis)—see charts here
Boston's paradigm shift in preaching—free offer of the gospel
Jonathan Edwards on Boston's view of the covenant of redemption
Job's bad counselors
Practical pastoring: how to receive sinners (elder brother wonders if prodigal is sorry enough)
Ch 4: Danger! Legalism
Shakespeare's Malvolio was a legalist
Vos: legalism separates God's law from his person
NPP (legalism tendencies?)
Ch 5: The Order of Grace
Marrow: repentance is not not a prerequisite for coming to Christ; sanctification makes no contribution to justification
Ordo salutis is logical, not necessarily chronological
Penance vs. repentance
Thief on cross isn't an argument for delaying repentance
Law doesn't justify, but it’s a good rule of life (WCF)
Translating Hebrew "covenant" into Greek
Love doesn't ignore the law; it fulfills it
Ch 6: Suspicious Symptons
Pilgrim's Progress: Christian and Faithful
Ch 7: Faces of Antinomianism
Agricola (antinomian) vs. Melanchthon
Connection between antinomianism and hyper-Calvinism
Antinomianism is an over-realized personal eschatology
3-fold uses of the law goes back at least to Aquinas
John: Moses/Jesus relationship is complementary, not antithetical
Paul: "not under law" (Rom. 6:14)—gospel upholds the law
WCF had prooftexts at the request of Parliament
Boston on the symbolism of the Decalogue
Satirical/antinomian version of Philip P. Bliss's hymn: "Free from the Law, O blessed condition, I can sin as I please and still have remission."
You are under law: see those flashing lights?
Ch 8: Causes and Cures
Antinomianism
God's grace in giving the law
Grace implies obligation; Christ said to show love by keeping commandments
Christ fulfilled the law, so that it might be fulfilled in us
The "in-lawed" metaphor: Just as we are connected to in-laws through someone else, we are in-lawed to the law through our union with (or marriage to) Christ.
Ch 9: The Marrow of Assurance
Denying or severely downplaying assurance was a central concern of the RCC during the Reformation.
Medieval movement from congruent merit to condign merit
Calvin and the WCF
Chapter on assurance in WCF
Ch 10: How Assurance of Christ Becomes Assurance of Salvation
Ch 11: "Hindrances Strew All the Way"
Functions of affliction (correction, character building, revelation of grace/glory)
Hindrances to assurance
Implications of union with Christ
Assurance is not pride—it's confidence in our Father
Conclusion
Sir, we would see Jesus.
Appendix: Thomas Boston on Faith
January 11, 2022
4.9 Stars
This is a near perfect book. A masterpiece about how an historical controversy sheds light on the issues of legalism, antinomianism and the gospel. In his book, Ferguson peels back layers behind the issues of legalism, antinomianism and the gospel and helps the reader to really understand what is going on. Ferguson's great emphasis within the book is that antinomianism and legalism are not two separate truths at the ends of a spectrum, but two sides of the same coin. Both spring from a disbelief in the goodness and faithfulness of God, and a misunderstanding concerning the holiness of His law and the reality of our union in Christ. To battle both we must hold fast to Christ and not try to balance our legalism with antinomianism, and vice versa. As well, Ferguson argues that true assurance of faith is found when one is assured in the saving power of Christ, and not in the strength of the faith of the individual. All this is brought to light within the historical event of the Marrow Controversy, and Ferguson turns what could have been a boring historical survey into a book with keen pastoral and theological insights. When it comes to addressing issues concerning legalism and antinomianism this book is now at the top of my recommended books. Great read!
This is a near perfect book. A masterpiece about how an historical controversy sheds light on the issues of legalism, antinomianism and the gospel. In his book, Ferguson peels back layers behind the issues of legalism, antinomianism and the gospel and helps the reader to really understand what is going on. Ferguson's great emphasis within the book is that antinomianism and legalism are not two separate truths at the ends of a spectrum, but two sides of the same coin. Both spring from a disbelief in the goodness and faithfulness of God, and a misunderstanding concerning the holiness of His law and the reality of our union in Christ. To battle both we must hold fast to Christ and not try to balance our legalism with antinomianism, and vice versa. As well, Ferguson argues that true assurance of faith is found when one is assured in the saving power of Christ, and not in the strength of the faith of the individual. All this is brought to light within the historical event of the Marrow Controversy, and Ferguson turns what could have been a boring historical survey into a book with keen pastoral and theological insights. When it comes to addressing issues concerning legalism and antinomianism this book is now at the top of my recommended books. Great read!
January 24, 2016
This book nourished my faith even while exposing a subtle legalistic spirit I’ve operated on as a Christian. http://amzn.to/1OrXNpT
September 22, 2023
Edit: I’ve read this book every year and every year I get something new out of it and appreciate it differently. It’s such a blessing to me.
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Genuinely shocked at how quickly I went through this one lol. It was very encouraging and very much a game changer. I recommend anyone read it!
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Genuinely shocked at how quickly I went through this one lol. It was very encouraging and very much a game changer. I recommend anyone read it!
May 31, 2017
Took me 17 months to finish this book, but that's my fault not the book's. I'll admit, the last third of the book is not as good as the content before, but the book as a whole is the best succinct work on the gospel vs legalism & antinomianism that I know of. The book is also like a study guide and help to read "The Marrow of Modern Divinity", which you will want to read after finishing this book.
Trust me, after reading this book, you will keep it on your bookshelf close enough where you will pull it down continually to read sections of it. It's gospel rich.
Trust me, after reading this book, you will keep it on your bookshelf close enough where you will pull it down continually to read sections of it. It's gospel rich.
January 21, 2016
What does a Scottish theological controversy from three hundred years ago have to teach believers today? A lot. And Sinclair Ferguson (perhaps my favorite living theologian) shows its relevance to the church today a his new book, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, & Gospel Assurance - Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters.
I am torn between giving this book three or four stars. Ferguson's handling of the Marrow controversy is interesting and informative and his exposé of the heart of legalism is biblical and incisive. There are some penetrating insights in this book concerning the gospel and how legalism and antinomianism are not so much opposite errors as they are "non-identical twins" that are born from the same womb, namely a distrust of the goodness of God. Ferguson explores the varied expressions of this distrust.
Some of the most striking insights in this book concern:
the danger of separating Christ from his benefits,
the basis of the free offer of the gospel and the warrant of faith,
the problem of preparationist teaching in some streams of Reformed theology,
and the relationship of Calvin's view of faith/assurance and the view of the Puritans.
My qualms with the book are two:
(1) I think the book could have benefited from better editing. It was interesting, but seemed uneven in its pacing. I really wanted to read and understand this book, and therefore stuck through the difficult bits. But I could imagine lots of readers giving up earlier. Overall, I didn't feel that this book was as well-written as Ferguson's other books (most of which I've read).
(2) More importantly, I wasn't as satisfied with Ferguson's discussion of antinomianism as I was his discussion of legalism. In particular, I'm not sure he sufficiently emphasizes the discontinuity between the old covenant and new covenant and the extent to which a believer's relationship with the Mosaic law has changed. Ferguson seems to accept the traditional position of Reformed theology, which sees a fair bit of continuity between the old and new covenants. But more recent scholarship has challenged this perspective in several important ways. (I'm thinking, for example, of Brian Rosner's important work Paul and the Law in the NSBT series, published by IVP.) I would like to have seen more interaction with these varied perspectives on the law within the Reformed stream of theology.
As it stands, Ferguson's book remains very helpful with much to which I can agree. But I'm not convinced that his treatment of the law in the life of the believer is sufficiently nuanced.
Note: Readers who are interested in these theological issues, specifically legalism vs. antinomianism, might wish to consult my book Active Spirituality: Grace and Effort in the Christian Life. Unlike Ferguson, I do not discuss the Marrow controversy. But my book does address the spiritual dynamics of sin and grace, the relationship between law and gospel, and the issues of justification, sanctification, perseverance, and assurance.
August 4, 2022
I am not speaking hyperbolically when I say that “The Whole Christ” has dramatically shifted how I conceive of the Christian life and how I conceive of Christian ministry. To my shame, or to the discredit of those who have discipled me :’), union with Christ is a subject I have insufficiently explored (enjoyed is probably a better verb, but you get what I’m saying). Yes, this book is specifically about the Marrow Controversy and the issues that arose from this controversy, but the heart of it is about so much more. Ferguson is on a mission to keep Christians from unnecessarily separating Christ’s work from Christ’s person. As he writes, “If we think of our Christian identity apart from union in Christ, we will have a tendency ‘to separate Christ from his benefits and abstract those benefits from him (in whom alone they are to be found) as though we possessed them in ourselves’” (45). This can lead us to believe that growth in grace, peace with God, increased desire to learn, mature, or grow are all attached to *being a Christian* and thus in some ways dependent upon our performance. Instead, they are attached to *Christ himself* through whom we receive and draw these benefits and thus are not dependent on our work. They are dependent on Christ alone. It is he, God, who begins and completes in us the good work of salvation through Christ by the Spirit (Phil 1:6). Grasping this truth, with the Spirit’s help, guards the believer against both legalism (self-justification) and antinomianism (licentiousness). It also frees the Christian up to enjoy God who will produce the fruit of righteousness in us, which keeps our joy in Christ rather than in the fulfillment of our obligations. Ferguson covers a lot of ground, so there’s more that could be said, but here are three closing reasons to read this book: (1) You will grasp a better understanding of the depths of the legal disposition possessed by many Christians (and probably your own!); (2) You will be able to connect the roots of legalism and antinomianism (which are not as opposite one another as they may first appear); and (3) You will be reminded of the need to be constantly bathed afresh with a sense of God’s graciousness toward us in Christ. May God help us “See Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.” (Richard of Chichester, c. 1197-1253, quoted at the end of “The Whole Christ”)
February 10, 2016
The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson
In a day when the ongoing intramural debate about the place of the law in the life of the Christian, Sinclair Ferguson takes us back to Marrow Controversy to show us that both legalism and antinomianism share the same root - a failure to believe God's goodness (the gospel). In other words, both antinomianism and legalism misunderstand/distort the gospel. Therefore, the remedy for both is the same - understanding the gospel of grace.
Pastorally, Dr. Ferguson carefully exposes the nature of saving faith and the root/foundation of Christian assurance. Whether or not you're interested in an old theological debate (the Marrow Controversy), I highly recommend Ferguson's The Whole Christ. May it give our pastoral ministries a "tincture" of salvation being all of grace in the whole Christ, received by faith alone.
In a day when the ongoing intramural debate about the place of the law in the life of the Christian, Sinclair Ferguson takes us back to Marrow Controversy to show us that both legalism and antinomianism share the same root - a failure to believe God's goodness (the gospel). In other words, both antinomianism and legalism misunderstand/distort the gospel. Therefore, the remedy for both is the same - understanding the gospel of grace.
Pastorally, Dr. Ferguson carefully exposes the nature of saving faith and the root/foundation of Christian assurance. Whether or not you're interested in an old theological debate (the Marrow Controversy), I highly recommend Ferguson's The Whole Christ. May it give our pastoral ministries a "tincture" of salvation being all of grace in the whole Christ, received by faith alone.
July 29, 2018
Historically informative, deeply biblical, and gracefully insightful, this book will never lose it’s relevance. Not while it’s sinners who Christ saves. Highly recommend.
March 31, 2024
An 18th century scuffle between Presbyterians on the relationship between law and grace sets the stage for an in-depth, illuminating exposition by Sinclair Ferguson on the errors of antinomianism and legalism, and how the gospel call is different from both. Ferguson jumps back and forth between our current climate and the church history side of the story. Fascinating, convicting, powerfully articulated.
This is a perfect example of a dense theological book that simultaneously exposits Scripture carefully, helps construct systematic theological thinking, considers how historical theology plays a role, and is ultimately warmly written and draws one’s soul to Christ. When people ask why I enjoy reading theology, books written like this are the reason.
This is a perfect example of a dense theological book that simultaneously exposits Scripture carefully, helps construct systematic theological thinking, considers how historical theology plays a role, and is ultimately warmly written and draws one’s soul to Christ. When people ask why I enjoy reading theology, books written like this are the reason.
April 12, 2018
This book was an unexpected treasure. It is a surprising combination of historical theology, biblical theology, systematic theology, and practical pastoral theology, using the "Marrow controversy" of the 1600's (of which I knew nothing prior to reading this book) as the basis for an incredibly insightful discussion on law and grace, legalism and antinomianism. But theological words aside, Ferguson's approach and writing were not only enjoyable, they were full of God's grace. This book will go down as one of the greatest depictions I have read (outside the Bible) of God's love and mercy displayed in Christ. It has helped me cherish the gospel again and reminded me to glory in Christ alone. While somewhat theological at times and seemingly geared toward pastors, I say to any reader, "Take and read!"
Updated - 12/Apr, 2018
After some discussions with friends about legalism/antinomianism, I decided to go back over some of my highlights of this book. Wow, I was reminded of why I loved it so much. I thought I would share some here, partly to share with the two people that actually read my reviews, and partly to just have these registered somewhere!
CONCERNING LEGALISM:
“Legalism is simply separating the law of God from the person of God.” (83)
“The essence of legalism is a heart distortion of the graciousness of God and of the God of grace.” (88)
“Legalism is almost as old as Eden itself. In essence it’s any teaching that diminishes or distorts the generous love of God and the full freeness of his grace. It then distorts God’s graciousness revealed in his law and fails to see law set within its proper context in redemptive history as an expression of a gracious Father. This is the nature of legalism. Indeed we might say these are the natures of legalism.” (95)
“Christ should be presented in all the fullness of his person and work; faith then directly grasps the mercy of God in him, and as it does so the life of repentance is inaugurated as its fruit.” (101)
CONCERNING ANTINOMIANISM:
“Although in one sense antinomianism is the ‘opposite’ error from legalism, in another sense it’s the ‘equal’ error, for it similarly abstracts God’s law from God’s person and character (which undergoes no change from old to new covenant). It fails to appreciate that the law that condemns us for our sins was given to teach us how not to sin.” (141)
“The deepest response to antinomianism is not ‘You are under the law’ but rather ‘You are despising the gospel and failing to understand how the grace of God in the gospel works!’ There is no condemnation for you under the law because of your faith-union with Christ. But that same faith-union leads to the requirements of the law being fulfilled in you through the Spirit. Your real problem is not that you do not understand the law. It’s that you do not understand the gospel. For Paul says that we are ‘in-lawed to Christ.’ Our relationship to the law is not a bare legal one, coldly impersonal. No, our conformity to it is the fruit of our marriage to our new husband Jesus Christ.” (153–154)
"At one level the problem [of antinomianism] is indeed rejection of God's law. But underneath lies a failure to understand grace and ultimately to understand God. True, his love for me is not based on my qualification or my preparation. But it is misleading to say that God accepts us the way we are. Rather he accepts us despite the way we are. He receives us only in Christ and for Christ's sake. Nor does he mean to leave us the way he found us, but to transform us into the likeness of his Son (Rom 8:39). Without that transformation and new conformity of life we do not have any evidence that we were ever his in the first place." (154)
“Antinomianism and legalism are not so much antithetical to each other as they are both antithetical to grace. This is why Scripture never prescribes one as the antidote for the other. Rather grace, God’s grace in Christ in our union with Christ, is the antidote to both.” (156)
“There is only one genuine cure for legalism. It’s the same medicine the gospel prescribes for antinomianism: understanding and tasting union with Jesus Christ himself.” (157)
“Commandments are the railroad tracks on which the life empowered by the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit runs. Love empowers the engine; law guides the direction. They are mutually interdependent. The notion that love can operate apart from law is a figment of the imagination. It’s not only bad theology; it’s poor psychology. It has to borrow from law to give eyes to love. . . . Neither the Old Testament believer nor the Savior severed the law of God from his gracious person. It was not legalism for Jesus to do everything his Father commanded him. Nor is it for us.” (168–169, 173)
Updated - 12/Apr, 2018
After some discussions with friends about legalism/antinomianism, I decided to go back over some of my highlights of this book. Wow, I was reminded of why I loved it so much. I thought I would share some here, partly to share with the two people that actually read my reviews, and partly to just have these registered somewhere!
CONCERNING LEGALISM:
“Legalism is simply separating the law of God from the person of God.” (83)
“The essence of legalism is a heart distortion of the graciousness of God and of the God of grace.” (88)
“Legalism is almost as old as Eden itself. In essence it’s any teaching that diminishes or distorts the generous love of God and the full freeness of his grace. It then distorts God’s graciousness revealed in his law and fails to see law set within its proper context in redemptive history as an expression of a gracious Father. This is the nature of legalism. Indeed we might say these are the natures of legalism.” (95)
“Christ should be presented in all the fullness of his person and work; faith then directly grasps the mercy of God in him, and as it does so the life of repentance is inaugurated as its fruit.” (101)
CONCERNING ANTINOMIANISM:
“Although in one sense antinomianism is the ‘opposite’ error from legalism, in another sense it’s the ‘equal’ error, for it similarly abstracts God’s law from God’s person and character (which undergoes no change from old to new covenant). It fails to appreciate that the law that condemns us for our sins was given to teach us how not to sin.” (141)
“The deepest response to antinomianism is not ‘You are under the law’ but rather ‘You are despising the gospel and failing to understand how the grace of God in the gospel works!’ There is no condemnation for you under the law because of your faith-union with Christ. But that same faith-union leads to the requirements of the law being fulfilled in you through the Spirit. Your real problem is not that you do not understand the law. It’s that you do not understand the gospel. For Paul says that we are ‘in-lawed to Christ.’ Our relationship to the law is not a bare legal one, coldly impersonal. No, our conformity to it is the fruit of our marriage to our new husband Jesus Christ.” (153–154)
"At one level the problem [of antinomianism] is indeed rejection of God's law. But underneath lies a failure to understand grace and ultimately to understand God. True, his love for me is not based on my qualification or my preparation. But it is misleading to say that God accepts us the way we are. Rather he accepts us despite the way we are. He receives us only in Christ and for Christ's sake. Nor does he mean to leave us the way he found us, but to transform us into the likeness of his Son (Rom 8:39). Without that transformation and new conformity of life we do not have any evidence that we were ever his in the first place." (154)
“Antinomianism and legalism are not so much antithetical to each other as they are both antithetical to grace. This is why Scripture never prescribes one as the antidote for the other. Rather grace, God’s grace in Christ in our union with Christ, is the antidote to both.” (156)
“There is only one genuine cure for legalism. It’s the same medicine the gospel prescribes for antinomianism: understanding and tasting union with Jesus Christ himself.” (157)
“Commandments are the railroad tracks on which the life empowered by the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit runs. Love empowers the engine; law guides the direction. They are mutually interdependent. The notion that love can operate apart from law is a figment of the imagination. It’s not only bad theology; it’s poor psychology. It has to borrow from law to give eyes to love. . . . Neither the Old Testament believer nor the Savior severed the law of God from his gracious person. It was not legalism for Jesus to do everything his Father commanded him. Nor is it for us.” (168–169, 173)
December 4, 2021
Outstanding. The relevance of a controversy in Scotland so long ago for us today. The issue is "How free is the free offer of the Gospel?" The thing I gained most of all from hearing Dr. Ferguson preaching on this issue so many years ago, was this - in the free offer, it is not simply the benefits of salvation that Christ offers us, but Himself, with all the benefits, in union with Christ. This cleared up my wrestling over issues re whether repentance is a "condition" of the offer (no, but it's THE condition in which we come), and consequently assurance of salvation. So, so helpful. So liberating. So glorifying to Jesus.
Sell your shirt and buy a copy for yourself. And if you already have a copy, sell another shirt and buy a copy for your Pastor.
Sell your shirt and buy a copy for yourself. And if you already have a copy, sell another shirt and buy a copy for your Pastor.
July 4, 2021
The final paragraphs of this book include the poignant phrase “Sir, we would see Jesus.” And indeed, that is what this book accomplishes. Every time I read Sinclair Ferguson I leave feeling more strengthened, bolstered, encouraged, and joyful in my faith. What a gift this (humble, unassuming) man is to the church. May more be raised up like him.
(For anyone reading, I’ve been informed there are accompanying lectures to this book available on Amazon Prime. I’m excited to view them and encourage you to do the same!)
(For anyone reading, I’ve been informed there are accompanying lectures to this book available on Amazon Prime. I’m excited to view them and encourage you to do the same!)
March 4, 2016
Just fantastic (especially for pastors I think, but for anyone interested in the "sanctification debates"). Ferguson shows how subtle and deep-seated our misunderstandings of God can be and how knowing Christ corrects them.
March 5, 2016
Excellent book. I highly recommend it. Makes me want to read The Marrow again.
April 23, 2020
“In seeking to bring freedom from legalism, we are engaged in the undoing of an ancient work of Satan.”
Ferguson’s writings did not give me the tools to “do” this work, but rather delivered on the book’s namesake and showcased a lovelier, fuller Christ, whose goodness to us is given in both his grace and law, and neither given abstractly apart from Him. He teaches that Christ’s benefits are inseparable from Christ himself, and that we cannot earn what we can only enjoy by grace, in union with Him.
Surprisingly quirky and at times a bit dense, this book has left me with a clearer view of the fullness of freedom and grace that is in Christ. I truly feel like I can swim more daringly, and in more expansive gospel waters because of how much “bigger” and “full” (indeed, Whole!) I understand Jesus to be from these lessons.
Ferguson’s writings did not give me the tools to “do” this work, but rather delivered on the book’s namesake and showcased a lovelier, fuller Christ, whose goodness to us is given in both his grace and law, and neither given abstractly apart from Him. He teaches that Christ’s benefits are inseparable from Christ himself, and that we cannot earn what we can only enjoy by grace, in union with Him.
Surprisingly quirky and at times a bit dense, this book has left me with a clearer view of the fullness of freedom and grace that is in Christ. I truly feel like I can swim more daringly, and in more expansive gospel waters because of how much “bigger” and “full” (indeed, Whole!) I understand Jesus to be from these lessons.
March 18, 2019
well-written and informative as well as convicting. It was good for me to read and I think I'll read it again.
December 10, 2022
2022: I listened to this on audio in 2020, and now have re-read it in book form. It is chock full of spiritual wisdom, nuanced and deeply insightful. I agree with Keller's foreword that the central insight of the book is the revelation that legalism and antinomianism, terms which have a range of meaning all the way from heresy to a certain bent of the heart within the regenerate believer, share a common root in a twisted view of the Father's heart. These are deep waters. My esteem and gratitude for Sinclair Ferguson for having written this book, and many others, is fulsome. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the dynamics of the human heart or struggling to understand how the gospel cures both the legal and the antinomian spirit.
2020: A veritable trove of verity. I will carry a number of these insights for the rest of my days. A permanent contribution.
2020: A veritable trove of verity. I will carry a number of these insights for the rest of my days. A permanent contribution.
December 14, 2017
Excellent book, and typical Ferguson - biblical, reformed, historical, pastoral, and experiential. Covers the history of the Marrow Controversy well and points to the theological issues raised that appear in all generations. Addresses antinomianism and legalism with biblical precision, showing both to be dangerous errors. The "medicine" for both errors is the gospel and understanding union with Christ.
Best chapters: Chapter 8 provides excellent exposition on the law and its relation in Old and New Testaments and its relation to the Christian. Chapters 9-10 on assurance. Assurance needs to be addressed with balance and nuance, especially determining the cause for lack of assurance. Nuance and word precision would be Ferguson's wheelhouse.
Best chapters: Chapter 8 provides excellent exposition on the law and its relation in Old and New Testaments and its relation to the Christian. Chapters 9-10 on assurance. Assurance needs to be addressed with balance and nuance, especially determining the cause for lack of assurance. Nuance and word precision would be Ferguson's wheelhouse.
October 25, 2018
This book takes a slice of church history and develops theology by looking at that particular debate. There is a lot of good material in this book regarding the relationship of Law and Gospel. I'll need to go through this one again in order to grasp it all. Ferguson presented ideas which were new to me and left me thinking. Throughout the book he used several word pictures which were very helpul. Beneath all the history presented, there are nuggets to be mined.
March 19, 2023
This book was a great help to me and an encouragement. Such a great book covering legalism, antinomianism, and the beautiful work of Christ and why we can rest in assurance of hope in Him alone. I loved it. Highly recommend especially if you come from a legalistic background.
January 15, 2021
An excellent book to dive into for, not only an understanding of the Marrow Controversy of Scotland, but the relationship between law/Gospel, legalism/Antinomianism, grace/works, and assurance/doubt. Ferguson gives the reader an excellent, albeit brief, summary of the Marrowmen's position and defends their understanding of the Auchterarder Creed and the defense of the Marrow of Modern Divinity. One small area of quibble, that atleast I'd like to see, is more understanding of the other side of the coin and where the Kirk was coming from against the Marrowmen. It's not historical theology true, but it would be nice to get more background on the Marrow and the controversy; that may just be my opinion though. An excellent book for the pastor, the layman, or any seeking to understand the complex issues of Law and Gospel. Ferguson is a superb writer, pastor, and theologian. Highly recommended!
August 1, 2021
The Whole Christ is one of those books that's packed theologically with Biblical truth that flows into practicality. It's a book that made me think deeply as I read and test every point that was made against the Scriptures... only to find that the conclusions drawn along the way are wholly in sync with the Word. It's a book that exposed tendencies toward ungodly thinking and living in myself that I scarcely recognized before, much less understood. It uncovers the root of legalism/antinomianism for what it is - a misunderstanding of who God is and consequently the divorcing of God's law from his character. It digs deeply into the Gospel for it's truest treasure - Christ himself.
Saturated in the Truth, masterfully laid out, and incredibly relevant.
I highly, highly recommend it.
Saturated in the Truth, masterfully laid out, and incredibly relevant.
I highly, highly recommend it.
June 3, 2020
Excellent book covering the key topics of legalism, antinomianism, grace and assurance. Benefits largely from Sinclair Ferguson's thorough scholarly approach and strong pastoral insight. Superb on grace and assurance with some real helpful gems.
January 30, 2021
I finished the book with gratefulness for GRACE even though portions went over my head. I especially loved the prodigal son vs others son theme...
June 20, 2018
The "Marrow Controversy" from the Puritan era is the background for Ferguson's work on the role of the law in the life of the believer today. The first third of the book focuses largely on the original controversy. As one intentionally unfamiliar with the Puritans, I struggled with this portion of the book, and I suppose others in a similar position will struggle as I did.
The middle of the book was the best part of the book, where he focuses on the role of the law and the way that legalism and antinomianism are not so much opposites, but different reactions to the law such that the law is made void by either holding it up higher than Christ, or in setting it entirely aside.
There's a great quote on page 168-169 regarding the role of the law:
"Commandments are the railroad tracks on which the life empowered by the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit runs. Love empowers the engine; law guides the direction. They are mutually interdependent. The notion that love can operate apart from law is a figment of the imagination. It is not only bad theology; it is bad psychology. It has to borrow from law to give eyes to love.
The last third of the book is devoted to the assurance of salvation, which Ferguson argues is tied to the person of Christ, not our own faith. All in all, this is a very good book, though my own biases against the Puritans bled through and prevented me from enjoying this as others might.
The middle of the book was the best part of the book, where he focuses on the role of the law and the way that legalism and antinomianism are not so much opposites, but different reactions to the law such that the law is made void by either holding it up higher than Christ, or in setting it entirely aside.
There's a great quote on page 168-169 regarding the role of the law:
"Commandments are the railroad tracks on which the life empowered by the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit runs. Love empowers the engine; law guides the direction. They are mutually interdependent. The notion that love can operate apart from law is a figment of the imagination. It is not only bad theology; it is bad psychology. It has to borrow from law to give eyes to love.
The last third of the book is devoted to the assurance of salvation, which Ferguson argues is tied to the person of Christ, not our own faith. All in all, this is a very good book, though my own biases against the Puritans bled through and prevented me from enjoying this as others might.
November 12, 2018
I was a little curious as to what exactly this book was about as I don't recall ever hearing of the Marrow Controversy, but since Tim Keller was doing the forward I thought I would give it a go.
First, I was a little surprised as to how long the forward was - whilst I have encountered long forwards before, I was a little concerned that I was hearing everything of value in the Foreword - thankfully that was not the case. Whilst it did take me a little while to "get into" the story and the associated theology (theologies), I did in fact quite enjoy this. The Author does a good job in not only filling in the history of the Marrow Controversy but thankfully also does a good job explaining the history that led to it. At the same time, this is quite a good way to examine modern understanding of Antinomianism vs Legalism and how our Christian Assurance fits into all that.
Quite a good read :)
First, I was a little surprised as to how long the forward was - whilst I have encountered long forwards before, I was a little concerned that I was hearing everything of value in the Foreword - thankfully that was not the case. Whilst it did take me a little while to "get into" the story and the associated theology (theologies), I did in fact quite enjoy this. The Author does a good job in not only filling in the history of the Marrow Controversy but thankfully also does a good job explaining the history that led to it. At the same time, this is quite a good way to examine modern understanding of Antinomianism vs Legalism and how our Christian Assurance fits into all that.
Quite a good read :)
December 30, 2019
I can confidently say that this is one of the top 5 books I've read in the last 10 years. With precision and pastoral care, Ferguson wades through the issues of legalism, antinomianism, and assurance of salvation, and does so in a way that is both deep and practical.
I've read the Marrow of Modern Divinity a few times, and admittedly, nothing can replace a careful reading of that classic. But this work comes close, and it makes the key doctrines of the Marrow much more accessible.
I've read through the Marrow with the men in my church, and I'm reading through this with the women in my church. Both studies have proved to be invaluable. I wish that every Christian would read this book. I will be recommending it for years to come.
I've read the Marrow of Modern Divinity a few times, and admittedly, nothing can replace a careful reading of that classic. But this work comes close, and it makes the key doctrines of the Marrow much more accessible.
I've read through the Marrow with the men in my church, and I'm reading through this with the women in my church. Both studies have proved to be invaluable. I wish that every Christian would read this book. I will be recommending it for years to come.
February 10, 2017
Wow...such an important book and just the thing to clearly lay out the vital gospel matters of legalism, antinomianism, and assurance. Buy an extra pack of highlighters for this book: you'll need them.
For everyone's edification, here are the mp3s to the lectures the book was based on.
For everyone's edification, here are the mp3s to the lectures the book was based on.
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