But I’m hearing a fair bit of defeatism among younger Christians, defeatism that may also bleed into spiritual laxness. Grace is big, and our fundamental reality as believers, yes. But we are saved to grow. The gospel is super-charged. It transforms us (Romans 12:1-2). Paul’s expectation was that his Roman audience, for example, really would grow in conformity to Christ and not the world.

I just listened to this fun 9Marks interview on Christian freedom with Mark Dever, Carl Trueman, Mike McKinley, and Andy Johnson. In the course of the sprawling discussion, Trueman raised the issue of Luther’s understanding of the gospel and spoke against modern “antinomianism.” It’s clear that Trueman believes that we misappropriate Luther if we read him as indicating that Christians, once saved, are virtually powerless to change and grow.

I agree with Trueman on this point, both exegetically and historically. I came across this little section in Luther’s “Lectures on Galatians” that speaks to the importance of vibrant piety. It encouraged me:

When I have this righteousness within me, I descend from heaven like the rain that makes the earth fertile. That is, I come forth into another kingdom, and I perform good works whenever the opportunity arises. If I am a minister of the Word, I preach, I comfort the sad, I administer the sacraments. If I am a father, I rule my household and family, I train my children in piety and honesty. If I am a magistrate, I perform the office which I have received by divine command. If I am a servant, I faithfully tend to my master’s affairs. In short, those who know for sure that Christ is their righteousness not only cheerfully and gladly work in their calling. They also submit themselves for the sake of love to magistrates” (Lull, Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings, 23).

This section does not tie up every issue, but it does show us that …

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