Judgment by works

Of all the declarations of the PCA FV Study Report, the most mystifying is the one that reaffirms justification by faith and rejects final justification according to works. This became the central issue in the “debate” on the floor of GA, and this was likely the reason for the resounding support for the report.

It’s mystifying first because, RC Sproul to the contrary, justification by faith is not being challenged.

It’s also mystifying because the Confession clearly teaches judgment according to works (33.1): “In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.”

The committee, by contrast, says, “The view that justification is in any way based on our works, or that the so-called ‘final verdict of justification’ is based on anything other than the perfect obedience and satisfaction of Christ received through faith alone, is contrary to the Westminster Standards.”

These two statements are, to put it delicately, hard to square with each other. Perhaps the committee is using “justification” or “final verdict of justification” in a sense different from how I understand those. When anyone associated with the FV says “final verdict of justification,” they mean “final judgment.”

It appears that the committee condemns the very view that WCF 33.1 articulates, since the Confession says explicitly that what we receive at the final judgment will be “according to what they have done,” which is clearly something other than the “perfect obedience and satisfaction of Christ received through faith alone.”