Herman Witsius: Still relevant (3)
Kenneth Koole explores Herman Witsius's treatment of the antinomian controversy in late 17th-century England, particularly the doctrine of the utility of holiness and the proper place of good works in the Christian life. The article examines how Reformed theologians navigated between Rome's meritorious works theology and the danger of antinomianism, seeking to maintain both justification by faith alone and the necessity of sanctification through good works. This resource is valuable for understanding the historic Reformed balance between grace and obedience, and for contemporary preaching on Christian ethics and spiritual motivation.
We come to the heart of the antinomian controversy in England in the late 1600s, that which was most 'warmly' disputed among the Protestant theologians and in their congregations, namely, "the utility of holiness," as Witsius labels it.1 This is simply another way of referring to good works and their place in the life and salvation of the redeemed: their benefit, their usefulness, their incentive, and even in what sense they are necessary. It was an area of dispute (one that has always...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org