Rev. Amos Binney was a Methodist preacher who wrote a short systematic theology called Binney’s Theological Compend (published in 1840) explaining “Biblical Methodism” (see here). The “improved” version edited by Daniel Steele is very readable and succinct. I think it is a model for how a short systematic theology should be done, and I plan to write a similar book from a Free Grace perspective.
Not that I agree with everything Binney says.
I find it helpful in parts and unhelpful (i.e., false) in others.
As a good Methodist, Binney rejects the Calvinistic notion that you must be regenerated before you can believe:
Errors respecting saving faith: …That the unregenerate are incapable of the act of saving faith, and that it does not precede regeneration as a condition, but follows it as a result. Refuted in John 3:18, 36; Acts 10:43; Rom 1:16; 3:26; Eph. 1:13.
I would strongly agree with that statement. Binney’s prooftexts show the salvific benefits that follow faith.
However, in that same section on saving faith, there’s much error. Here’s an example:
The faith by which we are justified is present faith; faith actually existing and exercised. John 1:12; 3:18, 36. (105. What is the method of justification? What three things are to be considered? What is the origination cause? Meritorious? Instrumental? What is the faith by which we are justified?)
We are not justified by to-morrow’s faith foreseen, for that would imply justification from eternity. Neither are we justified by yesterday’s faith recorded and remembered, for that would imply justification that is irreversible. Ezek. 18:24; 33:12-13
Binney says we are only justified by “present” faith. He means you need continuous faith to stay justified. If you stop believing, you stop being justified. Future faith does not count (he’s right about that). But he also says that “yesterday’s faith” does not count, because “that would imply justification that is irreversible.”
Exactly.
Justification is irreversible.
When was Abraham justified? Not by present faith. He was justified the very night he believed God’s promise. The next day, when he woke up, he could look back and say he was justified that night. A year later, he could look back and still say, “I was justified that night.”
Justification is a point-in-time event.
Binney cites John 3 as proof you must believe. Earlier in that discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus used the example of Israel’s looking at the snake on the pole to be healed. Did they have to continuously look at that snake their whole life to stay healed, or was it a point-in-time event? It happened in a moment. It’s the same with justification or being given the gift of everlasting life. It happens in a moment. It happens the second you believe in Jesus for what He promises.
Binney cited Ezekiel as proof that yesterday’s faith is not enough to be justified in the present. Those passages do not support his position. They are not about being born-again. Rather, they concern temporal judgment for sins and crimes committed against God. Ezekiel warned that having a history of good deeds would not save you from the punishment of the sins you commit today. That’s common sense. If you obey the law for 30 years and then commit murder, you’ll be charged for that murder today. But what does that have to do with justification by faith?
The condition and consequences of God’s temporal judgment are different from the condition and consequences for receiving the free gift of eternal life. Avoiding temporal judgment does depend upon your behavior. It is a moment-by-moment experience. But justification is by faith. It is a point-in-time event. Binney was comparing apples and oranges.
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Pastor Shawn,
My thoughts are this,
When Jesus offered Eternal Life to the Woman at the Well, He never told her she must stop living with the man she was living with nor did he give a condescending comment about her lifestyle.
But rather when he said whoever drinks from the Water I give shall themselves spring up with Living Waters. The living waters symbolized Eternal Life simply by Believing Jesus was the Messiah.
After she believed and recognized Jesus was the Messiah, and she ran into the town saying he told me all about things in my life, is He the Messiah? ……And many of the people in townspeople heard him for themselves and Believed.
In that story, there was no turning from sin, nor repenting from sin, but the complete acceptance from God who wanted to receive all people back to Himself by believing in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. ….God wants all men to come to Him as you are because He loves us so very much.
The great misunderstanding about continuing in your Faith is,…. Jesus never said you must continue in your Faith to have Eternal Life, but rather wanted people to continue to grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ken Tamashiro
In my opinion only,…Continuing in your Faith is the one who holds to his confession that Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ. …In Colossians 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. …In that Church in Colossians, there were some early versions of Gnosticism that denied Jesus’ Deity and those wrong teachings were floating around in that Church and were confusing believers that maybe He was not God incarnate. This was a challenging situation for the Apostle Paul because he had to write an Epistle correcting some of the False Teachings going around. here is a sample of what the Apostle Paul wrote about Jesus’ Deity: …..The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,….So to come back to the original point that the Apostle Paul was making,….Continuing in your Faith is the one who holds to his confession that Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ.
Alvin
John 4:25
Μεσσίας (Mesias). Noun, a transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic words for ANOINTED ONE, which has been hellenized by ending in sigma as do Greek masculine nouns of first declension. Μεσσίας appears only here and in John 1:41 in the NT. The Samaritans were ethnically half Jewish, so a Samaritan woman could have been familiar with this word. In both instances it is parenthetically translated by the Greek form Χριστός, Christ, Anointed One.
Zane
Alvin
It’s true that some need a lot more information to come to faith in Christ. But, that doesn’t mean everyone does. We’re not to keep the little children in childlike faith from coming to Jesus, for of such is the Kingdom of God. A child usually needs very little persuasion because they are childlike. When we make up our lists just because of some who need much more persuasion, it makes it impossible for children to come to Jesus in simple faith.
Was Jesus telling the truth here~?
Most assuredly I tell you he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
Absolutely~!