Anthropological Theology- The Flesh

I really appreciated the way Welch dissected Jay Adam’s anthropology. I suppose in reading the beginning of the article it was rather apparent to me that Adams’ view that the sinfulness of a regenerated man is somehow tied up in the body only doesn’t seem to jive with the rest of Scripture. Moreover, this doesn’t seem to fit into a reformed view of progressive sanctification. Adams does admit that there has to be a renewal of habits that a sinful body is entrenched in; however, this would easily lead to the excuse of, “my body made me do it”- a strong echo to Adam and Eve’s blame shifting in the garden.

I can understand Adams’ concern with the efficacy of the work of Christ in our hearts when we come to faith in God. However, I believe the imputation of righteousness to us, our justification, has to do with our legal status before the Judge rather than with the actual condition of our souls. As is postulated in the article, this does not necessitate a two-nature view of man. We have one nature that is perfectly righteous in Christ, one which must still await the full realization of the reality of this new state. Thus, while we have been proclaimed to be perfectly holy in Christ through His righteousness, our sinful hearts are undergoing a transformation, a reformation, a sanctification- a change in our condition, not state- which is worked out over time as the Spirit works in us as we battle against remaining sin in our hearts.

Therefore, Adams’ counseling methods look a lot more like works righteousness than the battle against sin that Paul wrestled over in Romans 7.

Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we have been liberated from the power of sin, but not from its presence. This is where the battle continues. Paul desired to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, in order that he might one day realize the perfection for which Christ had apprehended him.

The blessing that remains for us is that we, as Christians, are also adopted into the family of God when we are saved. Therefore, we do not have to fight the good fight of faith alone; we can pray for, encourage, admonish, teach, uphold, and build up each other in the faith as we strive to be holy as God is holy. And we all will one day be with Jesus in glory!