Life would be less perilous if, when wolves arrived in sheeps’ clothing, they announced their presence. They never do. Vigilance, then, is the best warning system.

Shockingly, the very principles that comprise our great salvation are under attack today within the Reformed camp. Perhaps, like many other people, you’ve heard distant rumblings of justification controversies. Those distant rumblings, though, have become footfalls at your door. Some Reformed and Presbyterian denominations are pursuing discipline cases against well-known ministers within their ranks. Others are putting together position papers to meet the threat. The RPCNA discussed the justification controversies at the 2004 Synod, not in response to a particular disciplinary matter but as a pastoral concern, cognizant of the current climate in the wider church.

A thorny problem with the justification controversies is that the enemies might not be easily discerned. What is more, those errors are being perpetrated by Reformed and perhaps well-meaning people. But error is error, and this controversy deals with the very doctrines of our salvation. The real “enemy at the gates” is the devil, and we must be vigilant and discerning.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

There are plenty of other scriptures that call us to watchfulness:

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-30).

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them” (Heb. 13:7-9).

If you would like to read more about the basic doctrine of justification before you read further about the controversies, I’d suggest reading the second article (page 8) first. May God bless us with understanding by His Spirit as we read and study His Word with tenacity and watchfulness.