From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

As we continue our presentation of the entire text of Arthur W. Pink's classic book, Profiting From the Word, we next come to chapter five, "The Scriptures and Good Works." As we begin, I believe it is important to address something that Pink says early in this chapter that is often misrepresented.

On page 63 of the printed edition of Profiting From the Word, Pink states that good works "do not procure a title to heaven, yet they are among the means which God has appointed for His people's getting there" (emphasis his). Some promoters of so-called "lordship salvation" have said that Pink's statement supports their doctrine, which amounts to "salvation through cross-bearing."[1] Some advocates of the New Perspective on Paul and the Federal Vision have used Pink's statement to allege that it supports their false doctrine of a "second justification" for the believer at the Last Judgment based on good works.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Some men - including many "lordship salvation" teachers and New Perspective/Federal Vision advocates - make statements that on their face seem similar to this one by Pink. But they add much more that is clearly un-Biblical, and teach their deviant doctrines with arrogance and persistence. It is clear that they actually believe that we must add something of our own to Christ and His work in order to be saved.

Not so Arthur Pink. Search the more than ten thousand pages - over three million words - of Bible exposition that Pink produced during his lifetime, and you will find no such doctrinal deviation. Instead, you will find the condemnation of such heresy. Look, for example, at his massive commentary on the book of Hebrews.[2] In his discussion of Hebrews 6:1 ("repentance from dead works") and the verses that follow, Pink calls these kinds of teachings what they are: "apostasy".

All Bible expositors are fallible human beings, and it is evident that Arthur Pink - at this one point in one particular study within Profiting From the Word - simply made a very unfortunate choice of words. I am confident that if he saw the kinds of false teachings that are among us today, he would express his thought differently. I am sure he would spare no energy to refute the men who in effect bear false witness against him, by wrenching a handful of words out of the context of over three million words of orthodox Bible exposition.[3]

Although his choice of words - especially the word "means" - was ill-advised, even a brief look at the context of the sentence in question shows that Pink's purpose was to make this vital point: The Word of God does not teach "easy believism." If a sinner has truly believed, exercising God-given faith in Jesus Christ, then the desire to live in obedience to God's Word will follow as surely as day follows night.

The life of the true believer in Christ is, by definition, a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believers do not become perfect people, but they do now have the desire and motivation to please God. That change is brought about by the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence within each believer at conversion.

The believer's changed life does not now, and never will, contribute one iota to his salvation. The justification of the sinner involves the imputation of his sins to Christ, and the imputation of Christ's perfect righteousness to the sinner. It is by God's free grace alone, and it is appropriated by faith alone, in Christ alone. The sanctification of the believer is the result and the evidence, not the cause, of salvation. It is distinct from justification.

That is what Scripture teaches,[4] and that is what Arthur W. Pink taught. No one can honestly say otherwise.

References:

1. For a refutation of this teaching, see our Bible Knowledgebase article Must We "Take Up Our Cross" to Be Saved?

2. Arthur W. Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 21st printing, 2006).

3. For more examples of the hijacking of the teachings of faithful men for ungodly purposes, see our Bible Knowledgebase series, Recognizing and Dealing With Apostasy.

4. See, for example, John 17:17-19; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 7:13-25; Romans 8:13-14; Romans. 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 3:16-19; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:10-11; Colossians 1:28; Colossians 2:1-10; Colossians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 3:5; James 2:17-26; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 1:5-10; and 1 John 5:1-5.

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