Matthew Bates, a New Testament professor at Northern Seminary and author of 'Beyond the Salvation Wars,' joins the conversation to challenge conventional views on salvation. He argues that reducing the gospel to 'justification by faith' oversimplifies its richness. Bates emphasizes the necessity of allegiance to King Jesus, reshaping how both Protestants and Catholics perceive salvation. He also critiques current discipleship approaches and invites churches to foster a culture of gospel allegiance, integrating deeper spiritual commitments into their practices.
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insights INSIGHT
Justification by Faith: A Benefit, Not the Gospel
Justification by faith is true but not the entire gospel.
It's a benefit of the gospel, not the gospel itself, and Christ's victory applies to the whole body.
insights INSIGHT
Contextual Justification by Faith
The focus on justification by faith arose from a specific context in the medieval period.
It was a valid entry point then, but now we need a wider lens.
insights INSIGHT
Agreement on the Core Gospel
Despite their rhetoric, Protestants and Catholics agree on the core gospel.
This agreement centers around Jesus as the saving King.
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Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King
Matthew W. Bates
In 'Salvation by Allegiance Alone', Matthew Bates challenges traditional Protestant views of faith and works by arguing that salvation is best understood as allegiance to Jesus as the enthroned King. He emphasizes that faith involves not just mental assent but embodied loyalty, integrating good works into the concept of final salvation. Bates also critiques the 'ordo salutis' and advocates for a corporate understanding of election.
Beyond the Salvation Wars
Beyond the Salvation Wars
Why Both Protestants and Catholics Must Reimagine How We Are Saved
Matthew Bates
Is our understanding of salvation too small?
In this thought-provoking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Matthew Bates, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Beyond the Salvation Wars, to challenge long-held assumptions about the gospel. From the pitfalls of individualistic salvation to the deeper call of allegiance to King Jesus, they explore what it truly means to be saved—and why both Protestants and Catholics need to rethink their approach.
🎙️ In This Episode:
Why reducing the gospel to “justification by faith” misses the bigger picture.
How allegiance to Jesus reshapes our understanding of salvation.
The problem with both evangelical and progressive approaches to discipleship.
Why the Gospel Coalition and the Catholic Church might have more in common than we think.
How pastors can cultivate a Gospel Allegiance Culture in their churches.
📌 Highlights:
[00:04:00] The problem with how Protestants and Catholics frame salvation.
[00:12:00] Justification as a benefit of the gospel, not the gospel itself.
[00:19:00] Rethinking righteousness: Imputed, imparted, or incorporated?
[00:27:00] Why spiritual disciplines should be allegiance opportunities.
[00:32:00] The danger of reducing faith to “try harder and do better.”
💡 Takeaway:
The gospel isn’t just about avoiding hell or doing justice—it’s about swearing allegiance to King Jesus and being swept up in his mission for the world. When we move beyond an individualistic, works-based mindset, we discover a deeper, more holistic understanding of salvation.
📖 Additional Reflection:
What would change in your life if you saw faith not as belief or effort, but as allegiance to Jesus? Let us know your thoughts!
Theology on Mission 