On 8/7/2021, I (Matt Slick) debated Seraphim/Kabane, a member of the Eastern Orthodox church on the topic, “Man is justified through faith alone by the imputed righteousness of Christ.”  I took the affirmative and Kabane, the negative.  It was hosted on Sam Shamoun’s channel. He gave me permission to upload the video to my account.  You can view the debate in either of the two locations.

• https://odysee.com/@CARM:8/Debate-Man-is-justified-through-Faith-Alone-by-the-Imputed-Righteousness-of-Christ:a
• https://youtu.be/SdSlKKt1z-k
  • The aftershow debrief is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYgh-LoGVbY

In my opinion, Kabane was a competent debater but was not able to adequately answer the Scriptures I raised that demonstrate the truth of the imputation of Adam’s sin to us (Rom. 5:19), the imputation of our sin to Jesus when he bore our sin in his body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), and the nature of the sin debt being canceled by Christ on the cross (Col. 2:14).  Of course, the Eastern Orthodox supporters claimed victory for their side – even while they were vitriolic in the text during the debate.  Some of those comments are at the end of this article.

Nevertheless, I think the debate went well but, as I already said, he could not adequately address the issues I’ve raised.  He admitted that there’s a lot of forensic terminology dealing with salvation in the Scriptures.  When I cross-examined him, he agreed to with me that sin is a legal debt.  He said, “that is a way of signifying our rupture from the divine life.” I thought that was a rather interesting take on the legality of our sin. It was, in my opinion, an inaccurate and unbiblical representation necessitated because of his commitment to eastern orthodoxy.  He said that I was not engaging his argument which was, roughly, based on the idea that our salvation is through participation in the grace of God throughout one’s whole life that restores that communion and enables us to be justified on the final day.  But, that is not dealing with the issue of imputation.  He failed to address the issue of Adam’s sin imputed to us in reference to Romans 5:19, where I cited the fact that “were made sinners,” is in the aorist, active, indicative which means that it’s a past action that we receive due to the action of someone else.  When addressing 1 Peter 2:24, he said that “to bear our sins in his body is to take the penalty.” But, that is not accurate. Sin is not the same thing as penalty. The penalty is the judgment of God because of our sin. I repeatedly addressed the issue of legality regarding sin as a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4) and how Jesus equated sin with legal debt (Matt. 6:12; Luke 11:4).  When addressing Colossians 2:14 where it says the record of debt was canceled at the cross, he said that the “record of debt refers to a rupture of relationship with God.” After further dialogue, he admitted that Jesus canceled the sin debt at the cross.  He said that baptism is the instrument of justification. But, of course, I asserted that faith is the instrument of justification as is taught in Romans 5:1; 3:28; 4:5.

Below, I reproduce my opening statement from the debate. After that, I will also cite some text comments from viewers during a debate. The reason I’m doing this is to show the attitude that the Eastern Orthodox people displayed. Of course, they were hiding behind nicknames and were condescending and insulting. Sam Shimon, the host of the debate, to his credit, repeatedly stated that the viewer should not insult either participant. But, the insults were still given by the Eastern Orthodox people.

 

Matt’s Opening Statement

Justified by Faith Alone by Imputation or not

It is either the case that the Christian is justified through faith alone by the imputed righteousness of Christ or is not the case. I affirm that it is the case and I will show it from Scripture. My opponent will have to demonstrate from scripture that we are not justified through faith alone by the imputed righteousness of Christ. Logically, if it is not by faith alone in Christ’s work, then it must be by faith and what you do.

JUSTIFICATION

According to Eastern Orthodox sources, justification deals with, “man’s communion in the risen body of Christ, in the divine life, that is, on deification by grace.”¹Bartos, Emil. Deification in Eastern Orthodox Theology. Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 1999 And that justification “…deals with how a person comes into and maintains a right relationship with God…Justification is accomplished at baptism and maintained through a life of obedience to God and confession of sins.” ²https://orthodoxbridge.com/2015/02/09/what-do-orthodox-christians-believe-about-justification/  I also found from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website that, “…not only loving deeds but also the sacraments of Baptism (Rom 6:1-11) and the Eucharist (1 Cor 10:16-22; 11:23-32) are decisive to salvation.”³https://www.goarch.org/-/how-are-we-saved-

So, in EO, justification is obtained through communion with Jesus and baptism and is maintained through a life of obedience and participation of the Eucharist.

IMPUTATION

I searched between about 20 Eastern Orthodox for information on imputation. The best I found was in the Orthodox Study Bible Prepared under the auspices of the Academic Community of St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology, Jack Norman Sparks, Ph.D.  In its commentary on Rom. 4:11-12, found on page 1549, it states that impute means “reckoned” or “rendered.” That’s good. It is the Greek word logizomai, which occurs many times in the Greek N. T. Other translations render it as ‘counted,’ ‘credited,’ and ‘imputed.’ Of particular interest to our discussion is Rom. 4:1-6 where the word occurs several times. In another EO Bible called, the Eastern Orthodox Bible of the N.T., Rom. 4:1-6 is as follows.

ROMANS 4:1-6

“What then will we say that Abraham (our father according to the flesh) gained? 2 Certainly, if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, although not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [Its note here says “reckoned/credited”] to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, the reward is not considered as a grace but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, it is faith that is accounted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God attributes righteousness apart from works.”

Due to time constraints, I’ll be focusing on Romans 4:5 for a bit.  The EOB says, “But to the one who does not work but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, it is faith that is accounted for righteousness.”  Other translations render that word “accounted” as credited (NASB, LEB, CSB), “counted” (ESV, KJV), “accounted” (NKJV), ‘reckoned’ (RSV). 

Notice that Romans 4:5 teaches justification by faith alone. In that verse, Paul mentions faith and works. But, he negates works. He says, “to the one who does not work but believes….his faith is credited/imputed as righteousness.” Since works are removed, we have faith left by itself. It is that faith that is counted for righteousness.  Incidentally, when James says that we are not justified by faith alone, contextually he is speaking of justification before people (James 2:18), not before God, as Romans 4:1-6 declares.

Furthermore, this faith by which we are justified is the faith that God grants to us.  The Eastern Orthodox Bible says in Phil. 1:29, “For the sake of Christ, you have been granted the privilege not only to believe in him but also to suffer on his behalf.”  The phrase “have been granted” is the aorist passive indicative. The aorist deals with the past tense. Passive means they received the action. Indicative means that the action is a fact. Therefore, our believing is granted to us by God. I ask, is this faith that is granted to us by God sufficient for justification? Of course, it is. It comes from God. That is why the Bible says in Romans 5:1, “having therefore been justified by faith.”

If it is by faith, then it is not based on works that we have done “in righteousness” as Titus 3:5 clarifies. But, EO resources tell me that “Justification is accomplished at baptism and maintained through a life of obedience to God and confession of sins.” ⁴https://orthodoxbridge.com/2015/02/09/what-do-orthodox-christians-believe-about-justification

Romans 5:19, Adam’s sin imputed to us

The aorist passive indicative found in Phil. 1:29 when it says that faith “has been granted” is also used in Romans 5:19 which, in the EOB says, “Indeed, just as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, likewise, through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.”

In Greek, the phrase “were made sinners,” is also the aorist, passive, indicative.  Again, the aorist deals with the past tense. Passive means they received the action. Indicative means that the action is a fact. So, the aorist, passive, indicative means that ‘the many’ were made sinners by Adam’s sin. Who are “the many”? In that same Greek Orthodox Bible, in Romans 5:15 it says, “by the sin of the one, the many died.” Also, in v. 18, “as through one sin, all men were condemned.” In 1 Cor. 15:22, “As in Adam all die.”  This means that due to Adam’s sin, Adam’s descendants “were made sinners.” This is exactly what the imputation of Adam’s sin to us means. Therefore, the imputation of sin is biblical.

Sin is the breaking of the Law

Sin is a transgression of God’s law. 1 John 3:4 says, “sin is lawlessness.” The law deals with legality. So, sin is a legal problem, though it is not only a legal problem.

Jesus equates sin with a legal debt. When Jesus taught us to pray, He begins in Matthew 6:9, and says, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” In verse 12, Jesus goes on to say, “and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.”  In the parallel account of Luke 11:2-4, Jesus said in verse 4 ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us…’ ”  In these passages, Jesus’equates sin with legal debt. If you deny this you deny the very words of Christ.

Our sins imputed to Jesus

Col. 2:14 in the EOB says, “wiping out the handwriting of ordinances which was against us. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.”  The NASB says, “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” The “handwriting of ordinances,” which is also the “certificate of debt,” is the Greek word cheirographon. It means, “a handwritten statement, especially a record of financial accounts.”⁵Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.  (I have several lexical quotes verifying this definition if you’re want to see them.)

So, Jesus equated sin with legal debt. And Jesus canceled the certificate of debt, the sin debt at the cross. After all, sin is breaking the law of God and when you break the law, you incur a legal debt. Furthermore, in 1 Pet. 2:24, the Greek Orthodox Bible says, “In his body, he bore in himself our sins on the tree…” 

How is it that Jesus bore our sins in his body on the cross if it is not by legal imputation where our sins become His? After all, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says he was made sin on our behalf.” So, our sins were imputed to him, and he died with them. If my opponent disagrees then please explain how sin, which is a legal debt according to Jesus, is not born IN his body on the cross, which is what 1 Peter 2:24 says.  That is exactly what imputation means and is, right there.

Furthermore, when God grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29) we are justified (Rom. 5:1). We have a righteousness that is not our own. It is not wrought to baptism, sacraments, theosis, or obedience.  Instead, it is a righteousness that is from God.  Phil. 3:9 says, in the EOB, “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own (from the law), but through faith in Christ (the righteousness which is from God by faith).”

So, the Bible teaches justification by faith alone through the righteousness that comes from God that is granted to us by faith alone.

Thank you.

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Chat text samples from Eastern Orthodox people during the debate

The reason I’m including some of the comments made by the Eastern Orthodox people in the debate is to show the kind of attitude that they possess. They are supposed to represent Christ and yet they were rude and insulting as they hide behind nicknames. Many of the comments are simply inaccurate and are gross misrepresentations of what I have said and done in the past. But, that is often the case with those who are committed to an ideological perspective and don’t want to challenge. Furthermore, there were far more Eastern Orthodox present, than Evangelicals, during the discussion.  They, of course, claimed that my opponent won.  I don’t see it that way. You decide for yourself.  Nevertheless, here are some of the comments are raised in alphabetical order by posters. Is this what Eastern Orthodoxy produces?

BoastOnly InTheCross I hope Mr. Slick is actually kind to the other person!
Brother Augustine If Seraphim does what Fr Dcn did the debate will be over before it starts. Hold him to presuppositional justification, Slick can’t do it
Catholic_based Has Matt ever not been slick?
Christian Zeal@joeyzz2 we know that… we’re only calling out matt’s hypocrisy
Crimsonr Matt Slick will be slick
David مسيحي أرثوذكسي Matt is slick with the semantics.
David مسيحي أرثوذكسي Matt Slick is predestined to lose this debate.
dragoon Matt was predestined to disappoint
Dustin Sikstrom Matt Slick is amazing. I’m impressed how somebody can build a career by constantly losing debates.
Elijah Yasi Underground Catholicism the final authority is Matt Slick
Halley lujah Let us pray for Matt Slick before this starts that his heart can be opened.
jim boggins Seraphim knows the Bible way better than Matt. this isn’t fair
Jonathyn Apologist Matt can’t account for James 2, notice how he just handwaved it
Jvstin H. S. Matt Slick is the CNN of Protestant apologetics.
JY Lewis If all Matt Slick does for the first 10 mins is howl at the moon about scripture without justifying how his interpretation and understanding of scripture is correct there is exactly zero point to this.
Kek Kek This is going to be really Slick
Luther Menard This will be a slaughter! [context was that Matt would lose badly]
Milos Obilic Slick’s universalism alarm is going off. Weee Wooo Weee Wooo EO universalism detected WeeWoo Wee Woo
NoogahOogah Matt Slick is proof that God has a sense of humor when it comes to surnames.
NoogahOogah Matt Slick? Oh man, this is going to be so cringe.
OG_John Smith matt has canned responses that he cannot operate outside of
Orthodox Phronesis Matt seems to turn the Bible into an idol, which is a very unique heresy.
Orthodoxy and the Religion of Today Almost time who thinks Slick is gonna be his usual condescending self and rage quit when he gets refuted?
Orthodoxy and the Religion of Today Matt is already so condescending
Orthodoxy and the Religion of Today Matt Slick don’t lose debates. He simply rage quits them.
robo chief Matt slick is a great Catholic
Saint Nicholas Fan,  Slick is gonna wipe the floor with Serro by quoting Ephesians 2.Lol.
Soldier Of Christ  Matt Slick is gonna be schooled.
Tanner Terry Matt’s argument for how he knows the Canon is that he cried really hard one time
The Norwegian Nous Matt does the devil sign and loses the debate. lol
The Norwegian Nous Presupp Matt and watch him melt
Theophanes Reloaded I talked to Matt on the phone years and years ago. He’s a very well-intentioned good guy, just woefully ignorant of church history and he’s possessed by an ideology.
Theosbound I feel like Matt will progressively sink into his chair as the debate goes on
Vaesh Runner Slick is hard to watch
Zealous Seraphim Matt is very arrogant, but I remember how it was like to be a Calvinist. You feel so sure you have the right interpretation it’s hard not to be.
Ι Χ Θ Υ Σ so according to Matt, everyone is saved and forgiven in such a way that whoever ends up damned is so because God randomly makes them go to hell