Steve writes in to ask this, Pastor John, can our emphasis on gospel-centered sanctification

rooted in our justification lead to anti-nomianism?

In the sinfulness and finiteness and fallibility and cultural limitations of the human heart,

any way of thinking can lead to any other way of thinking.

In my sin, in our sin, we are not rational.

Sin is not rational, it's insane, it's irrational, it's suicidal.

So if it looks like there's no possible path from God's centeredness and justification

to a lawless life, that's a mirage.

There is a path from anywhere to anywhere in the mind of the flesh.

In the darkness of sin, 2 plus 2 is 5, and gospel plus justification is anti-nomianism.

But that's not probably what Steve is asking.

He probably knows this.

He wants to know, well, how might it lead there?

I mean, how might it lead there?

So let me just think out loud for a minute.

Let's start with the robust affirmation for gospel-centered life.

Yes, absolutely.

What else would you want your life to be centered on?

But the gospel.

And let's start with the robust affirmation of justification rooted sanctification.

Where else would you want to root your justification then in the fact that God has declared you

righteous before Him already?

...