Steve Wilkins is a pastor at Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church (now known as Church of the Redeemer) in Monroe, Louisiana, and a key figure associated with the Federal Vision (FV) movement. This theological movement gained prominence in the early 2000s and has stirred significant controversy, particularly within Reformed and Presbyterian circles. The Federal Vision emphasizes a unique understanding of covenant theology, baptism, justification, and the sacraments, which deviates from historic Reformed orthodoxy. Despite his influence, Steve Wilkins's teachings are grounded in serious doctrinal errors that undermine the biblical gospel, making him a false teacher who should be avoided.
The Problem of the Federal Vision's Covenant Theology
One of the central issues with Steve Wilkins’s teaching is his promotion of a distorted view of covenant theology. The Federal Vision blurs the distinction between the visible and invisible church, treating all baptized individuals as being in union with Christ in some sense, regardless of whether they have genuine saving faith. According to Wilkins and other Federal Vision proponents, baptism objectively unites a person to Christ, making them covenant members with all the blessings and benefits of salvation, at least for a time.
This teaching is contrary to the Bible’s clear distinction between those who are truly born again (the invisible church) and those who merely participate outwardly in the life of the church (the visible church). Scripture teaches that not all who are outwardly part of the covenant community are truly united to Christ (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 4:22-31). For example, in Romans 2:28-29, Paul distinguishes between the outward sign of circumcision and the inward reality of circumcision of the heart by the Spirit. Steve Wilkins’s view, by equating outward covenant membership with saving union, obscures the necessity of genuine, personal faith in Christ as the sole means of salvation (John 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:8-9).
A Confused Understanding of Justification
One of the most dangerous aspects of Wilkins’s teaching is his confusion regarding the doctrine of justification. The Federal Vision emphasizes that the final justification of believers is in some way contingent upon their covenantal faithfulness and obedience. While Wilkins may affirm that justification begins with faith in Christ, he teaches that a person’s standing before God is maintained through covenantal faithfulness, blurring the line between justification (a once-for-all declaration of righteousness) and sanctification (the process of growing in holiness).
This teaching is a direct denial of the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide). The apostle Paul clearly teaches that believers are justified solely by faith in the finished work of Christ, apart from any works of the law or human effort (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16). Our righteousness before God is based entirely on Christ’s perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice, which is imputed to us through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9). By suggesting that our final standing before God depends on our own faithfulness, Wilkins introduces a works-based element to salvation, which is contrary to the gospel and undermines the assurance and freedom that believers have in Christ (Romans 8:1; Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Danger of Sacramentalism
Steve Wilkins's view of the sacraments, particularly baptism, is another cause for concern. The Federal Vision often teaches that baptism is more than a sign and seal of God’s covenant promises; it is viewed as the means by which individuals are united to Christ, receive the Holy Spirit, and are regenerated, at least in an outward, covenantal sense. Wilkins's teaching implies that baptism itself imparts saving grace and confers the benefits of salvation to all who receive it.
However, the Bible teaches that while baptism is an important ordinance commanded by Christ, it is not the means by which a person is saved or regenerated. Salvation is by grace through faith alone, and baptism is an outward sign of the inward reality of the believer's union with Christ, which has already occurred through faith (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). The apostle Peter, for example, makes it clear that it is “not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God” that saves us (1 Peter 3:21). By teaching that baptism imparts saving grace, Wilkins places undue emphasis on the sacrament itself, confusing the visible sign with the invisible reality of salvation.
Wilkins’s Departure from Reformed Orthodoxy
Steve Wilkins's teachings have been formally condemned by several Reformed denominations, including the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which have identified the Federal Vision as a significant departure from the Westminster Standards and the historic Reformed faith. These confessions emphasize that justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and that the sacraments are signs and seals of God’s grace, not the means of imparting grace themselves.
The apostle Paul warned against any teaching that adds to or distorts the gospel of grace, saying, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). By introducing works into the equation of justification and confusing the nature of the sacraments, Wilkins promotes a "different gospel" that is fundamentally at odds with the true gospel revealed in Scripture.
Conclusion: Why Steve Wilkins Should Be Avoided
Steve Wilkins is a false teacher because his teachings on covenant theology, justification, and the sacraments distort the gospel of grace and lead people away from the simplicity and sufficiency of faith in Christ. Scripture repeatedly warns against those who promote false doctrines and urges believers to guard the purity of the gospel (2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Wilkins's association with the Federal Vision, his rejection of justification by faith alone, and his sacramentalist tendencies pose a real danger to those who seek to follow Christ according to the truth of God's Word.
The apostle Paul declared that "a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28), and any teaching that seeks to add works or covenantal obedience to the basis of our standing before God undermines the heart of the gospel. Believers must remain vigilant and discerning, avoiding false teachers like Steve Wilkins who lead others astray with doctrines that distort the truth of Scripture.
For these reasons, it is vital to avoid Steve Wilkins's teachings and to cling to the clear and authoritative teaching of the Bible, which proclaims salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. In doing so, we can stand firm in the true gospel that offers eternal life, hope, and assurance for all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.