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Join Michael Patton, Tim Kimberley and Sam Storms as they discuss whether or not one can lose their salvation.
[display_podcast]
Join Michael Patton, Tim Kimberley and Sam Storms as they discuss whether or not one can lose their salvation.
8 replies to "Theology Unplugged: Problem Passages 10 – Do Works Justify?"
“Do works justify?”
Ah…no. They don’t.
Yes.
Do any of the speakers think so? I assume that Sam and Michael think not.
If works justify…then why the cross?
Why bother?
I believe there is a great deal of confusion between the work(s) of the cross, in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, and the work(s) of obedience in the life of the Christian believer. This is inclusive of repentance which Jesus stressed a lot in his earthly ministry. Luke 13:1-5 speaks about an act of obedience, repentance, as a necessary change of heart. The following quote may be helpful: “REPENTANCE Change of mind; also can refer to regret or remorse accompanying a realization that wrong has been done or to any shift or reversal of thought. In its biblical sense repentance refers to a deeply seated and thorough turning from self to God. It occurs when a radical turning to God takes place, an experience in which God is recognized as the most important fact of one’s existence.”
Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., Butler, T. C., & Latta, B. (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (1375–1376). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
“…the work(s) of obedience in the life of the Christian believer.”
Might as well be a Catholic.
Same stuff. Repackaged.
_
Repentance isn’t a work that we do, anymore than faith is.
No…God does it all. He’s not dependent upon us for anything.
@ Steve, Dude where is the love in that? I would like to think of myself as catholic, but not Roman Catholic. I don’t believe in the magisterium or the dogma either. I agree that God is not dependent upon us for anything, but let’s not get so hard core on terminology, a little grace here is in order. I was simply stating that obedience is a matter of mind and heart, and I agree that it is not a work in the generally accepted tenure. Peace out man, It’s all good…
In Colossians, etc. Paul uses a specific term, works of the law. Obedience to Mosaic law does not justify, otherwise, we should all be Jewish. Jesus said that to enter the Kingdom, you must be born again. This only happens through faith. And do I need to cite the passage about Abraham? He was justified by his faith, even before the law was given! This testimony in scriptures rises to the level of doctrinal truth, I believe.
Oops! I said, Colossians, but I meant Galatians. Sorry! Also, in more than one place, we are admonished to not use our liberty in Christ for wayward purposes, which indirectly states that our justification is positional and permanent in nature – it is not contingent upon our works to maintain it.
Therefore, works do not save, and lack of works do not nullify our salvation, either.