Theology check...
Over the last several years, as I've started pursuing my doctorate, I have read a lot of really bizarro theology. The following quotation struck me as not quite so bizarro. In fact, I think it sounds pretty (refreshingly) good.
What think ye?
"It’s a central tenet of our faith and, for that reason, present throughout the entire Bible, that the book of Job strongly highlights. Human works, as Paul says, according to the revelation of Jesus Christ, do not justify, do not save; they cannot force God’s hand. That is the scope of his affirmation of “justification by faith” (Rom 3:28). Faith that saves is grace from the Lord. Entrance into the kingdom of God is not a right that is acquired, not even by the practice of works of righteousness; it is always a free gift. “By grace you have been saved,” says Paul to the Ephesians (2:5)."
What think ye?
"It’s a central tenet of our faith and, for that reason, present throughout the entire Bible, that the book of Job strongly highlights. Human works, as Paul says, according to the revelation of Jesus Christ, do not justify, do not save; they cannot force God’s hand. That is the scope of his affirmation of “justification by faith” (Rom 3:28). Faith that saves is grace from the Lord. Entrance into the kingdom of God is not a right that is acquired, not even by the practice of works of righteousness; it is always a free gift. “By grace you have been saved,” says Paul to the Ephesians (2:5)."
posted by Gary McDuda at 4:35 PM
6 Comments:
Looks like a pretty orthodox statement of the doctrine of total depravity and the reformation ideal of sola gratia.
Salvation by grace alone? What kind of "new" teaching is this? Is this the kind of thing they are filling heads now?
I've never looked at Job through that filter before, but how true. It doesn't matter how "good" or "righteous" we might be, the truth is at the very core, we are wicked sinners in need of the grace and forgiveness of God. Job 42:5-6 is Job's agreement with that truth. Praise God for His great loving kindess to us!
Nice quote. Affirms the total, absolute, and unquestioned soverignty of God over all matters of human faith and salvation.
Right on. Though, in practice, it's a lot tougher, at least for me. It's pretty easy to whole-heartedly affirm this for salvation, and then to fall into the Galatian trap of trying to do it on my own (Gal. 3:3).
Excellent Quote! Looks like someone else has also retired from blogging, though... =)
Blogging is harder than it looks. I keep trying.
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