What? So many different "this way alone"? |
Blatant Contradictions...
Here is a popular statement loved by the reformed folks... and some PBs.
-- "Salvation is by God's grace (a gift). It is through faith (not of ourselves). "Plus works" is a blatant contradiction." --
... except for some obvious and deformed confusion!
1. Salvation is the gift, not God's grace. God's grace speaks of the manner in which He provided, and bestowed that salvation, i.e. freely, and to ill-deserving recipients.
2. Salvation which is the gift of God is through faith.
- But this faith is popularly understood as man's act of believing. That's a very serious error!
- Salvation which is the gift of God is eternal salvation.
- Salvation which is through faith (man's act of believing) is temporal salvation.
- The popular notion mixes sovereign grace and human work in this popular shibboleth!!! NARY a reformed man understand the distinction between the two. But PBs should know better!!!
- So through faith (popularly understood as man's act of believing) is indeed a blatant contradiction!!!
3. The eternal salvation which is the gift of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ , i.e. "the fidelity, faithfulness, the character of one who can be relied on." http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4102&t=KJV
4. Faith, the act of believing, is a work of righteousness performed by a child of God, an elect ALREADY SAVED. Therefore, if that eternal salvation is through faith, then that salvation is indeed through a work of righteousness, therefore a blatant contradiction!
- Yes, though saving faith is a grace worked in the heart by the indwelling Holy Spirit, it is the child of God who does the act of believing. It is his work, a work required by God! See John 6:28-29.
Amended statement:
-- "Salvation (the gift) is by God's grace (the manner the gift is provided, and bestowed). It is through faith (the fidelity) of Christ. "Through faith" (as popularly understood) is a blatant contradiction." --
Away with reformed sounding shibboleths defiled and polluted with blatant contradictions!