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October
31, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10214912154852860
#Blind_to_Inconsistencies
#Plain_Contradictions
It
says:
Grace
Alone, the Only Method
"Our
justification and salvation are both solely by the sovereign grace of God and
not dependent upon any action or condition man provides."
Faith
Alone, the Only Means
"Our
justification before God is by faith in Christ alone, and not by works."
--------------------------
Do
you see some glaring contradictions between those two Reformed statements?
Let
me leave a few questions for your consideration:
1.
If justification is indeed solely by the sovereign grace of God, can it be by
man's act of believing at the same time?
2.
If justification is indeed not dependent upon any action man provides, then
what is that faith (man's act of believing) in Christ doing there?
The Protestants will retort, "but faith
is the gift of God; it is not an act of man!"
-
That gift enables a man to believe but his action/work of believing is the
necessary action to his justification by God, isn't it?
-
Believing in Christ is an action man provides; it is a work he does. Check
6:28-29.
3.
If justification is not dependent upon any condition man provides, then what is
that "by faith in Christ alone" - is that not stating a condition
that must be met for his justification by God to take place?
Means
- noun, an action, a method by which a result is achieved. (OED)
4.
What does faith, as the only means, meant to accomplish?
5.
What is the divinely ordained purpose of faith as the only means?
That's
THE question; if you have understood grace, you will give the right answer.
2Ti
2:7 "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all
things."
1Co
14:38 "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."
======
Molly
Ooi
All
too deep for me Bro Sing. Now I just want to go to church to worship God as He
alone is worthy of worship. In my quiet time, I just want to read the Bible on
my own, to abide in God, love Him, adore Him and hear His voice through His
Word. The Holy Spirit is my teacher.
We
need a church that is nearby & accessible so I can drive there, with a lift
for seniors like us with knees and back problems and also OKU-friendly (cos I
have OKU friends). Since our church has closed, we must continue worshipping
rather than not going to church at all. I believe every church is a house of
God for us to worship Him and have fellowship with other believers. Sermons in
my present church follow the books of the bible - now we are on Colossians.
Likewise scripture readings (now Exodus). We also read the Heidelberg
Confession. We don't go into what differentiates churches but focus on what unites them ie the Lord Jesus Christ. My elder says it's not for us to judge others. If we or they err, the Lord will deal with us and them.
Sing
Sister
Molly, I'm glad you and David are able to settle into a church to continue to
worship God.
No
gospel truth is too deep for a renewed mind to fathom. It involves simple
thinking and reasoning process.
Consistency
is a precious jewel we need to hold fast.
The
church in Ephesus is commended by the Lord for discerning and pointing out
liars.
Rev
2:2 "I
know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear
them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and
are not, and hast found them liars."
They
did judge others as liars. Pointing out errors is not judging others. Pointing
out errors is an act of love to those in errors, that they may repent of their
errors and turn to the truth of God.
James
5
19
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him
know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save
a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
You
and I are COMMANDED to judge, yes, judge righteous judgment.
John
7:24 KJV — Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
