https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10201105942386177
December
5, 2013
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 without any
condition whatsoever, 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 grace and work in the above popular shibboleth!!! NARY
a reformed man understands the distinction between the two. But PBs should know
better!!!
-
So salvation by grace 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.
"
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 indeed!
-
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!