From:
sing
Date:
Mon, 29 Aug 2005 15:26:43 +0800
To:
Loh, Tang, Lee - Ipoh East RB Church
Subject:
studying "Pruning Seven Deformed Branches
Dear
Brethren,
I
am glad that you are gathering to discuss church matters, i.e. with regard to
my teachings as expressed in the 'Pruning' book, and my future involvement with
Ipoh East Church.
I pray that you will have a profitable time. I will suggest a few things for your consideration.
1. Endeavour to stick to the issues alone, and deal with the issues alone. It is so easy to be side-tracked by all sorts of things.
2. Avoid personality at all costs. Truth is not determined by personality, whether a renowned theologian or an ordinary pastor of a church.
3.
Be honest and open as you study and examine the Scriptures together.
All
scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine,
reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness. Be ready to be CORRECTED
and REPROVED in doctrinal matters too.
4.
And please don't end up quarrelling among yourself! Theological discussion can
be damaging to those who can't handle disagreement.
5.
Remember, the teaching of Scriptures summarised in the 1689 CoF is the
Doctrinal Standard of the Ipoh East Church. Study it and know it well. Believe
what you want but make sure it is consistent and in conformity to the
Scriptures as summarised in the 1689. CoF
6. Feel free to ask any question you like in relation to anything I have written in the book. I am not responsible for what others say of me. I am responsible for what I have written. Speak your mind.
May the Lord bless each of you as you study together. Regardless of what you have said and thought about me, and whatever decision you would make, I will bear no grudges and shall still love and respect each of you as dear brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I
remain your brother and servant of Christ,
sing
-------------
p/s I paste below a post I sent to many RB theologians, and am waiting for their reply. Perhaps you may like to consider my simple questions when you come together to study. When I receive some replies, I will forward them to you.
From:
sing <singlau@myjaring.net>
Date:
Sat, 27 Aug 2005 23:30:00 +0800
To:
Robert Oliver.
Cc:
Tom Ascol, Tim Curnow, Sinclair B.
Ferguson, Roger Fay, Richard Barcellos, Reformed Baptist Academic Press, Philip
Grist, Philip Eveson, Phil Collier, Phil Arthur, Peter Law.
Subject:
Saving faith, Justifying faith
Dear
Dr Oliver,
Hello,
and greetings from Penang, Malaysia.,
Please
let me ask something:
What
do Reformed people mean when they use these terms 'saving faith' or 'justifying
faith'?
Is 'saving faith' the faith that saves or the faith exercised by a saved person - i.e one having been effectually called to grace and salvation?
(Saving
faith receives and rests in Christ Jesus and His righteousness.)
Is 'justifying faith' the faith that justifies a condemned person, or the faith exercised by a justified person and thus evidences the justified state of the person?
(... 1689.11.2. "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love."
Is receiving and resting in Christ the same as being justified by God?
Or
is receiving and resting in Christ (saving faith) a saving grace exercised by
the person already justified?
In what sense is faith the alone instrument of justification? Is it the alone instrument to secure one's justification before God, or the alone instrument to manifest/evidence one's justification before God by His free and sovereign grace when one was ungodly and in enmity against God?
What do 'reformed' people mean when they say, justification is by faith alone? Do they mean the same thing as the framers of the 1689 LBCoF? Or have they put an entirely new unbiblical twist to it?
'Faith is not alone in the person justified.' Doesn't this mean that faith is a consequence/effect of justification, that personal justification precedes the grace of faith? Faith is one of the saving grace shown by a person already justified.
I am wondering whether the 'reformed' people are holding to the same beliefs of the Particular Baptists as summarised in the 1689 LBCoF.
I
asked because you are a reputable RB theologian.
I
would be pleased to hear your comments and thoughts.
Thanks.
sing
