Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: smithjh@moondance.CS.ORST.EDU (Jeremy Smith) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Minimum Requirements (Was Re: the Sabbath & Soul... Message-ID: Date: 11 May 91 03:37:25 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Oregon State University -- Math Department Lines: 40 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) writes: >James Quilty waxes eloquent on his interpretation that keeping the >commandments is not necessary to be saved, and that salvation is by >faith alone. Such an interpretation begs several questions: > >1) How do you explain Jesus' response to the lawyer about how to >have eternal life "keep the commandments?" (Including a list of several >of them). > >2) What other standard exists in the Bible to objectively determine >whether or not you are loving God and your neighbor? > >3) Why does it matter to you whether keeping the commandments is >required for salvation or not? Do you wish to do only the minimum? >Which ones (besides the fourth) do you propose to violate? > >4) Since you believe you are saved by "faith alone" explain why trying >to get this faith is any less "works" than trying to keep the law. >(This is not to imply that I don't also believe I'm saved by faith alone) > >Steve Timm There is a fine distiction that needs to be made here. It is true that we (Christians) are saved by faith (pistis in Greek) alone. Faith is our only basis for righteousness. We must believe (also pistis) that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. In the epistle of James we discover that faith is dead without works. So the question becomes: faith alone, or faith with works? But faith is the evidence of things not seen. Obedience/submission to God is the *evidence* of faith in us. So it is not our works that justify us but rather concurring in our will to the authority of Jesus Christ to make the rules, whatever those rules may be. And it is this obedience that bears witness of our faith. Loving one another just because you think it is a good idea does not get you past the pearly gates. Peace and Grace, Jeremy