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Barry Shafer Responds to Mark Wuggazer
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Barry Shafer Responds to Mark Wuggazer
By Barry Shafer

 

Sincerely,

 

Barry Shafer

 

<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--> Gerhard Kittel, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 6, trans. and ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1964),  175.

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[5]<!--[endif]--> Verlyn D. Verbrugge, ed., The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 1027.

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[6]<!--[endif]--> Leon Morris, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1995), 296-297.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
  • gregstier 3/23/2008 5:53 PM
    Sorry, but I meant that the way of grace and the way of work are polar opposites (not the way of grace and the way of faith like I typed in my first comment.) Anyway, this is a crucial discussion. It was at the core of the expansion of the early NT church, at the core of what sparked the Reformation and should be at the core of the discussion today. Thanks!
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  • gregstier 3/23/2008 4:36 PM
    We have to be extremely careful in this area. This is the same argument that I've heard countless Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses use when it comes to justifying a works based approach to salvation. Since they can't make a case for salvation by works in the Holy Scriptures (other than ripping James 2 out of context)they have redefined faith into meaning something other than faith. They have sought to rob the gospel of the offense of the cross by infuse the idea of faith into some kind of work. But the way of grace and the way of faith are polar opposites and cannot be merged (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9) Fundamentally the word believe means to trust, to rely, to depend. In other words faith means just that...faith. The entire book of Galatians was written to counteract the notion that faith alone in Christ alone was not enough for salvation, the circumcision needed to be included. But Paul reminds the Galatians that if they add one thing to simple faith they should go the whole way and emasculate themselves. Strong words.

    Sure once the Holy Spirit invades a life he will begin the transformation process and the result will be a new desire for righteousness. But it is not this desire or the good works that follow that justify us before God. It is faith alone.

    The very first church council (Acts 15) was over the defense of faith alone. Let us not add to it or redefine it. Instead let us embrace it and preach it. The whole notion of faith alone is part of the offense of the cross. It is what makes the self righteous sinner cringe because it doesn't seem fair. But that is the core of grace. It is not fair. It is a gift of God, not by works so that nobody can boast.
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