IS SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE?
|
For a PDF copy of the entire debate, click here Don't have Acrobat Reader? Get it FREE
|
SECOND NEGATIVE ESSAY
William J. Stewart
It is a pleasure to continue in this discussion of salvation, specifically whether or not it is by "faith alone". I thank Mr. Peacock for his participation, and each reader for the kind attention given to the arguments made by both debaters. May our desire in this endeavour be to seek, know and perform nothing by the truth of God's way in our lives, and that, to the salvation of our souls.
After using approximately 3,000 words to affirm his position of "faith alone", Jason concludes his essay by saying, "...it was a mistake on my part to defend the presupposition that faith alone saves us..." I appreciate this honest statement. Indeed, the doctrine of salvation by "faith alone" is found nowhere in the Bible. With such a conclusion, I am somewhat bewildered at his attempt throughout the essay to maintain the position. Thus, let us turn our attention to answering the affirmative arguments made.
JOHN 3:16 AND CONTEXT
Jason introduced for us six possible explanations of the water in John 3:5. As impressive as it might be to know of six interpretations, all I wanted to know was what the water is. Jason rejects the most obvious explanation, namely that the water means water. Rather, he opts for an obscure explanation, formulated by an appeal to Ezekiel 37 and Isaiah 44. Mr Peacock says that Nicodemus, being a religious leader in Israel should have immediately picked up on this imagery used by Jesus. Will Jason tell the Lord what He meant to say? It is quite likely that John 3:13 may be in response to the riddle of Proverbs 30:4 as Jason suggests, however, the Lord made no mention of Ezekiel or Isaiah in this text, directly or indirectly. That is Jason's supposition.
In Jason's theology, water can not mean water, for if it does, then his doctrine of "faith alone" is proven false by the Lord. Thus, there must be some alternate explanation -- Jesus couldn't have meant water when He said water. Why not just accept the Lord at His word? The context does not call for some alternate, figurative explanation, unless there is a presupposed doctrine (ie. Faith alone) needing to be supported.
MR. PEACOCK'S FAVOURITE TEXTS
I was happy to entertain Jason by totaling his usage of Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 5:1. However, aside from the amusement value, there was a definite purpose. He considers these as conclusive 'proof-texts' for his position. And so, not surprisingly, he returns to them time and again. With his second affirmative essay, Mr. Peacock has now added another 'proof-text', Philippians 2:13. The two essay count now stands at Romans 5:1 (10 times), Ephesians 2:8-10 (13 times), and Philippians 2:13 (5 times).
Unfortunately, Romans 5 and Ephesians 2 do not support Jason's position. Neither say that we are saved by "faith alone". Jason himself acknowledges his dilemma in his second essay, "...I cannot find that word alone..." He cannot find it because Paul did not put it there. Paul did not put it there because Christianity does not teach salvation by "faith alone".
Jason expresses concern over what I believe Romans 5:1 to say. Very simply, I believe it teaches that we are justified by faith. Not "faith alone", nor "faith plus works". All I can assert from the text is that we are saved by faith. However, it is my responsibility as a diligent Bible student to consider and accept what the whole Bible says about man's salvation.
In his analysis of Ephesians 2:8-10, Mr. Peacock wrongly declares, “...obviously grace and faith can be used interchangeably.” Certainly not. Thayer defines grace as “...kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved...” He identifies faith as “...belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God...” [1] If the words can be used interchangeably, the Paul wrote, “...by grace you have been saved through grace...” Or “...by faith you have been saved through faith...” To further illustrate that one word cannot be substituted for the other, consider just a few examples:
- "...to him who works, the wages are not counted as faith but as debt..." (Romans 4:5)
- "...we have access by faith into this faith in which we stand..." (Romans 5:2)
- "...have grace in God" (Mark 11:22)
- "...grace is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
- "...as the body without the spirit is dead, so grace without works is dead also." (James 2:26)
I commented above on Jason's avid use of Philippians 2:13. Four of the five times he used this text, it was intended as a 'catch all' argument. He need not make a point, just simply insert Philippians 2:13, and his point is made. However, let us consider what Philippians 2:13 is saying.
The text came into the discussion as a result of my inquiry "...what did Paul mean when he wrote, '...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...' (Philippians 2:12)?" So far as I can tell, Jason did not respond, except by pitting 2:13 against 2:12. Jason would have us believe that God alone works out our salvation; that we have no part in it. Verse 13 does not negate the command of 2:12, but rather stands as the basis upon which we should make an effort. The responsibility to work out salvation is on the individual. God does not act for us, but compels us and supplies us with the wherewithal to act. It is a statement like that of Romans 2:4, "...do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" God's good pleasure is that we repent and serve Him (work out our own salvation), however, He will not force us against our will, but beckons us with His goodness.
FAITH AND WORKS
Mr. Peacock holds to his statement "...faith is God's gift given to us, apart from anything we do." Yet, he agrees with Paul that "...faith comes by hearing..." Either he must maintain that God does the hearing for us, or he has become inconsistent. The simple fact is, we receive neither faith nor salvation without doing something ourselves. However, Jason believes that if we do something to affect our own salvation, we negate the sovereignty of God. I fully accept the sovereignty of God; what I deny is the puppetry of man.
Jason makes the "natural man" of 1 Corinthians 2:14 an unregenerate (non-Christian). He does not accept that the "natural man" is one who looks through carnal eyes rather than spiritual. He rejects that Paul's statement "...I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal..." (3:1) has any relationship, saying it is not part of the context. Two verses separate the two statements. If that is not contextual, I don't know what is! The comparison in 2:14 is "natural man" to "spiritual". Paul's assessment of the Corinthians was that they were not "spiritual people but...carnal". Again, Paul's point in 2:14 is not that we must be Christians to know what God would have us do, but rather that we must look with spiritual eyes, not carnal.
ABRAHAM ON FAITH AND WORKS
My friend is unsettled over my focus on words. For that, I do not apologize. If he can show me the passage that says salvation is by "faith alone", then show it. If not, then get rid of the word 'alone'. Paul says that "...a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28). Jason would have us believe that this means "faith alone". Paul's statement excludes justification by obedience to the law of Moses (3:21); it does not exclude justification by obedience to the faith. The law of Moses served as the tutor for the Jews, but now, the faith has been revealed (Galatians 3:23). My opponent and I agree that we must believe before we can be obedient to the faith, however, he desires to put the cart before the horse; teaching that people are saved by faith (alone), before they have obeyed the faith (Acts 6:7; Romans 6:17; Hebrews 5:9).
Jason is correct, Abraham's faith was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6) before he offered Isaac to the Lord (Genesis 22). In fact, it was before he was circumcised (Romans 4:10-12). Let me ask, was Abraham's faith accounted to him for righteousness before or after he had obeyed the Lord? The Hebrew writer tells us, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8; cf. Genesis 12:1-5).
CALVINISM AND "FAITH ALONE"
Mr. Peacock charges me with "...turning this debate into Calvinism vs. Arminianism..." Being neither a Calvinist nor an Arminiam, I would have no interest in such a discussion. Further, may I remind Jason that he, being in the affirmative, devoted 20 percent of his first essay to total hereditary depravity rather than "faith alone". In return, I focussed 20 percent of my first essay to answering his false Calvinistic doctrine.
Jason agrees that one must accept or reject, as a package, the five points of Calvinism. Since he proceeds to give 'proof' for total depravity, I'll assume he accepts all five points. Therefore, rather than employing any more time on Calvinism in this present debate, I would be happy to discuss the points of Calvinism, one by one, with Mr. Peacock in a series of written debates.
REPENTANCE, OBEDIENCE AND JUSTIFICATION
Jason continues to place the cart before the horse, affirming that we are justified before we either repent of our sins or obey the Lord's command to be saved. He supports his position, not with Scripture, but by saying, "...it only is logical..." and again, "...this is common sense..." Mr. Peacock's logic eludes me.
My friend's problem is that he wants to place salvation at the point of faith. We have no disagreement on the necessity of faith. The Bible clearly tells us it is needed (Hebrews 11:6). However, what Jason has been unable to show us from the Bible is that justification results from "faith alone", preceding repentance and obedience. If he will show me from the Bible that justification precedes repentance and obedience, I will believe it.
Jason makes the statement, "...if it is true genuine saving faith it will produce repentance and obedience..." Indeed, genuine faith will produce repentance and obedience, however, salvation is not realized until after repentance and obedience (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 5:9). Someone cannot stand justified before God while still dead in sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). It is necessary that we repent (2 Corinthians 7:10) and be obedient to the gospel (1 Peter 4:17), that we might be forgiven of our sins and thus stand justified before the Lord.
JAMES ON FAITH AND WORKS
In response to Jason's brief comments:
- 1. We agree that James is talking with people who have faith;
- 2. We agree that true justifying faith produces good deeds;
- 3. We agree that a faith without works will not justify;
- 4. Comments on Philippians 2:13 under MR. PEACOCK'S FAVOURITE PASSAGES.
In his first essay, Jason wrote, "Mr. Stewart, you might think that James is saying faith and works together justify..." As I said before, I say again, I plead guilty. Will you likewise agree with the Bible writer and plead guilty to your own charge? James asked the question, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" (2:14). Throughout the text, emphasis is placed upon the answer:
- "...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (2:17)
- "...do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (2:20)
- "...a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (2:24)
- "...as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (2:26)
The only instance where my friend will find the phrase "faith alone" (actually "faith only") in the Bible is in James 2:24. However, James does not support Jason's proposition, but negates it. James says, "...not by faith only..."
GRACE THROUGH FAITH...NOT OF WORKS
In response to the analogy in my first essay, Jason says "...God chooses us...", providing Ephesians 1:11 as support. I thought Jason didn't want this to turn into a discussion of Calvinism. Yet HE brought up Total Hereditary Depravity, and now introduces Unconditional Election into the discussion. Perhaps we can address that topic in a future discussion?
Oddly, Mr. Peacock's statement has absolutely nothing to do with my analogy. The analogy dealt with a free gift, not predestination. I asked if it is possible to receive an undeserved gift, and yet have to DO something to receive it. The illustration presented a man giving his son the gift wrapped keys to a new car. Note, the young man must:
- 1. Unwrap the keys;
- 2. Read the enclosed note to determine where the car is located;
- 3. Secure transportation to the car dealer's lot;
- 4. Inquire at the dealership where the car is parked;
- 5. Go to the car.
Did the car cease to be a gift? Did he earn the car by the things he DID? Jason avoided these questions, choosing rather to point out some 'flaws' in my application of the analogy. He contends that the analogy fails to acknowledge the sovereignty of God. As I have said, I fully accept the sovereignty of God; what I reject is the puppetry of man. Jason rejects man's free will (Deuteronomy 30:19) and God's desire that all men be saved (2 Peter 3:9), calling it sovereignty. The Bible speaks of God's sovereignty, but does not turn God into a puppet master as Jason does. His position is nothing more than Calvinism creeping back into his affirmative argument on "faith alone".
Again, God has offered the gift of salvation. We do not deserve it. By no amount of works can we earn it. However, God demands our obedience in order that we might receive it (Romans 6:17). Our obedience does not nullify God's gift, it secures it for us.
CONCLUSION
I was delighted to see Jason confess in his closing remarks, "...it was a mistake on my part to defend the presupposition that faith alone saves us..." I appreciate his honesty in this regard, and hope that he will set aside this false doctrine in exchange for God's plan to save man. Indeed, faith is essential for salvation, but not exclusive. The Bible reveals many things that work together for our salvation; several provided by God to make salvation possible, others are man's response to God's wonderful gift. Surely we can see that the New Testament does not teach that one is saved by "faith alone".
Endnotes
1. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp 513, 666.
|
