Wow, I am truly amazed, humbled, and thank God that this little website I originally created to be notes to myself has already received 10,000 hits! In commemoration, I have listed 10 online articles, online audio, and offline books, in no particular order, that have helped shaped the way I have thought and if you read them will make you smart (I promise!).
By the way, you really should be reading and listening to these resources instead of mine.
Online Articles
2. Salvation in the Old Testament by John Feinberg
3. Is God for Us or for Himself? by John Piper
4. Are there Two Wills in God? by John Piper
5. Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction ? by Greg Bahnsen
6. Justification: The Contrast Between the Biblical Teaching and Roman Catholicism By William Webster
7. The Nature of God - The Tri-Unity of God by James White
3. Is God for Us or for Himself? by John Piper
4. Are there Two Wills in God? by John Piper
5. Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction ? by Greg Bahnsen
6. Justification: The Contrast Between the Biblical Teaching and Roman Catholicism By William Webster
7. The Nature of God - The Tri-Unity of God by James White
8. Making Disciples of All Nations - Part 1 by John MacArthur
9. Spiritual Gifts: Definitions and Kinds by James F. Stitzinger
10. A Brief Introduction to the Canon and Ancient Versions of Scripture by Michael Marlowe
9. Spiritual Gifts: Definitions and Kinds by James F. Stitzinger
10. A Brief Introduction to the Canon and Ancient Versions of Scripture by Michael Marlowe
Online Audio
1. The Use of Your Time by Steve Lawson (go to 2005)
2. Interrogating the Legalist Within by C.J. Mahaney (go to 2005)
3. Why Gethsemane? by C.J. Mahaney (go to 2005)
4. History of Philosophy and Christian Thought by John Frame (access through itunes)
2. Interrogating the Legalist Within by C.J. Mahaney (go to 2005)
3. Why Gethsemane? by C.J. Mahaney (go to 2005)
4. History of Philosophy and Christian Thought by John Frame (access through itunes)
5. Systematic Theology by S. Lewis Johnson
6. Crucifixion of Jesus by Steve Lawson
7. A Sermon on Matthew 7:13-27 by Paul Washer
8. James White’s Debates and Lectures on Textual Criticism
9. The Sermons of John Piper
10. The Sermons of John MacArthur
6. Crucifixion of Jesus by Steve Lawson
7. A Sermon on Matthew 7:13-27 by Paul Washer
8. James White’s Debates and Lectures on Textual Criticism
9. The Sermons of John Piper
10. The Sermons of John MacArthur
Books
1. Van Til’s Apologetic by Greg Bahnsen
2. No One Like Him by John Feinberg
3. The Many Faces of Evil by John Feinberg
4. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
5. The John MacArthur Study Bible by God and John MacArthur (of course!)
6. The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
7. The History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards
8. The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
9. Justification of God by John Piper
10. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper
14 comments:
Tap-tap-tap...is this thing on? Stopping by for a visit, having seen your comment over at Pyromaniacs. I am also a Kansas Citian and am deeply concerned by the activities and influence of the IHOP.
Would love to chat!
If you got Qs on IHOP - drop a line!
FYI:
I wrote an article about them here:
http://thepredestinedblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/ihop-manifesto.html
Hi.
I stumbled upon this blog quite by accident, and happened to have a look at a couple of the links you provided. I was surprised to read in the link concerning Biblical Justification, that no man works together, in unison, with God/Jesus. Am I reading that right? Is that really accurate?
@Flippy
If you are talking about HOW we become justified - the instrumentality or the vehicle by which justification is delivered is through our faith. So in the bestowing man and God have an active part. Just note that this is initiated by God.
If you are talking about the reason WHY then yes, nothing man did influenced that decision.
Right. Ok. So the Reformers and the Catholics agree on that then?
Man can do nothing without the grace of God - God always initiates and enables, as it were, and man responds (or doesn't, as the case may be). So man is justified by a free act through the graciousness of God to which man only need respond through faith.
The difference between Reformed and Catholic is then that Catholics believe in faith working through love, rather than just faith 'alone'. Yes?
@ Flippy
Justification in the Roman Catholic (RC) sense is a continuous act and one becomes actually becomes more righteous as time goes on ie via works. Thus you can lose your salvation via mortal sins and you can continue to atone for sins after you die in purgatory. You are continuously infused with grace.
For evangelicals its instantaneous legal declaration of your freedom from sins and imputation of righteousness from an external source ie Christ's and not your own works. You do not become more righteous, but you are given Christ's.
For RC it is justification = Faith + Works
for evangelicals it is justification = Faith alone
****
An easier way to see this is the answer to this questions: Who takes credit for your salvation
RS: God + Man
Evangelical: God (to Him be the glory alone).
So, Evangelicals believe that justification, once attained, cannot be lost? But Catholics believe that justification has to be maintained?
Concerning the concept of 'increasing' righteousness - if Evangelicals believe that Christ's is their own, then, presumably, when it comes to faith, there cannot be any 'measure' as such. You either have it, or you don't?
@ Flippy - Strictly speaking not all evangelicals say that your faith cannot be lost, but I believe (as you may see) it is an inconsistent view of the Bible and Justification. Many, including the Reformers, believe that you cannot lose your salvation. Rome does believe you can lose your salvation. Also remember that we are righteous via Christ's imputation of His righteousness and in Catholicism you actually continually made righteous (ie not imputation).
Regarding faith, there are different measures of faith. What you are pointing out is that we don't have justification in measure, rather we are either justified or not before God. Same with Christ, He is our God, brother, friend, savior, redeemer, head, or not.
Sorry - I'm not clear on whether you're saying that you do believe we can lose our faith/saved status, or cannot?
Regarding imputed righteousness, then - the question seems to lie on whether righteousness actually is imputed or not.
If there are different measures of faith, then what 'measure' of faith is required to be justified. I mean, if we are talking quantities, then how does that work?
Does the early Church teach sola fidei? Can you direct me to any fathers who do? I've dipped into McGrath's volumes on justification, and he doesn't seem to be able to come up with anything before the reformation.
Thanks for your answers, and the conversation, by the way.
@ Flippy.
I do not believe you can lose your salvation, but just wanted to add a footnote that not all evangelicals agree on this.
You are also correct in identifying the importance of imputed righteousness.
Faith is a gift given by God. Once that faith is given to you, then you are justified, no matter how small that faith may be. This is a question called ordo salutis (order of salvation) if you want more information.
Finally, the early church DEFINITELY believed in justifcation by faith alone or as it is commonly called in latin sola fide.
Here a some links for you regarding this topic
[1] http://members.truevine.net/shadrach/just.htm
[2]http://www.shepherdsconference.org/pulpit/4356/long_before_luther/
[3]http://www.apuritansmind.com/Justification/EarlyChurchJustification.htm
[4]http://www.apuritansmind.com/Reformation/Reformation.htm
God Bless
Hi.
Thanks for the links. I haven't had a chance to have a proper look at them yet, but have glanced at the first link, and am glad to see that Clement of Rome is quoted there as, I'm sure you know, Clement (along with Ignatius and Polycarp, I think) were taught by the apostles - Clement by Peter and Paul.
In the meantime, before I get back to you on the patristics, can I just ask a couple of quick questions concerning other things?
1) I notice that you are very critical of Roman Catholicism, but I don't see any comments on the Eatern Orthodox. Considering that they agree 99.9% with each other, why the lack of EO criticism?
2)I'm quite stunned by the notion of one not being able to lose one's salvation. I don't think that that position is Biblical, but am open to the fact that I may be wrong, of course. Anyway, as you believe that it is indeed what is taught in Scripture, can you tell me how you would read this passage from Matthew, for instance?
'But whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea...See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man as a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.' Matt 18:6;10-14 ESV.
These are little ones who have faith, and one goes astray and has to be brought back, although it is clear that it may not be 'found' as such. This seems to state clearly that salvation can be lost, does it not? I'd be interested to hear your answer.
Thanks again, and God bless you abundantly, too.
@ Flippy
Sorry for the late response, I have been very busy.
For your first question, about Eastern Orthodoxy, the claims of proclaiming the wrong Gospel of faith + works certainly applies to them, there is just not as much interaction with that group and evangelicals. Also, you are very gravely mistaken to say they are 99.9% alike, in fact, they are INCREDIBLY different in their views of the Trinity (filioque debate), structure of the church (Pope vs 7 autocephalic churches), sacraments (chrismation vs confirmation), views of the atonement, icons in worship, etc., etc,. etc. These 2 religions are very different and nowhere near 99.9% alike.
As for losing one’s salvation. This parable is not a good example, as the main point is not about losing one’s salvation, but the rejoicing of a sinners conversion. I think one of the most common interpretation errors Christians make is to take verses that only slightly touch on the subject and not the verses that actually deal with the subject. Let me list for you some verses that explicitly cover the topic of whether you can lose your salvation:
John 6:. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Do you see what Jesus says here? That all the believers that the Father has given Jesus He will lost none! And what is “eternal” about our eternal life if we can simply lose it?
Even clearer:
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
No one can snatch us out of Jesus’ hands.
Paul goes onto say in Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He alsojustified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Salvation is one long process that has already been accomplished.
Paul repeats the idea of being kept in multiple verses:
1 Timothy 2:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
1 Corinthians 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philppians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
The question you can ask yourself is “What kind of a Father would dump his children?” If earthly father’s don’t dump their children, how much more so does our Heavenly Father who loves us so much. Seriously, we need to think about how much our Father (repeat Father) loves us as children that He would sacrifice Jesus! How can he say He will dump us, esp. if Jesus has died for those sins?
Also, what credit do we have in salvation? If you say it is your work (in this case anything that keeps you from sinning), some of the credit goes to you and not all to God. In fact, what you would be effectively saying is “God, thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice, but it is not enough for me” b/c you are saying your works need to be credited to your account so you can go to heaven. See here in Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Can you imagine standing before God the Father and Jesus Christ and say that Jesus death on the cross was not enough and that b/c of your works (baptism, communion, and/or good works outside of the church) They owe you salvation now? And that those works you would hold up to God’s face is filthy used menstrual rags (thats what God calls our good works in Isaiah 64:6 “...And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment...”)? Can you imagine offering used menstrual rags for salvation? This is the heresy of justification of faith plus works. A terrible offense to God, but more importantly a plain and rank admission that Christ’s death on the cross was not enough.
Hi.
Thanks for the response - please don't apologise at all as:
a)I would expect nothing less than a considered response which takes time, obviously.
b) I, myself am busy too, and have not/cannot (and should not for the reason above) respond with haste.
I'll get back to you about your comments as soon as I can get them all down on paper, as it were.
I'd like to thank you, once again, for the dialogue. It's very nice to be able to ask and receive candid answers objectively and charitably, and I take no offence at all, of course, at your criticism of my own contentions, and hope that you will receive my own rebuttals in the same way. It is important to be direct - ambiguity, and beating around the bush, are not a luxuries we can afford when dealing with matters of life and death.
I'll get back to you as soon as I am able.
God bless you.
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