Acts 3.16

I will begin with this scripture to prevent from posting in too great a length. More will be added concerning the context as needed.


"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Acts 3.16

In this scripture we find:

'...his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong,...'

who is referred to at: "his name"

it is given: "through faith in his name"

Which "hath made this man strong"

It is this faith which has made the man strong.

But further we read: '...the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.'

I read this as 'him' is Christ, this makes the faith which is by him (Christ) hath given him this perfect soundness...

Others read this to say it is the faith of the man which has brought this soundness, yet this faith would have its source in man and not in the object of faith, thus this faith is from a source of depravity. Being from Christ it is not depraved but empowered such that it is able to bring 'this soundness'.

Now, if you say this faith is what enables the ability of Christ (bearing in mind Christ is the second person of the Trinity, and within this office he has fulfilled the redemption, yet he is one in the Godhead equally), to bring this soundness.

Yet saying this, you then deny the limit you place on God to save apart from faith.

We, called calvinists, believe this faith has its source in the eternal God and it is manifested in believers when it is given to them.

This is not contradictory to the responsibility of man, unless you place all your emphasis on this responsibility and none on the redemption worked in Christ at the Cross.

In our system the whole of salvation, including justification, redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, the whole of the work is completed in Christ.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Everybody needs a good laugh.

Doesn't change my belief.

yelsew,

Your post lays, even according to your own words, something very foreign to scripture and leans toward popery. You believe Peter's faith? perhaps Peter's obedience in this instance played a role, but not Peter's faith, taken and applied to this man, who may or may not have ever heard the Gospel, though he is in Jerusalem, and lame at the Temple gate, do you suppose he only begun to be carried to this place only after the crucifixion of Christ? According to your statement, this is the logical conclusion. BTW, I limited the scriptural context because of previous difficulty with lengthy posting and ability to find convenient time to read and reply.

Thanks for the reply.

Scott, perhaps you are correct and this is posted toward the free-willer, which is a different system than Arminianism. But, and if I am wrong here correct me, the Arminian teaches the only way to perservere is by remaining stedfast in the work, thus this, at least to me, betrays the thought to be relying on the faith being generated from within man and not finding its source from Christ.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas