Rick,
I do believe these men are saying that *faith* is nothing but a mental assent to facts. But when coupled with works, it becomes *saving*
One thing to consider is that the Lordship position is an outworking of Reformed thought. Consider these quotes from the Westminster Confession, and I'll try to explain:
X.1 (Effectual Calling)
All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
XIV.1 (Saving faith)
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.
XIV.2 (Saving Faith)
By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
XV.2 (Repentance Unto Life)
By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.
XVI.2 (Of Good Works)
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.
XVIII.3 (Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation)
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, [/u]in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
If you look at the underlined parts of the Confession, the Effectual Calling is portrayed as an enlightening of a person's mind to understand the things of God (facts), and a changing of his will (to obey).
Saving Faith is portrayed as believing that the things contained in God's Word are true (facts), and then to act differently upon those facts with obedience and trembling (works).
Repentance is portrayed as a sinner sensing the filthiness of his sins, and endeavoring to walk in the commandments.
It is said of Good Works that the end of them is eternal life.
According to the Confession, Assurance is not joined to believing, nor is it something we can have now, but can be attained by looking at our works.
Considering that all these men undoubtedly understand the Confession, it is very reasonably to conclude that they are, in fact, portraying saving faith as facts + obedience. And that only by looking at our works can we attain full assurance of saving grace.
If you look at Packer's Preface, he says faith consists of three parts - credence, commitment, and communion. One might think of credence as trust, in a way to say trust and commitment, but that is not what Packer says:
"it exhibits Christian believing as not only knowing facts about Christ, but also coming to him in personal trust to worship, love, and serve him."
So Packer's understanding of trust is not an aspect of believing, but is, in fact, obedience.
That is facts + works
I do believe these men are saying that *faith* is nothing but a mental assent to facts. But when coupled with works, it becomes *saving*
One thing to consider is that the Lordship position is an outworking of Reformed thought. Consider these quotes from the Westminster Confession, and I'll try to explain:
X.1 (Effectual Calling)
All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.
XIV.1 (Saving faith)
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.
XIV.2 (Saving Faith)
By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
XV.2 (Repentance Unto Life)
By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.
XVI.2 (Of Good Works)
These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.
XVIII.3 (Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation)
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it: yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, [/u]in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
If you look at the underlined parts of the Confession, the Effectual Calling is portrayed as an enlightening of a person's mind to understand the things of God (facts), and a changing of his will (to obey).
Saving Faith is portrayed as believing that the things contained in God's Word are true (facts), and then to act differently upon those facts with obedience and trembling (works).
Repentance is portrayed as a sinner sensing the filthiness of his sins, and endeavoring to walk in the commandments.
It is said of Good Works that the end of them is eternal life.
According to the Confession, Assurance is not joined to believing, nor is it something we can have now, but can be attained by looking at our works.
Considering that all these men undoubtedly understand the Confession, it is very reasonably to conclude that they are, in fact, portraying saving faith as facts + obedience. And that only by looking at our works can we attain full assurance of saving grace.
If you look at Packer's Preface, he says faith consists of three parts - credence, commitment, and communion. One might think of credence as trust, in a way to say trust and commitment, but that is not what Packer says:
"it exhibits Christian believing as not only knowing facts about Christ, but also coming to him in personal trust to worship, love, and serve him."
So Packer's understanding of trust is not an aspect of believing, but is, in fact, obedience.
That is facts + works
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