Greetings and blessings to all my brothers in Christ Jesus.
The Bible tells us that “boasting is excluded because the law requires faith” (Rom 3:27). So then it would follow that faith is not works, for boasting is absent when talking about faith. In other words, there is no proclamation of 'self accomplishment' when we speak of faith (according to the Bible).
If “we are justified by faith apart from works” (Rom 3:28) then it follows that faith is not works; for it explicitly says that faith is “apart from works”. If we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law (Gal 2:16) then it is the case that faith is not works.
If the “one who does not work but trusts…their faith is credited as righteousness" (Rom 4:5). In Romans 4:5 the concept of "work" is contrasted against "but trusts". Then "but trusts" is associated with "faith". Therefore, faith/trust is not "works".
The entire theme of the Bible tells us that "works" and "boasting" is not "faith". They are opposites. The entire theme of the Bible tells us to have faith because there is only one thing absent of "works" and "boasting" and it is "faith".
So when did one espousing "faith" ever become a "works based" theology? I get it when one wants to assert that you cannot merit one's salvation through one's works. But the Bible is very clear that "faith" is not "works". John Calvin, the foundation the Reformed movement appeared to see this very clearly. He formulated "faith" to be "Faith, then, brings a man empty to God," (Calvin). What is Calvin saying man is "empty" of when he brings only faith? Calvin is saying that when man brings only faith he is empty of boasting. Calvin even says about man's part, that is faith, "Ought we not then to be silent about free-will, and good intentions, and fancied preparations, and merits, and satisfactions?" Calvin here is making a distinction between faith, which is empty, and boasting about free-will.
One might disagree on whether faith is "given" or "enabled" first or that man already has the ability of faith and God must first make His offer. But faith and man having faith is biblical. Faith is not works. Faith is not boasting. If you are boasting about your faith...well, that might be something else. But simply suggesting what the Bible tells us, that we must have faith and if we do He will credit it as righteousness.... is not boasting or works based.
So when did we drift so far from Calvin and start asserting that "faith" is "works based" and contains "boasting" and "merit"?
Peace to all my brothers that I agree and disagree with.
The Bible tells us that “boasting is excluded because the law requires faith” (Rom 3:27). So then it would follow that faith is not works, for boasting is absent when talking about faith. In other words, there is no proclamation of 'self accomplishment' when we speak of faith (according to the Bible).
If “we are justified by faith apart from works” (Rom 3:28) then it follows that faith is not works; for it explicitly says that faith is “apart from works”. If we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law (Gal 2:16) then it is the case that faith is not works.
If the “one who does not work but trusts…their faith is credited as righteousness" (Rom 4:5). In Romans 4:5 the concept of "work" is contrasted against "but trusts". Then "but trusts" is associated with "faith". Therefore, faith/trust is not "works".
The entire theme of the Bible tells us that "works" and "boasting" is not "faith". They are opposites. The entire theme of the Bible tells us to have faith because there is only one thing absent of "works" and "boasting" and it is "faith".
So when did one espousing "faith" ever become a "works based" theology? I get it when one wants to assert that you cannot merit one's salvation through one's works. But the Bible is very clear that "faith" is not "works". John Calvin, the foundation the Reformed movement appeared to see this very clearly. He formulated "faith" to be "Faith, then, brings a man empty to God," (Calvin). What is Calvin saying man is "empty" of when he brings only faith? Calvin is saying that when man brings only faith he is empty of boasting. Calvin even says about man's part, that is faith, "Ought we not then to be silent about free-will, and good intentions, and fancied preparations, and merits, and satisfactions?" Calvin here is making a distinction between faith, which is empty, and boasting about free-will.
One might disagree on whether faith is "given" or "enabled" first or that man already has the ability of faith and God must first make His offer. But faith and man having faith is biblical. Faith is not works. Faith is not boasting. If you are boasting about your faith...well, that might be something else. But simply suggesting what the Bible tells us, that we must have faith and if we do He will credit it as righteousness.... is not boasting or works based.
So when did we drift so far from Calvin and start asserting that "faith" is "works based" and contains "boasting" and "merit"?
Peace to all my brothers that I agree and disagree with.
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