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A La Carte (12/3)
- 12/03/09
- 7
Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge
An interesting article here: “Shortly before the Manhattan Declaration came out I was very disappointed by a discovery I made at the back end of the second edition of J. I. Packer’s Rediscovering Holiness. This new edition contains an afterword entitled “Holiness in the Dark: The Case of Mother Teresa.” I scanned it quickly then, but did not make time to give it a thorough reading until this morning. Very disappointed is an understatement.”
Simeon Trust Toronto
On March 3-5 the Simeon Trust will lead workshops on biblical exposition at Bayview Glen Church in Toronto. The workshops will focus on apocalyptic portions of Scripture.
Climategate
The Telegraph provides a roundup of the latest in the growing scandal surrounding climate change.
An interesting article here: “Shortly before the Manhattan Declaration came out I was very disappointed by a discovery I made at the back end of the second edition of J. I. Packer’s Rediscovering Holiness. This new edition contains an afterword entitled “Holiness in the Dark: The Case of Mother Teresa.” I scanned it quickly then, but did not make time to give it a thorough reading until this morning. Very disappointed is an understatement.”
Simeon Trust Toronto
On March 3-5 the Simeon Trust will lead workshops on biblical exposition at Bayview Glen Church in Toronto. The workshops will focus on apocalyptic portions of Scripture.
It Will Cost You Everything
Climategate
The Telegraph provides a roundup of the latest in the growing scandal surrounding climate change.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I write books and blogs for fun while doing web design and consulting for a living. I worship and serve at 
Published in 2008, this book
This is a guide that calls men,
This review of the bestselling
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This is a guide written
Comments (7)
Here’s a serious question I’m wondering if someone else has an answer for: If salvation comes by faith alone, can Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, etc receive salvation simply by their repentance and belief in Christ’s death on their behalf and resurrection? If they believe that additional good works are also necessary, does this negate their faith? If they misunderstand the nitty-gritty theological underpinnings of justification, does this negate their faith?
I guess what I’m getting at is, if salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, not by anything that we can do, does it not follow that there’s also nothing we can do that negates our saving faith? (Including being a part of a wayward theological tradition?)
For example, were the Judaizers in the early church truly saved? Or did they negate their salvation when they insisted that the OT ceremonial regulations were still necessary?
If I’m way off, or jumping to conclusions, let me know :)
I am with you all on this one. Seems that Packer may have ventured into folk theology here. One cannot speak badly about Mother Teresa… she is a “Saint.” One may feel free to praise her for her good works. She has a lifetime of them.
But it is all together a different story to assume someone’s relationship with God based on those works. Much easier to to assume based on the lack of any works. I would not presume to see into anyone’s soul.
Bottom line: Works do not save. Jesus does.
I really like the “It Will Cost You Everything” message, but it really bothers me that there are typos in it (your for you’re multiple times, etc.)
And I agree, the new version of that book with the Theresa section is very unfortunate.
CG,I think that grace can definitely cover bad theology (As long as it isn’t a confusion on something like the deity of Christ) but the danger of the theological error that you are referring to is that someone who believes additional good works are also necessary will put at least a portion of their faith in their selves. Self justification to any degree is a very dangerous thing for a Cristian to be attempting. It most likely will end in pride or despair. Hopefully despair because if they end up going down the pride road they will most likely end up on the wrong side of this parable.
CG,I think that grace can definitely cover bad theology (As long as it isn’t a confusion on something like the deity of Christ) but the danger of the theological error that you are referring to is that someone who believes additional good works are also necessary will put at least a portion of their faith in their selves. Self justification to any degree is a very dangerous thing for a Cristian to be attempting. It most likely will end in pride or despair. Hopefully despair because if they end up going down the pride road they will most likely end up on the wrong side of this parable.
Sorry for the double post. This is the link that the word parable was supposed to go to,
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+18+9-14
For by grace have you been saved through faith, not of works least any man should boast, it is a free gift from God. salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, to add good works to this is a very dangerous position to take, it is to alter the terms issued by Christ, it is to assume that Christ finished work on the cross was not sufficient for our salvation. if works can save, how much work would it take to save someone? if someone were very religious, with out Christ, and did many good works, could they be saved? the bible clearly says no. if you accept the free gift from God, He will give you new desires. you will want to do good works, not for salvation, but to please your new Master.