ascund:
Greetings
I guess I’ll try this forum for a while. I’m a bona fide Free Grace Advocate. That would make me your bona fide opponent in theology.
Usually, when I enter into discussions on OSAS, people of your persuasion get violent and responses become volatile. But who knows what will happen? Let’s try it - again.
Very well, let’s
ascund:
For starters, has anyone actually done the exegetical preparatory work on the word “justification.” I assume Catholics can find Bible tools for Greek as easily as I can. If you have no clue, try the following link:
www.blueletterbible.com
Justification only occurs a few times. It is easy to see that justification is God’s activity alone. Humans are strictly passive recipients of God’s imputed righteousness. God’s declaration of righteousness happens at the moment of faith.
Let’s stop here and see if you guys can respond with a biblical investigation of the word justification. I’ll respond Friday Aug 5 with my own analysis. I’ve actually done this - but learning is best when you dig for it on your own.
The problem is that you cannot do an exegsis on a word seperate from the rest of scripture. There is only one valid interpratation of scripture, the one that takes into account the entirity of scripture.
If you isolate a letter then other christians are bothers not brothers.
If you isolate a word then we shall have other gods instead of shall not.
If you isolate a verse then the same thing happens. Let’s look then.
Paul says:
Rom 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn amongst many brethren.
Rom 8:30 And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. (DRB)
so then he also says:
Rom 1:17 For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith. (DRB)
and also:
Heb 10:38 But my just man liveth by faith: but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul.
Heb 10:39 But we are not the children of withdrawing unto perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul. (DRB)
and:
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (DRB)
and again:
Rom 5:1 Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: (DRB)
But this is only part of the story that the bible presents us with, for it is also know that:
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them. (DRB)
and:
Jam 2:17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Jam 2:18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (DRB)
For it is imposible for the believer to seperate works from faith, thus Paul told Titus:
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him: being abominable and incredulous and to every good work reprobate. (DRB)
and also:
Tit 3:8 It is a faithful saying. And these things I will have thee affirm constantly, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (DRB)
and elsewhere he says:
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised):
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another, to provoke unto charity and to good works: (DRB)
and Peter tells us:
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time. (DRB)
James also tells us:
Jam 2:24 Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only? (DRB)
Yes we are justified by grace alone, but we say also that we are justified by faith because faith is a gift of God:
Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (ESV)
continued…