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timothy
timothy
9 years ago

Pepsi logo looks like the Obama logo–communist soda, that’s what it is! (:

Beautiful take on Chesterton, Tolkien, Lewis. I concur.

mg
mg
9 years ago

Pastor Doug, I’m afraid I was left with a lot of questions about exactly what you were claiming: What if the original question were reworded along these lines: Can someone who does not believe in salvation by faith alone be saved by faith alone? Can someone who is resting in Christ’s work + his own work be saved by Christ’s work? Are you saying that the inability to score 100% on a justification quiz means that we are all to some degree resting on “Christ’s work plus”, regardless of what we affirm? Or are you saying that regardless of the… Read more »

rorwal
rorwal
9 years ago

What about Galatians, where Paul says that those holding to another “gospel” are anathema, that Christ is of no benefit to them — and this is the “gospel” of faith-plus-works? The “Score 100% on a doctrinal exam in heaven” argument doesn’t deal with the real question. The real question is, if Chesteron and Tolkein believe the Roman gospel that says we have faith and grace, yes, but we are continually justified before God based on our works, and without our works no one of us will be justified (Trent’s language on justification calls works the cause, and not merely the… Read more »

bethyada
9 years ago

I found the last part a little interesting in that God can use pagans to edify us. As Lewis said Christianity is 100% true and Paganism 100% false was incorrect (and turned him away from Christ as a child). So good can come from those who are not saved in God’s greater scheme (I am aware that rejection of Christ tends one towards accepting falsehood). I think the Austrians are more correct in their economic theory than the Keynesians and have good to teach us though I am not ware that they were saved. mg, I am aware Doug has… Read more »

Eric Stampher
Eric Stampher
9 years ago

And while zygotes have a terrible time even grasping the concept of faith, can still be full of it!

Eric Stampher
Eric Stampher
9 years ago

About your candidate for ministry:

Ain’t seeing his interest in actually pastoring almost as important as his having his doctrine down pat?

I talk to many a “pastor” who wants to cloister up and study 20 hours a week, then fly up to the pulpit and preach an hour a week, and sometimes even reach out to the flock directly and personally for 20 minutes a week.
That’s pastoring?

jay niemeyer
jay niemeyer
9 years ago

This was outstanding! Thank you. “Because the Protestants are right, Catholics can be saved.”

bethyada
9 years ago

Eric, it may be one of these necessary but not sufficient qualities?

Valerie (Kyriosity)
9 years ago

The clear answer to Darren’s false dichotomy: Diet Dr Pepper.

mg
mg
9 years ago

Pastor Doug,
Thanks for taking the time to respond — that was helpful.

Barnabas
Barnabas
9 years ago

If Old Testament saints can be saved by faith then certainly Catholics can.

Jane Dunsworth
Jane Dunsworth
9 years ago

Valerie, Dr. Pepper is a different category from Coke and Pepsi. That’s like answering “Catholic or Protestant?” with “Republican!”

And diet ought not even to be named among us.

jigawatt
jigawatt
9 years ago

Where I come from, it doesn’t matter if you’re drinking a Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, whatever. If it’s non-alcoholic, sugary (real or fake) and carbonated, you’re drinking a coke.

Johnny
Johnny
9 years ago

This is one important lesson I learned (mostly) from Pastor Wilson. It applies to the Calvinist/Arminian debate as well. If what we believe is true, then we can cut our brethren who believe otherwise some slack.

David Smith
David Smith
9 years ago

Brilliant! Thanks, Pastor Wilson! We in the (Universal) Church come to Christ along different paths, each with its own obstacles, pitfalls, etc. The bottom line, though, is the ultimate location of my growing and developing faith. But the fact that my faith is growing and developing presupposes that there are elements of error and immaturity (heresy!); so why indeed, while holding as best I can to the truth I know, can’t I cut my Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Arminian, etc., brethren some slack? Furthermore, give any of our Calvinist churches the same amount of time the Catholics have had to add… Read more »

Matthew Paul Abel
Matthew Paul Abel
9 years ago

Rorwal- I think it was already addressed: sound doctrine does not save a person. If we all had to understand and articulate a sound doctrine of the justification (not a perfect articulation) – much less then go live it consistently… well, God help us all. Actually, He did just that and more. This is why a poor understanding and articulation of justification and then an inconsistent life from a Calvinist or a Catholic does keep either from redemption. (Raised hand…) Pastor Wilson, will you please check my work? If it’s bad, then rorwal and I both need to hear the… Read more »

Matthew Paul Abel
Matthew Paul Abel
9 years ago

Hah! Should’ve indeed checked my own work:

“…does NOT keep…”

Like I said, good thing we’re not judged on our inarticulations.

Jane Dunsworth
Jane Dunsworth
9 years ago

Rorwal, I stand even more than Matthew in need of having my work checked, but here’s my shorthand way of thinking about the problem you raise: A person can have faith in the right thing, with a wrong understanding of how that faith works, what it accomplishes, and what else may be going on at the same time. The Catholic may believe that “works are necessary for salvation” as an accurate description of how the gospel works, but if he believes that those works are accessed and perfected by faith in Christ, and his faith is indeed in Christ to… Read more »