If I taste too many more delicious ironies, I think I will become a theological diabetic. The latest one is the way in which John Robbins has taken to denying justification by faith alone. Justification by faith alone is not accomplished by asserting justification by faith alone. Justification by faith alone occurs when a sinner trusts in Jesus.
There will be men who affirm justification by faith alone who will be in Hell, and there will be men who do not affirm justification by faith alone who will be in Heaven. This is because this particular tenet of the faith is true. But however true it is, and it is true, it is not our Savior. It, like every other faithful servant, points to the Savior. It can only point this way because justification by faith alone is true.
Requiring people to affirm justification by faith alone in order to get saved is like requiring a two-year-old to get a degree in electrical engineering before he is allowed to turn on the lights. Allowing men to be ordained who cannot explain justification by faith alone from the Scriptures, men like John Robbins, is like letting your two-year-old install your electrical system.
But some still do not get this basic distinction. When you point to a stick on the ground, a dog might mistake this signal, and look at your finger and not the stick. But the finger is pointing at something else.
Affirming justification by faith alone is a work. It is different than the sheer gift of God that is simply trusting Jesus. Affirming sola fide is a work that is most necessary for ordination, not for salvation. For some reason, John Robbins has turned this around.