Subject: Mark 16:16 what does it say? |
Bible Note: Greetings Grace and Truth! Good try my friend, but your handling of Eph. 2:8-9 doesn't work for 3 reasons. 1) First of all, the Greek text of Eph. 2:8 does not read 'through THE faith'. The phrase is 'dia pistews'. 2) Secondly, you ascribing to the noun 'faith' a meaning which it does not usually possess. 'Pistis' is simply the noun form of 'pisteuo', the word which we translate as 'believe'. So 'pistis' is simply believe or trust placed in someone or something. For instance, Romans 3:22 uses both the verb and the noun form together: "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference," Faith here, is nothing more and nothing less than belief or trust in Jesus Christ. Gal. 2:16 is pertinent to our discussion both because of the way it uses the word 'faith' and because of the message of the verse. It says, "know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Notice again that 'faith' here is believe or trust in someone - in this case, Jesus Christ. So, it is not correct to say that 'faith' in Eph. 2:8-9 refers to 'The Faith' - and make it artifically include 'works' which are explicitly ruled out in the verse as a means of salvation. 3) And finally, it violates everything that the New Testament says about the role of works in the life of a believer (Rom. 4-5, Galations, ect...). Concerning 1 Pe. 3:19-21, I agree with you tat baptism is a type, but I differ in my interpretation of this passage. Peter explicitly says that baptism does not cleanse the flesh - but is an answer of a good conscience toward God. So, when does baptism occur in the life of an individual? After one has been cleansed, in response to the command of Christ. But, baptism is not necessary for salvation - it is a response to God's grace, not a means of obtaining God's grace. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |