Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: Hank, great post! I'm still sick, so what I posted to you was a little less voluminous than it might have been -- otherwise I might have said a few of things that you pointed out, or at least touched on them. There seem to be different levels of discussion here. There is the level of common English parlance on one side, and theological jargon on the other. Thank you, by the way, for the interesting information on the etymology of these words. Those sorts of things always fascinate me. I also agree with "precise diction" you mentioned. I am not sure, but I think this must characterize any discipline of study. At least that has been my experience in a number of fields. I can hardly imagine it being any other way in our study of the precious gift of the Word. Our love of God obligates us to be as careful as possible(2 Tim 2:15), especially with any discussion of salvation (Gal 1:8-9). After all, most of the cults are based on the re-definition of words (2 Pet 3:16). It is interesting that you mention hyper-Calvinism. I have a dear friend who did his doctoral thesis on hyper-Calvinism while in Scotland. He writes that Calvinism is a kind of fulcrum: On one side is an unbiblical Arminianism on the other an unbiblical hyper-Calvinism. Analysis shows that the watershed issue has to do with the responsibility of man. Arminianism elevates the responsibility of man as the most important ingredient of our salvation. Hyper-Calvinism removes the responsibility of man entirely from the equation. Calvinism makes a balance with the antinomy that man is responsible, but salvation is of the Lord. Anyway, you're right about sleep-inducing works of men. :-) I dearly love Jonathan Edwards, but reading the things he wrote can be difficult. Interestingly, I find that not to be the case with his sermons. I suspect that part of this has to do with the audience. When these guys wrote, they were discussing questions of theology on an academic level. One of my pastors says that theology is important for everyone, but the less it becomes a matter of "where the rubber meets the road" instead, becoming a study for its own sake, the less value it has. In other words, our studies must always result in a closer walk with the Lord, otherwise they are just intellectual exercises. In Him, Doc PS I sure wish I could just sit down and talk with you, Hank. You always teach me something new! |