Going to hell “unconfessed sins”: Grace is not a false movement (5)

6 responses to “Going to hell “unconfessed sins”: Grace is not a false movement (5)”

1. 

   Diana Lesperance

   September 12, 2013

   I like your blog title. Although we enter in through a narrow gate, it opens up to a wide space of grace and freedom!

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   1. 

      scorchingwords

      September 12, 2013

      Amen!

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2. 

   joel

   September 16, 2013

   I’ve been reading this debate with interest. Not to sound like a broken record, but this does seem like a repeat of my earlier comment–different New Testament authors have different views on Grace. Matthew and James both seem to advocate salvation by works.
   When reading these books, it’s important to remember that none of the New Testament writers realized they were writing the New Testament. Matthew never imagined his Gospel would someday be bound up and put into the canon next to Paul’s letters, and that future generations would read what he wrote through the lense of Pauline theology. Matthew intended for his book to be read as a complete and independent entity, as did James.
   Of course when you read everything canonically, then you have to find some way to synchronize what Matthew and James said with the letters of Paul. But this is not a good historical approach to reading the Bible.
   If you read Matthew and James as independent books, and not as part of the New Testament Canon, then you definitely get the sense that these authors did not want their audiences to believe in salvation by Grace alone.

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   1. 

      scorchingwords

      September 16, 2013

      Thanks for your comment again, Joel. I’m glad you are grappling with this ultimate question: are we saved by grace as a gift from God, dependent on nothing we ‘do’ but only our faith in what Christ has done, or are we justified by what we do i.e our ‘good works’.

      Paul was clear, ‘not by works, so no one can boast’ (Ephesians 2:8). Now, either James was at odds with Paul, or somewhere we are missing what James was really saying. This is where it becomes important to delve into the original language and cultural context.

      James says: “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteouness, therefore he was justified by what he did, and not just by faith”. Isn’t James saying Abraham’s work is his belief, his faith? Which seems to tie in with John 6:29 when Jesus says: “The work of God is to believe in the one He has sent.”

      James also talks about the ‘perfect law.’ Was he talking about the law of Moses, or the law of Grace, through Christ? This is where the text and historical / cultural context requires deeper study.

      I’m also certain James correlates with Paul when he says ‘Faith ithout works is dead.’ He’s not talking about works that make us righteous before God, but works that, as Paul says, God has prepeared in advance for us to do, that, as Jesus says, ‘people may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.’

      Thanks for your comments. You have posed some interesting questions.

      Grace and Peace.

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      1. 

         ed

         September 16, 2013

         Hi. I saw your blog while searching for J. Prince. I also saw you are in Cambodia. I like what I read. I have friends there I’d Iike to introduce you to. I think it might be good for people to get together and talk. These friends sort of more or less say what you say. I’d also like to chat. I was interested in O church for two years but didn’t find one. So could you respond by email? Thanks.

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      2. 

         scorchingwords

         September 17, 2013

         I’d love to meet other Grace people here in Cambodia. They are hard to come across, and it’s tiring fighting the good fight. Nowander Paul encouraged Timothy to keep fighting for ‘grace’ ! Email me at agapetoi@hotmail.co.uk

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