tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post115984287925841000..comments2023-04-14T04:28:54.000-04:00Comments on Reformed Apologist: Obedient Faith Or Obedient Belief?Reformed Apologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-1199544621331252482008-01-28T13:45:00.000-05:002008-01-28T13:45:00.000-05:00Yes, I believe we are in 100% agreement. As I note...Yes, I believe we are in 100% agreement. As I noted in the other blog entry that is linked at the bottom of this one, if faith requires the cognizant apprehension of gospel propositions, then infants dying in infancy cannot be justified by grace through faith. Yet if faith is what *we* say, then faith is the gift of the propensity to believe God and when granted becomes the instrumental cause of our irrevocable justification. This faith will be exercised throughout the life of the Christian unto believing various truths (primarily the gospel), unto everlasting glory. <BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>RonReformed Apologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-67211775144136068852008-01-28T13:26:00.000-05:002008-01-28T13:26:00.000-05:00However, if what I say is true, that justifying fa...<I>However, if what I say is true, that justifying faith is the <B>propensity</B> to believe all of God's truth from a posture of being recreated, then it is "<B>by this faith</B>" one can believe in obedience; but faith itself is not obedient anymore than Adam was obedient by being created out of the dust of the earth or Lazarus was obedient by coming forth from the grave.</I><BR/><BR/>Ron, you’ve raised some great points here. It sounds like our understanding of “faith” is the same (or quite similar). Below is what I wrote regarding this issue on another blog (although I was focusing more upon the distinction between saving “faith” and “works” of obedience here). What do you think? Are we saying essentially the same thing or not?<BR/><BR/>-------------------<BR/><BR/>The WCF clearly distinguishes between the “grace of faith” -- which is the “the work of the Spirit of Christ” (WCF 14.1) -- and the various “acts” <I>that it produces</I> in the life of a believer: <BR/><BR/>“By this faith, <I>a Christian…acteth</I> differently, upon that which each particular passage [of Scripture] containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come.” (WCF 14.2)<BR/><BR/>The “grace of faith” is what <I>causes</I> the Christian to yield “obedience to the commands” -- obedience is <I>not</I> “part of the definition” of saving faith itself. This is precisely what Scripture teaches as well: “By <I>faith</I> Abraham <I>obeyed</I>…” (Heb. 11:8). “Faith” and the works of “obedience” it <I>produces</I> is clearly distinguished in Scripture!<BR/><BR/>“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith <I>apart from the deeds of the law</I>.” (Rom. 3:28)<BR/><BR/>“Therefore it is of faith <I>that it might be according to grace</I>.” (Rom. 4:16)<BR/><BR/>“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; <I>otherwise grace is no longer grace</I>. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” (Rom. 11:6)<BR/><BR/>Furthermore, “obedience to the commands” and “the principle acts of saving faith” are quite plainly <I>distinguished</I> from one another in the WCF:<BR/><BR/>“But the principle acts of saving faith are, <I>accepting</I>, <I>receiving</I>, and <I>resting upon Christ alone</I> for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.” (WCF 14.2)Roger Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350892815584257304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-66099411671523710822007-06-26T11:08:00.000-04:002007-06-26T11:08:00.000-04:00There is no temporal lapse between regeneration an...There is no temporal lapse between regeneration and justification. There's only a logical order to be considered. 1) A dead man who hates God cannot desire the object of saving faith, Christ. Accordingly, God must regenerate the dead sinner in order for him to embrace Christ in faith and repentance. When God bestows life, faith is granted. Unless a man is (first) born again, he cannot see (perceive) the Kingdom of God let alone enter into the kingdom of God. <BR/><BR/>RonReformed Apologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-1680753761735420342007-06-26T07:31:00.000-04:002007-06-26T07:31:00.000-04:00How can God regenerate a sinner before the sin pro...How can God regenerate a sinner before the sin problem has been dealt with (justification), and still remain consistent with His holy nature and divine justice? <BR/><BR/>If God can bestow life before the sin cleansing blood of Christ is applied, then the cross becomes far less than God's necessary action for reconciling sinners to a Holy God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-1161645590859495112006-10-23T19:19:00.000-04:002006-10-23T19:19:00.000-04:00Thanks Colin.I'll check out those groups!RonThanks Colin.<BR/><BR/>I'll check out those groups!<BR/><BR/>RonReformed Apologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-1161642933750433122006-10-23T18:35:00.000-04:002006-10-23T18:35:00.000-04:00Good article Ron! The topic is reminiscent of the ...Good article Ron! The topic is reminiscent of the "Lordship Controversy" from a few years ago.<BR/><BR/>If you have time, you are invited to the all-bahnsen forum:<BR/><BR/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/all-bahnsen<BR/><BR/>And the all-bahnsen-debate forum:<BR/><BR/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/all-bahnsen-debate<BR/><BR/>And the reformed christian culture forum:<BR/><BR/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reformedchristiancultureAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com