Great review. Good to hear both the good and what you have concern with and what you are struggling with. We do need to read the Bible with great care and thought

I also struggle with the word repentance. I see instances in the Bible where it means a turning and other instances where it means change of mind. Maybe it can be both depending on the context.

Just started this book and really appreciate the review! I don’t agree with how Bob interprets everything either (and like you there’s a lot im still trying to figure out). I really appreciate Bobs careful analysis with words in the Bible. It’s really catastrophic when we mis-define and misapply words! I came from Mormonism so I know 😂 talk about slaughtering definitions.

@RevReads

2 жыл бұрын

I am so glad you are doing the hard work to get down to what these words mean.

"Faith" actually has two meanings, an objective meaning and a subjective meaning. Please watch my introduction video "What is Saving Faith by Gordon Clark."

Interesting thoughts. In the Romans 10 part - doesn’t it say how can they call on Him whom they have not believed. Doesn’t faith come before calling on Him? That would make it seem that it is believers who call upon Him?

@RevReads

2 жыл бұрын

Based on Romans 10:1, salvation in this context is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is what Paul wants for his unbelieving Jewish brothers. I don't see anything in the context of this chapter where Paul tells us that he is now talking about a different salvation than the salvation of vs. 1. I see Paul simply saying that in order to be saved, you need to call out in faith for Jesus to save you. Why would you call on Jesus to save you if you don't believe in Him?

@ZandJ12345

2 жыл бұрын

@@RevReads thanks for the reply. You do have some good points however, I struggle with seeing calling upon him as the same as believing or as the condition to be justified (since being persuaded/believing and calling upon someone are two very different things). Is it possible that salvation is more than just being justified? as in 5:9. Salvation in that verse is “much more” than being justified by His grace. I need to do a study on calling upon him, but from my understanding Old Testament saints who were already justified (I assume) would regularly call upon the Lord. Understanding the purpose then may help understand the purpose in this passage?

Other words butchered: Fire/Elect/Lord/Soul/Judgement/Cursed

@RevReads

2 жыл бұрын

That's a good list. I like it.

Catholics have a view that God judges us based on the condition of our heart. When we are "saved" God makes our hearts immaculate. Instantly our heart is made PERFECT. But then if we sin again, we lose our "salvation." Catholics teach an INFUSED righteousness. Our hearts are instantly changed INTERNALLY, and God looks at our immaculate heart as the basis for declaring us righteous (what we would call JUSTIFICATION.) In contrast, Christians teach not an "infused" righteousness, but an IMPUTED righteousness. No one gets a perfect heart at regeneration. What we get is faith to believe in Jesus' finished work on the cross as the basis for forgiveness of sin. We are declared righteous (Justification) based on the cross, not our imperfect hearts. Now we do have a process of a changing heart. But it happens SLOWLY over time and never is perfect in this world. And it is not the basis for our forgiveness of sin. The Catholics base forgiveness on the condition of the heart, that is why they invented a theory about repentance that is INSTANT and PERFECT. Methodists have a similar type of teaching called "sinless perfectionism" (also called "instant sanctification.") Though the Methodists don't link it to forgiveness of sin, as Catholics and Lordship Salvation does.

Repentance is a change of mind (metanoia). Of course God does, indeed, change our mind. But Lordship Salvation teaches that our change of mind is the BASIS for our forgiveness of sin. Wrong. The change in our hearts is only in part and never perfect in our lifetime. Repentance is a PROCESS through sanctification. God does not look at our IMPERFECT heart, LOWER the standard of the law, and declare us not guilty. Rather, God looks to Christ's PERFECT finished work on the cross, and IMPUTES Jesus' righteousness to us. We do, indeed, have a change of heart, but that change of heart, though wrought by the hands of God Himself, is not the BASIS for forgiveness.