Faith saves, Right? We all know that a sinner needs "saving faith," Right?
Two passages that mention faith are from Galatians and Romans. It is common to read Galatians 2:16 and Romans 3:28 too narrowly as if the text only addressed “works of the law.” On this reading, one could not be justified by works done in obedience to the law but could conceivably be justified by faith works, and that would be wholly acceptable in this supposed view. Throw in a James two and a Romans two, to boot, slip in a statement about faith without works being dead, and you have successfully undermined the Protestant Reformation. Justification by faith alone will be an oddity with which we can dispense for a more robust theology of salvation: One by Faith and Works.
This has been championed in various guises and by famous Evangelical leaders. Federal Vision, Daniel Fuller, Norman Shephard, and to a degree, John Piper. All the while these people have maintained that they are within the bounds of orthodox soteriology. And many have embraced them as such. For example, Mark Jones, wrote a piece against Lee Irons defending John Piper. See this link: Defending Piper (Again) from "The West Coast Offense" - Reformation 21.
Accepting these heretical perversions of the gospel is a dreaded mistake, however. The problem with “works of the law” is not that they are of the law but that they are works period. When one compares the passage in Ephesians 2:8-9, it is clear that works are considered non-salvific because salvation is a gift. Even the faith, by which we sinners believe in conversion, comes from God, not of ourselves.
This is essential to understanding salvation, as Paul goes on in Romans to declare, “to him that does not work, but believes . . .” Hence, works have no place in salvation. Even when Paul reminds Titus [ 3:5-8] about how we are saved, it is the doctrine of Justification by grace that has preeminence. Not even a mention of faith is had! This is so because despite the popular saying about “saving faith,” it is not faith that saves. Faith is not a condition for salvation, nor is it a condition for justification. Christ saves. Faith is not the reason one is saved. Faith is the occasion of one’s salvation. In other words, one is saved when one believes, not because one believes. And because faith is a gift, and it is granted to the sinner to believe [and suffer for] Christ, God alone gets all the glory. Why must we go to lengths to defend this?
Because there is a more subtle danger that lurks within the theological constructs of contemporary evangelicalism. It is the specter of a different type of a garbling of the gospel. This time, it is the heresy of the age-old ‘works salvation model’ set on a different footing. This time God does not reward the works of the law, works in general, or even works of faith, but God does reward faith. Faith itself is the new work! People are bombarded with the notion that faith saves. But then, it is explained as a type of deal where God gives his part, Grace; and we give our part, faith. So in this co-operation salvation is achieved. This synergistic effort passes for the Gospel in so many churches today.
What is implicitly denied in this scheme, however, is the efficaciousness of the Cross. It is no longer Jesus the Savior, as it is Jesus the helper. The work of Christ is now deemed to be necessary, but not sufficient. Add some twists in the methodology department, and then preaching itself falls by the wayside. We are oblivious to the fact that the church has jettisoned the cross and its proclamation for the program and its entertainment. We have sold our birthright of Salvation by Grace for a new gospel, a pot of lentil soup sprinkled with humanism. Of course, we don’t call it by that name, humanism. We hide behind the labels of Christian sounding verbiage: The church of the Nazarene, The Southern Baptist convention, The Methodist church, etc. etc. Pick a denomination!
And so, supposedly as the experts of Christianity we in the churches should know exactly what the faith of Christianity is actually all about. But, remember, the Titanic was built by the experts. Similarly, the professionals and experts with their PhDs in theology have also been known to be in error. I am one of them! Martin Luther once exclaimed that he was a Doctor in Theology but did not know what remission of sin was. Thankfully, God finally taught him!
Sometimes, it takes a layman to see the tree in the woods. Our doctrine of salvation is no longer under attack from without, it is being decimated from within. Let us keep on guard for the ravenous wolves that graduate from our seminaries. Let us beware of the leaders that make the people err. Let us strive once again for the faith of God’s elect. And while we are doing this, let us not forsake the truth that all ‘our striving would be losing if not the right man were on our side.’ And because He is on our side, He grants us the faith to believe Him.
All Praise to God.
Theodore Zachariades
