Pilgrim, [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/hello.gif" alt="hello" title="hello[/img]
Here are some of my thoughts regarding some of the statements from John’s article. Although, I’m not quite sure I understood everything he is saying. I'm going to read the article a few more times. In any case, here are some initial comments.
In reply to:
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I have sought to conduct a conversation with brothers and sisters about the doctrine of justification by faith. Seeking to discuss this subject, especially with Reformed and Lutheran friends, has proven difficult.


That right off bat, raises my eybrow. Why would he have difficult discussing with reformed friends UNLESS he is espousing something different regarding justification ?

In reply to:
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Furthermore, most evangelicals have assumed a great deal about what Paul said in Romans and Galatians and want no part of opening up "new" questions by means of the text.


This could as well as come out right of N.T wright’s lips, who essentially says the same thing before discussing his own “fresh” look at Justification.

In reply to:
[color:"blue"]I am arguing this "faith" is one that works, one that cleaves, one that follows, one that obeys. I am arguing that making radical distinctions between faith and works, at this point, is both wrong and harmful (thus the non-Lordship errors and a host of related ones). Most Reformed proponents would say, "We are saved by the God-given gift of faith in Christ alone." Agreed! But we must biblically deal with the faith itself or we simply pour our meaning into a vitally important word. Since Luther, we have had a Protestant tendency to see faith as the exact opposite of works. I see faith as the exact opposite of unbelief and disobedience. (See such use in Romans again.) faith, in this sense, is a synonym for works, obedience, etc.


It almost seem to me here that JOhn is saying that "justifaction by faith" but then turns around and says that faith is sort of like works. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/shrug.gif" alt="shrug" title="shrug[/img]
Does not paul explicitly say in romans 3:28 that we are" For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
and also in 4:4,5 which clearly delineates between Trusting in God and Works.
"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness"


In reply to:
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I also deny that the "merit" of Christ saves me based upon his obedience fulfilling the place of my disobedience. (This is much closer to the real debate, which has to do with the idea of a covenant of works and how Reformed people want to employ this much debated and generally misused idea.)


I think here he is denying Romans 5:12-21. I am misunderstanding him?


in Christ,
Carlos


"Let all that mind...the peace and comfort of their own souls, wholly apply themselves to the study of Jesus Christ, and him crucified"(Flavel)