It's interesting to me that even though the passages you quoted, which included 'belief', also mentioned 'baptism' as a necessity, you skipped right over baptism. Belief, repentance, and baptism are all a part of Peter's answer to the question 'what shall we do to be saved' in Acts. The three are all actions that we MUST do to be saved. Hebrews 11 discusses so many heroes of faith, and all of them are commended for their ACTIONS, which fulfilled their faith and belief. Today, we also, must confirm our belief and faith by our action of obedience, which includes baptism. Salvation is a free gift from God, but we have to 'reach out' and take it.
"The word “believe” often stands for the entire response to the gospel of Christ...." Agreed. That has to be the case. Otherwise the Scriptures are in hopeless contradiction. Belief saves (Ac. 16:31), and yet baptism does, too (1 Pet. 3:21). Belief brings about remission of sins (Ac. 10:43), and yet baptism does, too (Ac. 2:38; 22:16). Belief is the precursor to receiving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and yet baptism is, too (Ac. 2:38; cf. Mt. 3:16). The belief under consideration in all these passages must be a belief/faith that is "perfect"--that is, that has been completed by obedience (Jas. 2:22). If interested, some thoughts on this same topic can be viewed here: https://bibletruths.substack.com/p/faith-salvation-right
You say, "But I think there is a sense in which it [faith only] is true." That we are justified by faith is certainly true, but that is not the question. The question is, "Are we justified by faith ONLY." You did not address this, and that is the issue with denominationalism. "Only" and "alone" is "to the exclusion of all else and all others." Thus the theology of "faith alone" is true in no sense, for the simple reason ONLY and ALONE excludes all else, vis., grace, obedience and faithfulness.
I've given a lot of thought to the question of which bits of theological information we must understand correctly in order to be born again. It seems there are two separate lists:
1. All true Christian doctrines, as outlined in the Bible (primarily in the New Testament), and
2. The things we can't get wrong
I would suggest that one can be wrong about the virgin birth, for example, and still be born again. It seems accurate to say that Jesus' virgin birth is an important bit of information, but that being wrong, incorrect, or misled about it wouldn't disqualify anyone. How would you respond?
My tentative conclusion is that anyone can begin a right relationship with God on the basis of this one verse: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
I'm no fan of easy-believism, to be sure... but it seems the list of things we must get right - at least initially - may be no longer than that. What do you think?
This was broken down very well, thanks.
It's interesting to me that even though the passages you quoted, which included 'belief', also mentioned 'baptism' as a necessity, you skipped right over baptism. Belief, repentance, and baptism are all a part of Peter's answer to the question 'what shall we do to be saved' in Acts. The three are all actions that we MUST do to be saved. Hebrews 11 discusses so many heroes of faith, and all of them are commended for their ACTIONS, which fulfilled their faith and belief. Today, we also, must confirm our belief and faith by our action of obedience, which includes baptism. Salvation is a free gift from God, but we have to 'reach out' and take it.
"The word “believe” often stands for the entire response to the gospel of Christ...." Agreed. That has to be the case. Otherwise the Scriptures are in hopeless contradiction. Belief saves (Ac. 16:31), and yet baptism does, too (1 Pet. 3:21). Belief brings about remission of sins (Ac. 10:43), and yet baptism does, too (Ac. 2:38; 22:16). Belief is the precursor to receiving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and yet baptism is, too (Ac. 2:38; cf. Mt. 3:16). The belief under consideration in all these passages must be a belief/faith that is "perfect"--that is, that has been completed by obedience (Jas. 2:22). If interested, some thoughts on this same topic can be viewed here: https://bibletruths.substack.com/p/faith-salvation-right
Great pushback on "easy believism". Far too few "pastors" are even saying the word repent these days!
You say, "But I think there is a sense in which it [faith only] is true." That we are justified by faith is certainly true, but that is not the question. The question is, "Are we justified by faith ONLY." You did not address this, and that is the issue with denominationalism. "Only" and "alone" is "to the exclusion of all else and all others." Thus the theology of "faith alone" is true in no sense, for the simple reason ONLY and ALONE excludes all else, vis., grace, obedience and faithfulness.
Good stuff, Jameson.
I've given a lot of thought to the question of which bits of theological information we must understand correctly in order to be born again. It seems there are two separate lists:
1. All true Christian doctrines, as outlined in the Bible (primarily in the New Testament), and
2. The things we can't get wrong
I would suggest that one can be wrong about the virgin birth, for example, and still be born again. It seems accurate to say that Jesus' virgin birth is an important bit of information, but that being wrong, incorrect, or misled about it wouldn't disqualify anyone. How would you respond?
My tentative conclusion is that anyone can begin a right relationship with God on the basis of this one verse: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
I'm no fan of easy-believism, to be sure... but it seems the list of things we must get right - at least initially - may be no longer than that. What do you think?