Comments for Of First Importance

Comment on Union preserved through faith alone by Union preserved through faith alone « Already Not Yet

Union preserved through faith alone « Already Not Yet — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:39:03 +0000

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Comment on “All true sanctification comes through the cross” by “Go to the Cross” « sheep fodder

“Go to the Cross” « sheep fodder — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:20:04 +0000

[...] “Go to the Cross” Posted on July 4, 2008 by sheepfodder “All true sanctification comes through the cross” [...]

Comment on What is salvation? by BIBLICAL THINKING ABOUT SALVATION « Christ-Driven Web Clippings

BIBLICAL THINKING ABOUT SALVATION « Christ-Driven Web Clippings — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:25:42 +0000

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Comment on We believe because we are saved by Bart Byl

Bart Byl — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:31:11 +0000

Lee, the entire book is in the public domain and available online.

Here’s the context (II.11.4):

The Scriptures and Christian experience teach us that the very faith and repentance through which we are saved are themselves the gifts of God. “By grace have ye been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8. The Christians in Achaia had “believed through grace,” Acts 18:27. A man is not saved because he believes in Christ; he believes in Christ because he is saved. Even the beginning of faith, the disposition to seek salvation, is itself a work of grace and the gift of God. Paul often says that we are saved “through” faith (that is, as the instrumental cause), but never once does he say that we are saved “on account of” faith (that is, as the meritorious cause).

Comment on We believe because we are saved by Lee

Lee — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:09:47 +0000

Dylan - excellent point, thanks! I think that an understanding of the context of Boettner’s quote would help here…

Comment on We believe because we are saved by Bart Byl

Bart Byl — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:40:24 +0000

We understand why some of our visitors were concerned by this quote. After all, Scripture clearly teaches in many places that we are not saved until we believe.

But, as Boettner points out, that very faith is part of the salvation that has been purchased for us by Christ.
That is good news!

Comment on We believe because we are saved by Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:51:04 +0000

This may be the first quote on this blog with which I’ve disagreed. Yes, God takes the initiative and the faith comes as a blood bought gift before we had anything but enmity toward God. But, it’s not salvation that precedes faith–it’s election and foreknowledge. A man is saved because he believes because he was foreknown and elected and predestined.