Phat writes:
Jar actually advocates a Grace Gospel in that he affirms that everyone is saved (inclusivism) rather than having to accept Jesus (through the collective personality and beliefs of organized religion)
Its a works 'gospel' Phat - whichever way you want to spin it. Universal salvation as a start point but with the possibility of losing it if your works don't stack up - is a works based 'gospel'. No different than a 'gospel' which has you start out unsaved but gain your salvation by works. The emphasis is on YOU in both cases. And what YOU do.
You can spin a works gospel anyway you like but it remains a works gospel - whether you have it and can lose it or don't have it and can gain it.
quote:
Inclusivism posits that even though the work of Christ is the only means of salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with exclusivism in affirming the particularity of salvation in Jesus Christ. But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism holds that an implicit faith response to general revelation can be salvific.
I'm not sure that your "in other words" accurately reflects what this article is saying. It seems to me that it is saying only that a person need not explicity know of Christ in order to be saved. And I agree with that. For the way in which a person is saved is given to us: "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness". Abraham didn't know of Christ. Neither need the shepherd up the side of a remote mountain in Tibet know of Christ.
I can't see that there is even a need to know that what is believed stems from God. Only that what stems from God is believed. Once that criterium is satisfied, what God says is believed, then a person will have that belief credited to them as righteousness.
In other words, God has done the basic job of salvation for all of us. It is up to us to respond.
This is very Roman Catholic notion. Christ opened the doors of heaven so that sinners who were previously excluded might possibly enter (the basic work of salvation). But the door sits at the top of a stairs. It is for us to climb it. Roman Catholicism is a mainline works based Religion.
trust (Grace) or through effort (Works)
"Effort = Works" - alright. But "Trust = grace"? From whence this notion?
Another key issue which pertains to all of this is whether God can be known and if so, whether that is important for us and for Him.
I would have thought the issue is otherwise:
quote:
Matthew 7:22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The issue is not whether you think you know Christ. But whether Christ is sure he knows you.