tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235549594203987257.post9126096093925207046..comments2018-01-28T14:31:27.045-08:00Comments on No Reserve 'Chute: Saving Humans via the Faith of Demons? Part 1Pete Chadwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144443315077769540noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235549594203987257.post-13692110436158342482013-08-21T08:31:25.691-07:002013-08-21T08:31:25.691-07:00What's interesting is that it's very diffi...What's interesting is that it's very difficult to pin down just exactly what someone means by "true faith will 'ALWAYS' produce good works." It turns out that this is an extraordinarily ambiguous statement. Just how literally can we take it? If we took it REALLY literally, then anyone who sins even once doesn't have true faith. After all, one can hardly to good works by sinning, and if "always" really means "always" then the commission of a sin would be one moment when good works were not being produced.<br /><br />So it can't mean that… but what CAN it mean? Does always actually mean "every now and then?" Does it mean "frequently?" Well then HOW frequently? As you know, this becomes a BIG mess in a BIG hurry if you go down this road. Ultimately the person who takes that view is forced to reduce the claim all the way down to the notion that, at the end of that person's life, if they were a true believer, they will be able to exhibit at least ONE good work.<br /><br />But what does THAT do to the notion of "by their fruits you will know them?" It totally destroys that idea, does it not?<br /><br />Thanks again for the comment, Nick.Pete Chadwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144443315077769540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235549594203987257.post-20679307600103729582013-08-20T13:19:21.150-07:002013-08-20T13:19:21.150-07:00I remember being indoctrinated at church with the ...I remember being indoctrinated at church with the cliche: It's by faith alone that we are saved, but that faith is never alone; it is always accompanied by good works. This one & "by their fruits shall you know them" were pushed heavily in this legalistic church we attended. It always bothered me, especially the dogmatic asserting that true faith will always produce good (in a subjective sense) works; as though this was a guarantee rather than legalism leavening the dough & neutralizing the believer's usefulness. Glad to see you take this up. You're doing a great job so far. Can't wait for the next installment. --NickPanurgenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10880200460329834425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8235549594203987257.post-2887285103084322672013-08-19T20:26:24.970-07:002013-08-19T20:26:24.970-07:00Good discussion. And such a cliff-hanger conclusio...Good discussion. And such a cliff-hanger conclusion! Good job. Deana Chadwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17904002435811922875noreply@blogger.com