One of my favorite parts of writing a blog is when I get to sit back and "host" conversations between earnest and thoughtful respondents. If you have been following the comments on my last few "Kingdom" posts, you will have undoubtedly read Kevin's articulate critique of my position. I am unconvinced about his emphasis on obedience as a requirement for salvation but have yet to take up a direct response.
Meanwhile, one of my former professors from Fuller Theological Seminary and the President of Chrysalis Ministries, John Dettoni, wrote me a response to Kevin's comments. Since he is currently in Manila teaching pastors and other Christian leaders, he was unable to successfully post his comments. Since I happen to agree with Dr. Dettoni, I decided to post them myself with his permission and simply add my "amen" to them.
If this website can link good Christians from across the spectrum (and the world) in thoughtful conversation, we will all be the better. Thank both to John (whom I know well) and Kevin (whom I don't but appreciate his attention and devotion) for their contributions.
Grace, Faith, Obedience....
Are all necessary and in this order to "be saved?" to be declared righteous? to be justified? Hmm, seems like we have a reversion to Roman Catholic theology. I cannot find in the books of Romans or Galatians any such troika. Unless I am mistaken (along with the Reformers) salvation is by faith and faith alone. Surely, faith produces works of righteousness and our good works demonstrate our faith. Without grace and faith, there can be no righteous works, but more importantly "righteous works" without grace and faith are worthless. By over emphasizing obedience (works), one seems to be slipping if not falling into the religious teaching of a works-righteousness.
Also, I cannot imagine Luther or Calvin agreeing that salvation is grace and faith plus works. Seems to my understanding of what a blogger on this site has written that he has abandoned the key, core foundations of the Reformation and has reverted to a faith plus works-righteousness.
I do think that by emphasizing "obedience" as a necessary ingredient in salvation (I call it good works or works of righteousness), one tells people that good works are as important for salvation as grace (God's action) and faith (our action and God's action since believing faith is a gift from God along with salvation). I do not see this. If someone wants to characterize the Kingdom of God/Heaven as obedience that is equal to holiness, fine. Just don't suggest that 100% obedience is possible, even with the infilling of the Holy Spirit, unless a person wants to move from works-righteousness to perfectionism. This one blogger does say that obedience is required for salvation.
If the blogger does believe literally what I understand is his thought, viz, "Evangelicalism denies the necessity of #3 [obedience] for salvation and therefore is false Christianity" then we have added obedience/works to grace and faith. We re-word “The righteous one will live by faith...” into the righteous one will live by grace, and faith, and works or righteousness. This is not my understanding of Reformation theology. He has added to the Gospel a requirement that is absent from the epistles and I think from the Gospels as well. Certainly Jesus never told Nicodemus to "be born again" AND do good works of righteousness. There is nothing in the Gospel of John as I read it that suggests the necessity of obedience for salvation. If we are truly born of the Spirit, then we will produce fruits of righteousness. But to say that all 3 are necessary for salvation -- wow! That is to change the whole theology of the Reformation! If a person can do that, what stops him or her or anyone else from deciding some additional criteria for salvation, like tithing, or church attendance, or....???!!
I think this person has gone too far in trying to remedy a Protestant misunderstanding. Baby and bath water are all gone out the window!
To make sure I am clear: I am not down playing works of righteousness. I am saying that they are to follow grace and faith. If they don't then there was no faith! There is always grace and mercy since those are the characteristics of the Trinity. Faith must produce righteous living; if it doesn't then it is not faith. The parable of the 4 soils comes to mind, especially soils 2 & 3. Also Hebrew 6 and 10. There is nothing wrong with challenging people to "examine themselves to see if they are truly 'in the faith'" (2 Cor 13:5-6). But to say that there is a requirement for salvation that has 3 parts - that is too much for my Reformation theology to accept without protest!
Somehow this reminds of the discussions that we had in seminary 1000's years ago between salvation and discipleship: can one be truly saved without becoming a disciple? Can transformation (1 Cor. 5:13), new creatureliness be separated from following Christ as Lord, from indeed living out the Kingdom of God/Heaven daily? Can we be saved without Mt. 6:33 being in effect in our lives? I think not: to be truly saved is to live out the Kingdom, but living out the Kingdom is not the same as being truly saved. One follows the other temporally and should not be equated.
A question that comes to mind that any thinking person may ask if obedience is required for salvation is “How much of the Kingdom righteousness/ethics must I evidence to be indeed saved?” That is, what is the absolute minimum quantity of obedience must I have to be truly saved? Is there a degree of salvation that depends on one’s amount of obedience? What if I have only 25 % obedience and I die? Am I lost? Ah, here is where Purgatory comes in: you need cleansing. Now that is something a pastor might want to add to a sermon: if you die in faith, but without 99% righteous works, then off to Purgatory you go for a while. Then the church’s leaders can sell indulgences and we can pay off the building programs and build a new sanctuaries or build St. Peter’s Basilica or ....! Now there is historic precedence for this as church history attests. O.K., I'm being facetious! Excuse my lapse from Kingdom righteousness!
To sum it all: Obedience is a result of salvation, not a condition for salvation.
john m. dettoni, ph.d.
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