Author: Kirk Winslow

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What must I do to be saved (by Jesus)? Is there a prayer that must be said? A doctrine that must be affirmed? A morality that must be adopted? Good deeds that must be done?

The classical Protestant answer is: Grace alone! (…Which is generally followed by a prayer that must be said, doctrines believed, sins avoided and charity done.)

It is all part of the church’s historic struggle with Semi-Pelagianism – the belief that we are saved by grace….mostly, with just a little extra effort required.

 

The (unusually high number of) texts used in this sermon are: John 12:44-47, Matt. 7:21-27, Rom. 4:1-5, James 2:18-24 and Acts 16:25-34 (NRSV).
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Why should Christians regard themselves as bound to any sort of moral law? After all, the full defeat of sin has been accomplished in Christ. And our personal salvation is by grace alone. So why, being set free from the law, would one choose to still to obey it?

Indeed, might it not be a surest sign of trust in Jesus’s sin boldly, proving my confidence in his love and power???

This is the antinomian (Gk: against-law) debate and it not only raged in the early church, but is alive and well today…

 

The texts for this sermon are: Romans 3:19-26 and 6:15-23 (NRSV).
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How are we to understand the forgiving and compassionate ministry of Jesus against the backdrop of Torah and some of the harsh punishments demanded by God of sinners?

An answer offered by Marcion of Sinope (2nd cent.) was simply that there exits 2 deities – essentially a harsh God of the Hebrews and a more compassionate God of Jesus. And while most of us would quickly reject Marcionism when presented this way, it turns out many of our views of salvation – and indeed our worship – are quite Marcionite!

The texts for this sermon are: Lev. 24:10-23 (NRSV), Matt. 5:38-48 (NRSV) and Rom. 7:4-25 (NRSV).
Want to support the podcast?  CLICK HERE for ways to help!

Want to connect?  You can send e-mail here. Or find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to download this episode.