Crossing The Line

[Frank]

Christ showed for enabling the Protestant
Reformation that his righteousness imputed
thru faith alone in him alone is what justifies us.
(Preface to Luther's Latin Works)

Though repentance is definitely to be done,
it must never be trusted in for salvation;
all trust must be on Christ for salvation
with none on efforts at all.
(Romans 3:22, Romans 4:5)

Reformation theology rightly kept repentance
distinct from justification, as neither causing it
nor belonging to it, so trust would be on Christ.
Yet repentance was considered by Lutheran
theology as if a precondition for justification
(Solid Declaration 3:23-26), and by Reformed
theology as if inevitable effect of justification
(Institutes, vol 3, ch 3, sec 1). Meanwhile,
the Anabaptists, though professing that
salvation was by faith alone, emphasized
repentance plus being disciples so much
that the Reformers were concerned that
such was departure from faith alone
(anabaptistnetwork.com: Who were
the Anabaptists: Salvation).

>From early on in the Reformation,
because repentance was considered
a precondition or inevitable effect of
justification rather than as just definitely
to be done but never to be trusted for
salvation, repentance was glorified rather
than Christ only, and the Gospel clouded.

Also from early on during the Reformation,
merely professing faith alone in Christ alone,
but really trusting in repentance for salvation,
brought in the false "gospel" of "salvation" by
surrender that is so widespread and popular today.

Thus the line between trusting in Christ alone for salvation
and trusting in personal "righteousness" for salvation,
the line established during the time of the Reformation
is hardly known today among the thousands of denominations,
and relatively few people are trusting Christ in order to be saved.

--
http://roines.home.mindspring.com

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