Re: sacraments as means of grace (was Re: [asa] Pregnancy & Communio)

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: George Cooper
  To: asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 3:24 PM
  Subject: RE: sacraments as means of grace (was Re: [asa] Pregnancy & Communio)

  George said: ................................................

  Because human beings preach & hear the Gospel, does that make it a "work" which can't be a means of salvation?

  What does "means" mean? If it implies reward for action irrespective of belief then preaching and hearing is of no effect, and salvation is unlikely. In this case, it is not a "means" of salvation. But I believe you are referring to "means" in the sense that preaching and hearing may lead to salvation, then I assume all would agree with this view. I mention the former possible meaning to clarify Murray's citing, which I suspected might be considered an erroneous view of the SB church, which it is not, I feel safe to say. Just trying to eschew obfuscation. J

   ..................

Means as in "means to an end" - i.e., things used to accomplish something. The Holy Spirit does not work immediately to bring us to & keep us in faith but but acts mediately, through Word and Sacraments. (Or, to use Augustine's image, through audible and visible words.)

& here in fact is a very important connection with theology-science dialogue. God's work in creation is, at least in the vast majority of creation, done in cooperation with creatures. I.e., things in the world & natural processes are the means by which God creates and sustains life, &c. The idea that God must save us without means - by some kind of spiritual zapping without Word and Sacraments - is a pretty precise parallel to the anti-evolutionist notion that God can be the creator of living things only if that creative work is done directly rather than through natural processes.

Salvation is not a "reward" for listening to preaching, or being baptized, or receiving communion. Rather, those are ways that the Holy Spirit works to create & renew faith in Christ, & faith is the may we appropriate Christ's benefits. Cf. I Cor.12:3.

Shalom
George
http://home.neo.rr.com/scitheologyglm

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Received on Thu Nov 6 18:06:01 2008