Comments for The Tenth Leper http://thetenthleper.com To God Alone Be all Glory Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:18:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Should You Sing Along to Worship Songs When Your Heart Isn’t In It? by pgrz http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/21/should-you-sing-along-to-worship-songs-when-your-heart-isnt-in-it/#comment-3097 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:18:24 +0000 http://thetenthleper.com/?p=980#comment-3097 Thanks, Scott. How apropos! I was struggling with this myself just this past Sunday. Thank you for that well reasoned and even-handed approach.

]]> Comment on Around the InterWeb (2/14/12) by pgrz http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/14/around-the-interweb-21412/#comment-3081 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:38:24 +0000 http://thetenthleper.wordpress.com/?p=976#comment-3081 Thanks for the Shout Out. I’m honored.

]]> Comment on The Verse that Gets Forgotten in the Faith/Works Debate by thetenthleper http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/10/the-verse-that-gets-forgotten-in-the-faithworks-debate/#comment-3077 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:53:39 +0000 http://thetenthleper.wordpress.com/?p=966#comment-3077 Well said, Kevin. You actually proved my point. I could rip Romans 2:13 out of context and use it to support justification by faith AND works, but in context (Romans 3:20), we see that that’s not what Paul is talking about. Similarly, it’s easy to rip James 2:24 out of context and say that he contradicts Paul. But when you pull back and look at the examples he uses to prove his point, it becomes apparent that he’s using the term “justification” in a different sense.

I think the title I gave this entry is kind of misleading. I don’t mean to say that Romans 2:13 is a crucial verse in the faith vs. works debate. Rather, the thing that fuels the debate (lack of contextualization) doesn’t just put Paul against James, but Paul against Paul. Just as it’d be crazy to assume that Paul would promote justification by works in 2:13 (he’s not) and then mere sentences later say that “one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Rom.3:28), so it’d be crazy to assume that two guys who knew each other and were in agreement theologically (again, see Acts 15) would contradict each other on such a vital doctrine.

And you’re spot on with what James is really saying. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only FAITH WORKING through love.” (Gal.5:6)

]]> Comment on The Verse that Gets Forgotten in the Faith/Works Debate by thispoorman http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/10/the-verse-that-gets-forgotten-in-the-faithworks-debate/#comment-3075 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:18:29 +0000 http://thetenthleper.wordpress.com/?p=966#comment-3075 quality work….keep them coming

]]> Comment on The Verse that Gets Forgotten in the Faith/Works Debate by Kevin http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/10/the-verse-that-gets-forgotten-in-the-faithworks-debate/#comment-3072 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:56:25 +0000 http://thetenthleper.wordpress.com/?p=966#comment-3072 In context, though, Romans 2:13 is part of Paul’s long argument that you cannot be saved by following the law. (You could, if you actually followed it completely, but nobody does that.) Paul’s point is eventually stated in Romans 3:20: “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law.” Then: “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22) So, reconciling Paul with Paul, we see that it is still through grace.

The best way I’ve found to understand James is that he is saying a saving faith will produce works. You’re not saved by the works, but works are a natural outcome of really surrendering to Christ. See also Paul in Ephesians 2:8-10.

]]> Comment on The Verse that Gets Forgotten in the Faith/Works Debate by Matt http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/10/the-verse-that-gets-forgotten-in-the-faithworks-debate/#comment-3070 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:50 +0000 http://thetenthleper.wordpress.com/?p=966#comment-3070 ha! We’re studying James right now and had this very discussion on Wednesday :)
Very apropos

]]> Comment on Understanding How the Old Testament Fits Together by pgrz http://thetenthleper.com/2012/02/08/understanding-how-the-old-testament-fits-together/#comment-3066 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:19 +0000 http://thetenthleper.com/?p=952#comment-3066 Fantastic, Scott. The OT is difficult to wrap my head around much for the reason of the difficulties you mentioned above. I took a class at my church that taught me through these principles and it has opened up much of the OT to me since then. Thanks for posting!

]]> Comment on Learning to Hate Your Sin by pgrz http://thetenthleper.com/2012/01/20/learning-to-hate-your-sin/#comment-3024 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:18:32 +0000 http://thetenthleper.com/?p=826#comment-3024 Thanks for posting, Scott. This is an issue the Lord has been teaching me the past couple years. I find myself often sitting with brothers who hold me accountable and desiring to sugar-coat my confessions. It strokes the ego. It makes me feel less bad. It puts me in control and master of my own destiny. I think God’s Word might call that pride. ick. Thank you for encouraging me to continue pursuing love and good works.

]]> Comment on God Doesn’t Want You to Forgive Yourself by pgrz http://thetenthleper.com/2012/01/19/god-doesnt-want-you-to-forgive-yourself/#comment-3023 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:37:47 +0000 http://thetenthleper.com/?p=802#comment-3023 Interesting perspective, Scott. I honestly haven’t thought of forgiving myself in this way before. Thanks for posting!

]]> Comment on God Doesn’t Want You to Forgive Yourself by Heather Rice http://thetenthleper.com/2012/01/19/god-doesnt-want-you-to-forgive-yourself/#comment-3021 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:55:49 +0000 http://thetenthleper.com/?p=802#comment-3021 Thank you for this words. Such a great reminder.

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