IS “FAITH” A SYNECDOCHE?
It has been said that “words written in truth are everlasting” and I believe that with all my heart. The question of this discussion is about the use of the word “faith” or belief and how it is used in scripture especially in regards to our salvation. Many contend that all one has to do is to believe or have faith in Christ and at that point one is saved and that it is by faith alone and nothing else since all other would be to add ‘works’ of our own to that salvation. In one sense that is true but it is only true if one realises that “faith is a synecdoche for the whole plan of salvation we must obey in order to be saved. So that is how am I using the word synecdoche here? We must define our terms for the discussion to continue.
Synecdoche: This word is from the Greek sunechdeechesthai meaning to receive jointly. It is usually spoken of as a figure of speech by which is spoken a whole by a part or a part by using a term denoting the whole.
All of us who read and study the Bible must remember that it is richly endowed with figures of speech and the synecdoche is one of the most common figures of speech used by the Bible writers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There fore we must read, recognise, and learn to correctly interpret synecdoche’s this is absolutely necessary if we would be faithful and accurate in drawing our conclusions on numerous passages and indeed subjects.
(Excerpt) Read more at how2becomeachristian.wordpress.com ...
Again with the blog pimping.
Any thoughts on this?
Without reading the large amount of interesting text you have on your site concerning this, I surmise a reasonable amount of the debate was around “faith” and “works.”
In truth, faith without works, is dead. Can you be saved with no works? If a baby Christian (someone who likely had just accepted Christ) died, I would think that person would be in Heaven. If, however, someone had no works for some time after that, then that person would be up against what is in Scripture in James 2.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2:14-26&version=NKJV
It would be expected that one would grow and start evidencing Christ in their life. If they don't, then one would wonder if they ever truly accepted Christ into their hearts.
This is a difficult area to navigate in the Bible, as various references seem at odds with each other, but I don't believe this is necessarily true when walked through.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
This kind of division merely destroys your brethren, for whom Christ died. Galatians 5:15 "If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
I know a Church of Christ that split into two factions, one going off on its own until it returned a few years later.
They were arguing over whether it was scriptural to bring food into the basement of the church and share fellowship.
Garrison Keillor skewers these kind of things in his Lake Wobegon book talking about his character’s church, The Bretheren, and how there were two branches: one allowed women to wear slacks, the other did not. And so forth.
This is the kind of stuff people do when they have too much time on their hands and want to stir the ... stuff.
Binging up this blog is a synecdoche for bringing up the whole issue of figurative-literal language in Scripture vs figurative interpretation of the Scriptures??
Don’t have time to read this now, but I suppose this eventually gets around to the “baptism as part of salvation” argument. Not intending to start a flame war, but this is where I find myself at this point in the journey:
I take the church of Christ position on this because I believe the Bible clearly teaches by command and by example that baptism is part of the plan of salvation. Most Baptists and the vast majority other Protestants I have encountered tend to vehemently deny this, using the argument that baptism is a work, and that we are not saved by works but by grace through faith. I also happen to believe that we are saved by grace through faith, so the question becomes, “is baptism a work or faithful obedience to God’s command?”
But I digress; the part that confuses me is how can one advance the argument that baptism is a work and therefore cannot be essential to salvation, yet hold the position that one is saved by reciting the Sinner’s Prayer and offering to turn his life over to the Lord. How can baptism be a work, yet reciting the Sinner’s Prayer not be considered a work?
Saw your blog pimp yesterday.
You aren’t interested in debating Christian ideas about proper worship.
You’re interested in pimping your blog and showing everyone how smart you are.
How small of you. Of course you won your debate, if you do say so yourself (and you do).
I believe that faith is the opening step. Paul makes it even more clear when he says “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Ro 10:13)
That drives many to fits, because they want to bring up everything from repentance to perseverance and say that Paul doesn’t really mean what Paul is saying.
I believe Paul means what Paul is saying.
Paul had such amazing trust in God that he knew that God would finish the good work he started in anyone. (Php 1:6 “ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”)
In other words, after the first step, it is certain that God’s in control and will ensure that any other step will be completed.
So, is ‘faith’ a summation of everything that is meant in the theology of salvation? In a sense, yes. In that, I think you’re right. It’s just I think God is the prime mover and not us. For all is by faith from first to last. Rom 1:17 “17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
And what specifically is this debates outcome? Wouldn’t God’s grace be large enough that if both of you were 100% wrong His grace would still cover you?
I come equipped with an axe and two 38s. (old joke...acts 2:38)
I would rather not go to your blog, so would you please go ahead and explain where baptism fits into your theology...in light of the book of Acts and its many examples of conversion accompanied by baptism?