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Out of context: Reply #263

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  • gramme0

    Incorrect, miko. The concept of salvation by grace—through faith alone—is entirely unique to Christianity. All other religions believe in salvation through good deeds, enlightenment, or karma.

    • actually christianity has many different sects, some say faith it all you need (pretty lame), some say works, some say bothspifflink
    • its just another version of 'life after death fate depending on you susbscribing to the religionmikotondria3
    • The only correct interpretation is that salvation is by grace through faith alone. It says that in many, many places.gramme
    • James says that we are justified by works, but if you read the entire passage, what he means is that works are the product of true faith.gramme
    • true faith. So, faith without works is dead, even though works in and of themselves do NOT save.gramme
    • Since none of us are capable of perfection in this life, our good deeds cannot satisfy God's justice.gramme
    • We must depend on the grace of God through the sacrifice of his son, who defeated death by suffering on the crossgramme
    • and descended into hell so that we would be spared.gramme
    • yeah again. pretty lame. while intrareligious arguments are pretty absurd, i have heard convincing cases for both by people with a LOT more scholarly aptitude and a much better understanding and knowledge of scripturespifflink
    • by people with a LOT more scholarly aptitude and a much better understanding and knowledge of scripturespifflink
    • however again, interpreting scripture is pretty subjective, no matter how absolutist you think it is. there is a lot of wiggle room in a lot of places.spifflink
    • a lot of placesspifflink
    • In some places yes, in this case, no. No room at all. And I don't have an MDiv, but you can hardly call me ignorant on the subject.gramme
    • the subject.gramme
    • BTW my father is an extremely intelligent, scholarly pastor who has been in the ministry for 30+ years.gramme
    • He knows his stuff as well as a 60 yr. old man can, and he would agree with my statements here about interpretation.gramme
    • wasn't this place with no wiggle room the cause of the explosion of new religious sects in 1800s america though?spifflink
    • (I know that's anecdotal, just wanted to reinforce that my conclusions haven't occurred in a vacuum or b/c of ignorance).gramme
    • i don't really care necessarily about your interpretation, just saying christianity hasn't really agreed on itspifflink
    • i understand, and am glad you have a strong backup referencespifflink
    • Well, fallen human beings can't be blamed for a lack of perfect consensus.gramme
    • That's not a very strong argument imho.gramme
    • But then of course you'll counter that all of my arguments are weak, blah, blah blah... and around we go.gramme

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