tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4385083746048472996.post2506319621994342231..comments2024-03-22T17:35:43.879-04:00Comments on Growing Christian Resources: P3 Christianity vs Mormonism - Doctrine of God's Wordmahlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398857921080520475noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4385083746048472996.post-87935277451001889132013-11-01T18:58:20.933-04:002013-11-01T18:58:20.933-04:00Dear Steve: Thanks for your response and comments....Dear Steve: Thanks for your response and comments. I am gathering that you are advocating some sort of salvation by proxy. Proxy salvation (salvation that occurs as a result of other's faith) cannot be supported by the immediate context of Luke 5:17-26, the wider context of Luke 5 nor the New Covenant spoken of by Jesus and the scriptures. <br /><br />1. First, the immediate context demands faith in Jesus as the necessary and sufficient means of receiving salvation. Luke 5:17 states that the power of God was present for Jesus to heal or bring about restoration. Then Luke 5:20 states that Jesus saw "their faith". The word "their" includes, rather than excludes the man's faith. He had the faith to believe on Jesus as a result of God's grace working in His heart, as well as his friends. Thus your interpretation of proxy faith is not supported by the immediate context.<br /><br />2. The wider context of Luke 5 demands faith in Jesus as the necessary and sufficient means of receiving salvation. If I were to read the other parts of Luke 5 in light of your suggested interpretation, it would fail to explain the response of faith that occurs when Jesus calls people to follow in discipleship (Luke 5:1-11). Levi's response is a prime example of faith issuing forth as a result of the Lord's call to follow. If Levi (Matthew) had not evidenced saving faith in 5:27-32, clearly there would had been no true discipleship.<br /><br />3. The New Covenant spoken of by Jesus and the Bible demands faith in Jesus as the necessary and sufficient means of receiving salvation. Certainly Jesus discusses the New Covenant, for that is at the heart of the whole chapter. However I would invite you to re-examine the New Covenant as predicted in Jeremiah 31:31-34, portrayed by Jesus in Luke 5 and repeated in Hebrews 8-9. <br /><br />New Covenant passages such as Galatians 3:26 plainly state - "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."<br />mahlonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398857921080520475noreply@blogger.com