Quote:
Originally Posted by aklim
Isn't it set up so they would be forgiven just by faith alone? Kinda of a "clean slate" by virtue of faith irrespective of what they have done, are doing and will do?
|
Like all things, "balance" is the key.
The Bible does speak about the primacy of faith alone. In fact it was one of the slogans of the Reformation.
But there are also those Biblical injuctions to, " Be holy, because I am holy", and " By their fruits you will know them", and " Faith, without works is dead"- or maybe better rendered, " Faith that is the opposite of what someone actually does, is not a true faith."
Using the sop, " God forgives me" is to really not understand the seriousness of sin.
It is also true that all Christians are sinners, and sinners daily.
That is why I stress the importance of accountability among Christian leaders. They need to be accountable to each other, as well as accountable to God. My small denomination exercises discipline among its pastors. Discipline is not a popular concept, but it is regulary done. We had a pastor caught in adultery, and he confessed, and wanted to continue along in his minstry. His wife even offered her forgiveness. However, he was removed from the ministry, and forced to go thru some counseling. He eventually moved to another denomination to be reinstated, rather than finish the counseling and be reinstated here.