Why did God decide to save us through faith? (John Piper)

DesiringGod.org

This came from the following sermon:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2006/1914_To_Him_Be...

"The salvation from sin and death and judgment that Christ brings is received by faith. Paul illustrates this faith with the case of Abraham in Romans 4:20 and shows how it relates to the glory of God: "No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God [literally, giving glory to God]." In other words, one reason that faith is the way God saves us is that faith gives glory to God. That is, faith calls attention to and magnifies the glory of God. Faith puts us in the position of weak and dependent and puts God in the position of strong and independent and merciful. So faith is essential to displaying the glory of God."

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[Pythagoras211]

I could go on and on.

[Pythagoras211]

Also, all of the other major religions insist on action as fundamental to experiencing what lays at the end of the spiritual journey. It's only a recent development within the Christian church that 'faith' amounts entirely to 'belief'. Faith throughout antiquity and the medieval period used to be attained through moral purification (action).

[Pythagoras211]

This doctrine also makes God out to be a fool. What kind of God requires nothing but the assent to the proposition "Jesus Christ is Lord". In light of the full human potential, all dogma is so superficial.

[Pythagoras211]

This is the most pagan doctrine I can think of. Think about it's implications. This means that the individual being 'saved' does not need to have a hint of moral integrity. They could be psychopaths, and yet still be saved.

[FaithLovesJesus1]

i admire your child-like faith. God bless you!

[cburton103]

@54v115 So you don't agree?

[cburton103]

@54v115 I'm not claiming that we can earn our salvation by works. We can only be saved by the grace of God, which is given to us when we respond to God in faith. This faith must be expressed in our lives. These expressions of our faith are essentially us following God's commandments and his will for our lives to the best of our ability. They are a physical manifestation of our faith. These are the works in James 2. Do you agree? God bless.

[54v115]

@cburton103 .. on reading James 2 17-26... I get that we cannot earn our salvation by works. True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts. Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but a verification of our faith in Christ. Faith without deeds is only intellectual assent.. an incomplete faith. Faith with works I believe tends to mean faith and rituals, practices that must be adhered to.. eg. sustained payment of 'Enabling' Tithing at 10% of gross earnings.

[Megaritz]

To be saved is extraordinarily simple! JUST faith--that's all you need! Amazing! Your ONLY requirement in this life is to have faith in the basic tenets of Christianity, one of only several thousand religions in the world. That's all God wants, it's not that hard! All you need is enough luck to win the religion lottery! :D

[timlimlimtim]

Faith is accompanied by works. Strong faith should encourage works. One cannot just say they have faith and turn around and act in an unworthy manner. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly spell out the distinction between faith and works. For we have been saved by grace through faith, and this not from ourselves, it is a gift of God, not a result of works <-- (right here), so that no one may boast.