Someone once said to me that faith and obedience are two wings of a bird - you need both to be saved.*
Not a good analogy.
I think it would be better to think of faith as the engine of a plane and the good works as the banner flowing behind which show the world that the plane is flying.
...perhaps you could do better though
*an interesting variation of John Stott's analogy for social action and evangelism.
I'm not sure the analogy works. The book of James shows us that without any evidence of faith, you might as well not have any as far as salvation is concerned (James 2:26). Therefore, in your analogy, without evidence of flight, the plane may as well not be flying.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of a better analogy, except to say that works are necessary insofar that evidence must be produced from a real and living faith. They aren't superfluous, like a banner behind a plane.
I'd like to add, though, that is faith that saves, obviously, not the works. But the works are a necessary result of saving faith.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine.
ReplyDeleteOur obedience is like the gravity that keeps a plane on the ground until the engine of faith gives it the power to take flight.
The Bible tells us that "all our righteous deeds are as filthy rags".
But works do indeed follow faith, as much as gravity helps keep a plane in flight because of it's design.
Since the Lord is the One who is doing the works in us and through us, it really is pointless to put any emphasis on the works part of the equation. It then becomes law. Nothing wrong with encouragement, though (since Christ has set you free - you ARE free; for the neighbor; no specifics - then it becomes law)
When they gathered arounf Jesus and asked him "what is it nthat we must be doing to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered, "Believe in the one whom the Father has sent."
Thanks Steve, for this comment and all the others.
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoyed your summary of Forde. Sums him up nicely.
Thanks Wellsy as well.
I admit that I am not entirely happy with this illustration for a number of reasons. Not least that as Steve says it doesn't take into account God's work, but also because, as you say that it makes it seem like the plane can fly but the banner not follow.
Nevermind...
Thank you, Dave.
ReplyDelete