Digital Logos Edition
Four Views on the Role of Works at Final Judgment takes up the age-old question: What must I do to be saved? Four leading scholars interact with the degree to which one’s works are considered at the final judgment.
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“The devil therefore doesn’t try to prevent works; he tries to prevent belief:” (Page 12)
“I define justification as being acquitted before the divine judge.3 Those who are justified are declared to be ‘not guilty’ before God. In addition, justification is understood in this essay to be an eschatological reality. Hence, the verdict of ‘not guilty,’ which believers receive now by faith, is confirmed at the final judgment before the whole world. Salvation, by contrast, means that one has been rescued or delivered; here the focus is on being rescued from God’s wrath or punishment on the last day.” (Page 71)
“I propose here a solution to the dilemma posed in the teaching of both Paul and James and other New Testament writings, arguing that works are necessary for justification, but they should not be considered the basis or foundation of justification. Instead, they constitute the necessary evidence or fruit of justification.” (Pages 72–73)
“Still, the matter is difficult, New Testament authors do not specifically explain how both sets of statements relate to one another. They affirm both truths without explaining to us precisely how they cohere. Hence, the debate!” (Page 96)
“there is a kind of faith that isn’t saving. Mental agreement with propositions doesn’t mean someone has saving faith” (Page 52)
Alan P. Stanley received his ThM and PhD in New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary. In 2003, he moved to Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia where he is a pastor and teaches the Bible at Mueller College of Ministries. He is the author of Salvation is More Complicated than You Think.