Bros.,

I think Wright's take on faith as it relates to justification has to do with
assurance.  Mark+, I think can supply a reference for it and perhaps a
snippet.  Mark+, what say you: do you remember the bit in Wright about faith
as evidence of justification?




----- Original Message -----
From: "John Longcamp" <jlongcam@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 4:51 PM
Subject: [FaithandLife] SAUL THE PHARISEE


The book is great, and the only difficulty I really have is what I hear
others also voicing.  Charles helped a lot with his discussion of the
different meanings of "saved."  And Wright+ made the distinction between
"justification" and "salvation."

I can see "saved" as deriving from being part of the Community, but not in
the way circumcision made one part of the Community.  Neither does being a
member of the Church as defined in the Offices of Instruction: "The Church
is the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head, and ALL BAPTIZED PEOPLE are
the members." mean "saved" if there is no belief or faith.

I like what Mike+ said: "Our obedience to the Law is a natural outgrowth of
the sanctification process which is our cooperative effort with the Holy
Spirit after we are already in the kingdom, i.e., our being conformed to the
image of Christ."  This fits with James' statements that good works are
essential EVIDENCE of our faith.  Here that would mean that we demonstrate
that we are part of the Community by our obedience to the Law (of Love),
which in turn comes from our belief and faith.

Thus being a tag-along in the Community is not quite what Wright+ is saying
will "save" us.  Being believing members of the Community, participating
sincerely in its life, appropriates for us not only the justification which
Christ pronounced (the judicial model) on the Community but also His
salvation.

John+