The Irreducible Simplicity of the Gospel

The Five Verbs Involved in Faith

The doctrine of Soteriology in the vast majority of professing Christianity is a mess.  This is certainly true of sacerdotal and sacramental Christianity. However, it is equally true of Evangelical Christianity. This is certainly apparent in just about any discussion about the doctrine of salvation.  If we were to have a group of evangelical or fundamental pastors sit down around a table and ask the question, what does the phrase "by grace through faith" mean to you, it would not be long before you would see the wide diversity of positions. You would see some who hold to Only Believism, Easy Believism, and One-Two-Three Say It After Me Prayerism. You would discover the Monergists and the Lordship Salvationists.  You would find the Sovereign Grace people in conflict with the Synergism/Free Grace people.  You would find the wide diversity of degrees of the Soteriological Reductionist crowd arguing with anyone that does not reduce the gospel response to any degree to which they do not hold.  Then we have the Convergent Evangelical crowd who says we are only to separate over doctrinal error regarding the "gospel."  To what "gospel" are they referring?          Needless to say, by the very nature of merely addressing the various issues of what I believe are false positions of Soteriology, I present my position as correct.  Of course, that is the issue.  Toleration of any Soteriological aberration is a serious offense against the Person and work of the Redeemer.  Ambiguity regarding the objective facts of the Gospel and what defines a biblical faith response to the Gospel in order to be saved is why Soteriology is in the mess it is in. The aberrations must be exposed and a biblical position presented.        Many years ago there was properly an extensive emphasis upon what is referred to as an inductive methodology in biblical interpretation and Systematic Theology.   Often in the Bible, we find a new historical account of something previously revealed in Scripture.  The repetition of such an account may give added details that the previous account did not provide.  Each mention of such historical events, doctrines, or word use must be carefully researched to discover the context and if added details are provided.         This process is what defines an inductive methodology (not to be confused with deductive/inductive logic).  An accurate understanding will come when we gather all the Scriptural evidences to a particular subject or doctrine.  This process is what defines a doctrine and what allows the exegete to become dogmatic about any given subject or doctrine.  An inductive methodology reasons from parts to the whole; from particulars to the general; a conclusion is drawn from the weight of all the evidence.       An inductive methodology is primary to avoiding eisegesis.  Systematic Theologies are conclusive and dogmatic statements based upon the weight of Scriptural evidences arrived at through the inductive exegesis of every Bible text relating to that theological statement.  This is categorically different from Proof Texting or a deductive methodology.          An inductive methodology is certainly important in understanding what defines a faith response to Christ's invitation to salvation in obeying the gospel in Romans 10:16.  In an inductive study of God's Word, we find five verbs that define obeying the gospel.  We obey the gospel by doing what these five action words describe.  These five verbs are what I refer to as the five fingers of faith.  In other words, these five verbs define saving faith.  These five verbs are: REPENT BELIEVE CONFESS CALL RECEIVE        The substance of the book The Irreducible Simplicity of the Gospel defines each of these verbs from the context of their use in the Word of God. We find all of these five verbs either by implication or actual use in Paul's instruction for the Jews of Israel to be saved in Romans 10:1-16.  Everyone, Jew or Gentile alike, must come to Christ through the same response to the Gospel (Acts 15:9, Romans 3:22, and 10:12).   Understanding exactly what God means by these five verbs is absolutely critical lest we add to, or reduce, a biblical response to the gospel of Jesus Christ.          Some things we DO NOT see in these five verbs are such things as "commit your life to Jesus," "make Jesus the Lord of your life,"  promise to stop sinning," or "faith is just believing."  Lordship Salvationists add to a gospel response by adding to these five verbs and Reductionists take away from a gospel response by reducing, in varying degrees, a faith response defined by these five verbs.

Thank You for visiting this site. If we can be of help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. Much Blessings on you and yours, Dr. Joseph A.Carson Northland Baptist Ministries