>Thank you for writing. Having reflected for many years as engineer,
>scientist and Christian, I think it hardly likely that I shall
>experience a change of heart along the lines you suggest. Regarding the
>Lord's Gospel, I believe I understand it reasonably well: Salvation by
>grace through faith plus a willingness on our part to be taught and
>sanctified by him - not 'nothing', as you suggest.
Disagree. In fact it was exactly this issue that triggered the Protestant
Reformation. Luther based his view of the role of faith on the same
passage Brian quoted -- Eph 2:8,9. Vernon, if you are a Catholic, I know
we have doctrinal differences that will probably keep us from agreeing on
this issue. But if you are a Protestant, you need to review the doctrinal
issues that led to the Reformation. The five issues were (pardon me if I
have mangled the Latin)
Sola Fide
Sola Gratia
Sola Scriptura
Soli Deo Gloria
Sola Christi
Bill Hamilton
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William E. Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D.
Staff Research Engineer
Chassis and Vehicle Systems, GM R&D Center
Warren, MI
hamilton@predator.cs.gmr.com / whamilto@mich.com (home)