Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 10
He claims Paul’s “not by works” passages are mainly about “works of the Mosaic law…particularly circumcision,” not about “obedience to Jesus Christ,” and he says no reform movement before Luther taught grace apart from obedient love (except Gnostics); if that historical and contextual claim is true, what modern preaching habits, proof-texts, or cherished slogans would need to be re-examined first—and what would that re-examination cost you socially or spiritually?
Another way to ask: If Paul’s “not by works” mostly means “not by Jewish law like circumcision,” and not “not by obeying Jesus,” what sermons, favorite verses, or slogans today would you need to question first? What might it cost you with others—or in your own faith—to question them?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
If his claim is true, the first things to re-examine would be proof-texting “faith alone” passages as if they erase Jesus’ and the apostles’ obedience warnings, along with slogans that imply obedience plays no role after conversion. The transcript implies this could cost you comfort, reputation, and alignment with your church subculture, because he says questioning the evangelical framing is often treated as questioning salvation itself.
- He argues many “faith alone” proof texts, in context, address “works of the Mosaic law, and particularly circumcision,” in the Judaizer controversy.
- He says Paul is not denying godly living; when discussing conduct Paul warns: “no fornicator…has any inheritance…Let no one deceive you with empty words.”
- He criticizes proof-text habits: taking “one verse…then you’ve got this other verse…you kind of hide,” whereas early Christians embraced “the totality of scripture.”
- He claims historically “no reform movement before Martin Luther taught salvation by grace alone apart from an obedient love relationship…other than the Gnostics.”
- He notes evangelicals often treat doubting the doctrine as evidence someone is “not…a real Christian,” implying a social cost for re-examination.