Saturday, October 27, 2007

Spiritually Dead? Spiritually Sick? Spiritually Well? What is the Answer? By Rev. C.J. Paul



Spiritually Dead Augustine--- Focus on God
Spiritually Sick Semi-Pelagianism ---Focus on God plus Man
Spiritually Well Pelagius--- Focus on Man

If man is spiritually dead, than original sin has so corrupted man that he is unable to be righteous by his own effort, then only a supernatural act of God can save him and the Savior in the person of Jesus Christ provides the means of salvation. Only by God's grace, only by divine intervention in changing the nature of man's fallen soul, is a person able to put his faith in Christ and set his mind on what the Spirit desires.

If man is spiritually sick, then he doesn't need a savior necessarily, he just needs a doctor to help him get well. If sin has not totally corrupted your nature, then you do not need God's grace in salvation, or at least you are not solely dependent upon God's grace to put your faith in Christ. Since it is Christ plus the additional efforts of man, and there are many different people, then there must be many paths to God.

If man is spiritually well, then he doesn't need God, let alone a Savior to save him from anything. As Pelagius said, man has the natural ability to be righteous.

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