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The Linguistics of Faith Only
The debate about “faith only” is often set in theological tones. But should it? Instead, should it be culturally linguistic connected?
Let’s play around with a couple of words. Are we to have faith? Yes. Are we to be full of faith? Yes again. Are we to be faithful? Absolutely? Is Jesus faithful? Thankfully. Does Jesus then have faith….?
[ ] When we think of faith as believing without evidence, that is not biblical faith and cannot describe Jesus or us.
[ ] When we think of faith as just mental ascent, that is not biblical faith and cannot describe Jesus or us.
Review the life of Jesus in your head. Did He ever ask anyone to have faith without giving them reason to believe? He even showed Thomas His scars and today we rely on the testimony of people like Thomas. Did Jesus ever fail to act on what He believed? Again no, because Jesus had a covenant relationship with His Father signed by His own blood.
Notice the following: “Cultural assumptions even affect the meaning of individual words. For example, the English word ‘faith’ refers to someone’s personal belief about something. This meaning reflects the rationalistic and individualistic values of Western culture. However, the biblical notion of ‘faith’ reflects relational and collectivistic cultural values. In the Old Testament, an Israelite’s ‘faith’ is a commitment to their covenant obligation to honor Yahweh. Likewise, the New Testament word translated ‘faith’ (Greek: pistis) suggests loyalty and fidelity to a relationship. Biblical faith is not merely ‘belief about God,’ but ‘allegiance to God.’ Western cultural values give the word ‘faith’ a cognitive, individualistic meaning that distracts readers from the relational connotations of the biblical concept” (Psalms, an honor-shame Paraphrase, pp.8-9).
What does this have to do with the “faith only” controversy? Jesus isn’t asking us to simply accept intellectually the proposition of Who He is. Jesus is inviting us to have a covenantal relationship of trust with Him .
“In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (CSB’17 Luke 22:20).
Therefore obeying is not earning salvation; obeying is accepting the terms of covenantal obligations that Jesus is faithful so we show faithfulness.
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