Readers Respond to Answers, July–September, 2015

Featured in Answers Magazine

Faith or Works?

I found the sentence “. . . false teachers had . . . brought a works-based gospel to them” in the article “Escape from Darkness” offensive. I am Roman Catholic and I believe that salvation comes from both faith and works. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Please avoid such phrasing in the future.

Esther D., Email

Editor’s Response: Ephesians 2:8 states that we are saved by grace (God’s unmerited favor) through faith (in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord). Verse 9 specifically rules out works as a way of earning salvation. Verse 10 explains the role of works: we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Good works are not a means of salvation, but a result of being saved. Verses 1–7 make this clear when they say that God has made us alive “who were dead in trespasses and sins.” A corpse can do nothing to make itself alive or save itself. The Bible teaches that we can do nothing to earn our salvation or add to the saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and in His Resurrection. When we try to earn salvation or add our good works to His perfect work, we deny that Christ’s work is sufficient. That’s what makes a works-based salvation so dangerous. Our faith must be in Jesus Christ completely, or it’s not really in Him at all. The good works He then enables us to do confirm that we truly have trusted Him as Savior and Lord and have been born again to eternal life (John 3:3–16, 5:24; Titus 3:5).

America a Christian Nation?

This article leaves me very disheartened. While I agree that America, at present, is not a “Christian nation,” yet for Dr. Frazer to deny our Christian heritage and founding is disconcerting at best. To downplay the founders’ trust in God and their steadfast promotion of Christian morals and ethics is simply irresponsible.

John R., Warrensburg, Missouri

Thank you for publishing Dr. Gregg Frazer’s article about the founding of our nation. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but as a Christian, I want to be honest and accurate in all my positions. I know that God does not need us to promote His kingdom by shading the truth with poor scholarship.

Dave D., Email

For a fuller explanation of the purpose of Dr. Frazer’s article and answers to other questions, go to answersmagazine.com/christian-america.

Sign of Creation

I was so excited when I read the eight-letter word creation spelled in sign language in the last magazine. Recently, I started studying ASL. I have been thinking and praying about a future ASL-related career/ministry and about apologetics! I’m excited to see what God will do through this ministry!

Elizabeth F., Email

Helping Parents Teach

Because of your magazine, I have been better equipped with biblically based answers for my son’s inquisitive mind!

This past winter, at the age of four and a half, he wrote his first letter to the editor. I had found him reading a popular children’s magazine, and he pointed out an article about dinosaurs being millions of years old. He said, “Mommy, they can’t know this for sure because nobody was there when it happened, but God was. We should write to them and tell them that.”

And so we did!

Thank you for equipping my family with such a valuable tool to think critically from a biblical perspective as we engage the world.

Laura S., Email

Correction

Through Your Lens: Poison dart frogs do not eat plants. However, it is likely that their toxins come from plants via the insects the frogs eat.

Answers Magazine

October–December 2015

Learn what the Bible really teaches about caring for the environment and read the shocking results of a survey showing what the twentysomethings in your church believe.

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