The Professor
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- Mar 4, 2011
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I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. This old man took a nap after Judge Judy. I respectfully disagree that the Transfiguration of Moses necessarily proves the "justification by faith alone" doctrine. Here is part of an article I had previously written on the subject:
Some Christians believe that justification is by faith alone while others believe that justification is only by faith which manifests in works. However, they all agree that salvation can only come through accepting Christ as their savior. But since we are talking about Moses, I must mention that there are many Jews who fervently believe in eternal life and they point to the Old Testament scripture to support their belief that salvation was granted by God long before the birth of Christ.
I believe that a man's conduct should be judged by the laws in effect at the time not by laws written later, especially after his death. The framers of the U.S. Constitution also believed this and that is why the Document prohibits ex post facto laws. I would argue that God, being most fair, would judge a man by the laws He Himself has given him during his lifetime; therefore, Moses would have been judged by the Old Testament Law. There is specific language within the pages of the Old Testament which IF BELIEVED would prove that salvation existed at that time, long before the birth of Christ and it was dependent upon one's works and God's mercy. Thus Moses and would have been saved by his works, that is obedience towards his God, and his Transfiguration does not prove the justification by faith alone doctrine. Here are some of the relevant verses from the Old Testament (all scripture is from the KJV and all highlights are my own):
Ezekiel 18:20-30:
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
"Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the LORD is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
(These verses make it plain that salvation was granted by God to those who deserved it by their works. Further, the verses make it clear that one who had sinned early on but was virtuous in the end would be saved. Moses, if guilty of killing a man, would have been saved by his subsequent conduct which is known to all Bible readers.)
Psalms 23 (entire chapter)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
(The word Lord used in these verses does not apply to Christ, but rather to God. The verses make it clear that salvation and eternal life existed in Old Testament times.)
Psalm 32:1-5:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
(This is one of several Bible verses which tent to prove that the forgiveness of sins existed in Old Testament times.)
Psalm 51:1-13:
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psalm 86:1-5:
Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Isaiah 26
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
(The author of the above quoted verses states that the dead, including him, shall rise. Thus eternal life was not dependent on the existence of Christ.)
Isaiah 43:10-11:
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
(This is God, the Father talking. God says in the strongest, clearest language possible that He is the one and only savior and there can be no other.)
Conclusion: I have presented scripture simply to show that the Bible is capable of multiple interpretations. Those who think their individual interpretation is correct because they have sought the meaning with their hearts fail to understand that those who disagree with their interpretation have also sought truth with their hearts. There are intelligent and sincere individuals of all denominations and anyone who thinks he has a monopoly on sincerity or that God reveals His truth only to him is perhaps a tad vain. There is no doubt that many people seek guidance through prayer, but apparently God does not give all of them the same answer. I'll let others explain that one.
Define 'Lord'.
