Matthew Johnson wrote:

>
> And although I disagree with Loren and the entire Reform Tradition on
the
> distinction between salvation and justification, I find this analogy
not so bad.
> But the problem is that far too many in the Reform Tradition seem to
think that
> cooperating with that "great deal of work" is optional, or requires
no effort on
> our part. This is there the error lies. And the error is a disastrous
one.
>
I sincerely think you do not understand the Reformed position and
experience.  Obedience is not a lackadaisical option.  Sanctification
is serious stuff even though it does not effect our already secured
state of justification.  Again, the Reformed position is that once
having been justified, the Spirit creates a new heart with us such that
we earnestly desire to do what is right.  Everyone answers to that
desire in their own free-will capacity.  Therein is the cooperation.
But it is not the same cooperation of semi-pelagianism.  Rather, it is
active-passive.  It is active in that it willfully chooses to do what
is right.  It is passive in that in order to do that right, we must
abide in the Spirit.  It is He who actually activates our wills to will
what is right and to empower us to achieve it.  Yet it is cooperative.

Justification is a declaration based upon the determined counsel of
God.  He choses us while we were yet sinners.  We did not first turn to
Him and then upon seeing this, He granted us the grace to complete the
action.  He did it all because we, prior to regeneration, have no
inclination to do what is right except from a self-serving bias.
>
> To press your analogy a little further: if the ship goes back out of
the safety
> of the docks, before it has been repaired, then it is no longer safe.
It may
> even be in worse danger than before!
>
The "ship" is Christ.  We are "in Christ."  Once He has
started a good
thing, will He not complete it?  Sola gratia & sola fide are nothing
more, nothing less than a short hand sort of way of stating sola
Xristos.  How many times does it have to be said?  "It is ALL from Him,
through Him, and to Him."  What is left out of our salvation which is
not accounted to Him?  Even our faith is a gift.

> And if the ship does not allow the "great deal of work" to be
completed, then it
> is fit only to be junked.
>
The Ship is Christ.  He is both the ship and its Captain.  We are
anchored in a protected habor with a sure anchor of hope.  That hope is
Christ, not ourselves.  That was the whole purpose of the Law -we can
do nothing.

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