Against Common Grace

Psalm 145:9 is often use as proof for God having common grace toward every single human being who has, is, and will be. But in Psalm 136 - the psalmist praises God's mercy when he destroyed the Egyptians and Israel's enemies. Perhaps it is time we start reading and believing what the Bible alone says rather than what the "scholars" have said?

Winnen Russ said, "Kirk, You don't even have to 'back up' to Ps 136. The Calvinists who use Ps 145:9 to say God 'in a cents' loves everybody, *never* go to verse 20 of the same psalm: 'The Lord preserveth all that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.' Some common grace! Calvinists don't believe in Antithesis. They read the Bible the same way they read Calvin--they read *into* the Bible--never 'out of' it."

Richard B. Gaffin and the Lordship salvationist teaches Justification by faith and works

"First of all, Dr. Gaffin is clear that works are not the ground or basis of a believer's justification. He also says that works are not, with faith, (co-) instrumental, in the appropriation of justification. He appears to be upholding the traditional Protestant understanding of the role of works in justification as being evidential when he quotes the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) 16:2, which describes works as 'fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.' These affirmations all appear to be in alignment with traditional Protestant teaching. So what is the problem?
Once again, Dr. Gaffin nullifies his orthodox denials and affirmations, by placing the word 'integral' before the phrase 'fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.' The WCF 16:2 does not describe works as 'THE INTEGRAL fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith' [Emphasis added]. The word 'integral' modifies the language appropriated from the WCF 16:2. Also, it is important to keep in mind that Dr. Gaffin describes works as 'THE INTEGRAL fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith' within the context of a discussion about justification.
The primary definition of the word 'integral' is 'essential to completeness: constituent' or 'constituent, necessary to completeness of a whole.' In light of this definition, the meaning is that faith itself, apart from works produced through faith, is insufficient for justification. Works must be added to faith to complete a faith/works complex that is requisite for justification. Faith is only able to justify when it is part of this faith/works complex." - Stephen M. Cunha, The Emperor Has No Clothes: Dr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr.'s Doctrine of Justification, Pg. 28-29

The Gospel alone is the standard

To walk in the light is not something about the measure of or quality of our works but rather is about the minds conversion to reject the self-righteous way to gain acceptance with God and to accept that only way which God has declared or revealed in His word what gains the elect sinner's acceptance before God - the righteousness of Christ alone imputed. This is what it means to repent and believe.
To repent from dead works is to believe and confess the true gospel as the only grounds of acceptance before God. A sinner is made right with God by no other way than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. It is by his work alone the elect sinner lives. Christ died to save his people from their sins and that he will do because he died for them and has appeased the wrath of God on their behalf.
The gospel is the only means of the elect's salvation. To walk in Christ therefore is to accept the gospel as the truth and ground of salvation. This is what James means when he says faith without works is dead. We are to walk in the truth, to build our home on the rock of his word, to therefore believe in Him as the author and finisher of the faith.