Bahnsen Quote For Discussion

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Here's are the anti-Christian implication of saying that salvation "is" justification and sanctification: It conflates two different kinds of "being saved". It implies we are saved by our sanctification in the same sense that we are saved by our justification. It contradicts "saved by faith alone" because it implies we are saved by sanctification and by faith. No one intends to imply we are saved by more than faith because this is contrary to our confession and is unbiblical. None-the-less, that is a the implication of saying that salvation is justification and sanctification at the same time. Salvation refers to both, but not both in the same sense. If we do not preserve those distinctions, we are not teaching the Gospel of the Bible and our confessions.
 
"For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Rom. 13:11)

In that context, the word salvation is not being used in reference to justification, therefore, salvation is more than justification.

If it does not refer to justification, then you can not say salvation is "more than justification". The more reasonable conclusion is the salvation is other than justification. But that is not correct either. Better to say that salvation refers to something other than justification in this instance.

I mean that the term "salvation" - when we consider all of its Biblical usages - has a broader meaning that simply "justification", in the instance cited it refers to our ultimate salvation and glorification.

Then we agree. But the "broadness" of the term does not mean a particular instance of the term refers all types of salvation.

It does not refer to justification in this example. On that we agree.

It refers to our ultimate salvation and glorification. Again we agree.
 
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