From David Ponter:
Quite clearly Mr. Ponter is confused about who says what. Dr. Owen affirms faith was purchased by the death of Christ because the death of Christ purchased a perfect salvation. Mr. Clifford denies it, and sets forth the specious reasoning that Christians do not exercise perfect faith in this life. I reply, perfection is a benefit of Christ's death, but it is not enjoyed in the temporal sphere. The fact that it is not enjoyed in the temporal sphere does not make it any less real, as Mr. Clifford seems to imagine. Christ has accomplished even the glorification of believers, according to Eph. 2:6 and Rom. 8:30. We do not look at the things which are seen but the things which are unseen. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is not the measure of faith, but the measure of the object upon which faith is exercised, that is all-important. Hence, while faith itself is not perfect in this life, the salvation which is by faith is perfect. This is basic inaugurated eschatology!
Now what does Mr. Ponter do? He attempts to turn our attention away from the object of faith to the exercise of faith itself. He would quantify salvation in terms of faith and make the measure of faith the real thing upon which salvation depends. He supposes that because faith is not perfect in this life then believers do not have a perfect salvation. As in the case of Mr. Clifford, Mr. Ponter's theological method looks to the things which are seen rather than the things which are unseen. Why can they not see what the Bible so clearly teaches -- that Christ has purchased eternal life? This is life in perfection, life which endures for ever. Whosoever believeth in Him hath everlasting life. No, the faith whereby we look to Christ is not perfect in this life; but the Christ to whom we look by faith is perfect yesterday, and today, and for ever.
In actual fact, it does seem that Winzer has missed Clifford’s point almost entirely. Does he really want to imply that not all our faith was purchased by the death of Christ?
Quite clearly Mr. Ponter is confused about who says what. Dr. Owen affirms faith was purchased by the death of Christ because the death of Christ purchased a perfect salvation. Mr. Clifford denies it, and sets forth the specious reasoning that Christians do not exercise perfect faith in this life. I reply, perfection is a benefit of Christ's death, but it is not enjoyed in the temporal sphere. The fact that it is not enjoyed in the temporal sphere does not make it any less real, as Mr. Clifford seems to imagine. Christ has accomplished even the glorification of believers, according to Eph. 2:6 and Rom. 8:30. We do not look at the things which are seen but the things which are unseen. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is not the measure of faith, but the measure of the object upon which faith is exercised, that is all-important. Hence, while faith itself is not perfect in this life, the salvation which is by faith is perfect. This is basic inaugurated eschatology!
Now what does Mr. Ponter do? He attempts to turn our attention away from the object of faith to the exercise of faith itself. He would quantify salvation in terms of faith and make the measure of faith the real thing upon which salvation depends. He supposes that because faith is not perfect in this life then believers do not have a perfect salvation. As in the case of Mr. Clifford, Mr. Ponter's theological method looks to the things which are seen rather than the things which are unseen. Why can they not see what the Bible so clearly teaches -- that Christ has purchased eternal life? This is life in perfection, life which endures for ever. Whosoever believeth in Him hath everlasting life. No, the faith whereby we look to Christ is not perfect in this life; but the Christ to whom we look by faith is perfect yesterday, and today, and for ever.