Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Daniel Chew Declares That There Is Possibility Of Salvation Apart From Christ!

οὐ ἀθετέω ὁ χάρις ὁ θεός εἰ γάρ διά νόμος δικαιοσύνη ἄρα Χριστός δωρεάν ἀποθνήσκω (Gal. 2:21, Tischendorf 8th Ed.)

In his most recent post on the topic of the “Law and Gospel”, Daniel Chew – with his self-acclaimed Puritan and Reformed orthodoxy – makes the most heretical statement I have ever read in the blogosphere for a long time.

Let us peruse his very words with theological perspicacity. He wrote:

The Law: It can theoretically save.

Gal. 3:10 allows for the possibility of salvation by the Law if one obeys all of them perfectly … Verse 21 however informs us that the failure of the Law was that it could not give life, otherwise the Law could otherwise suffice for righteousness and salvation, thus showing forth the theoretical potential of the Law to save.

He concluded:

Thus, it can be seen that the Scriptures do teach that the Law have the potentiality for meriting salvation.

Exclusive Evangelicals (and unhappily for Daniel Chew, most if not all neo-orthodox theologians) have always agreed that there is no possibility of salvation or justification apart from Christ, who is the [only] way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6).

All Puritans and Reformers of Christendom have always declared that justification is only in Christ Jesus, and that there is no possibility of salvation (or justification) apart from Christ.

But Daniel Chew – with his self-acclaimed Puritan and Reformed orthodoxy – believes otherwise.

Daniel Chew asserts, “that the Scriptures do teach that the Law have the potentiality for meriting salvation,” that “Gal. 3:10 allows for the possibility of salvation by the Law,” and that “[Gal. 3:21 shows] forth the theoretical potential of the Law to save.”

We can derive the following with simple syllogistic reasoning:

A = There is the possibility of salvation by the Law alone.

Which is theologically equivalent to:

A1 = There is the possibility of justification before God by the Law alone.

But if A1, then B1.

Where:

B1 = There is the possibility of justification before God by the Law apart from Christ.

B1 is another way of saying, “There is the possibility of salvation apart from Jesus Christ.”

So in essence, Daniel Chew is declaring that, “There is the possibility of salvation apart from Jesus Christ.”

Daniel Chew, who delights in declaring various theologians as heretics e.g. Karl Barth, has now committed one of the most grievous heresies of all time – by deviating from the exclusivist’s doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9).

PuritanReformed’s heresy is joyfully embraced by his newfound bulldog – Joel Tay – when he reaffirms Daniel Chew’s heresy in his comment to Daniel’s post.

Joel exclaimed, “Excellent! Amen to that.”

And Joel Tay had the guts to call Trinity Theological College – where he is a student – liberal.

But I, Antithesis, together with the real Reformers, Puritans, Evangelicals, and the more “liberal” theologians (according to Daniel Chew and Joel Tay) like Bultmann (1), Hubner (2), and Sanders (3) declare that there is no possibility of salvation apart from Christ. Amen?

I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought. (ASV, Gal. 2:21)

References:

1. Rudolf Bultmann, Theology of the New Testament, 2 Vols (New York: Scribner’s. 1952) 1:264.

2. Hans Hubner, Law in Paul’s Thought (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1984), 119.

3. E. P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977), 442-447, 474-511; idem, Paul, the Law, and the Jewish People (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983), 17-91.

16 comments:

Daniel C said...

As usual, you misrepresent my position. What's new? Do you even know what classic Reformed orthodoxy teaches on this subject? From this post, I guess not...

Daniel C said...

One word of advice to you: If you want to be my shadow and critique me continuously, then you may wish to know that negativity will get you nowhere, either intellectually or spiritually. And I will delete even the links you leave behind on my blog so you will not get traffic through my blog. If you just wish to rant on the Net and show forth your folly, you are certainly free to do so, but I would guess you would have better things to do with your time than to talk to the wall.

Antithesis said...

Mr Daniel Chew,

Nobody "misrepresented" you.

Your very own words had given you away. Anyone can read YOUR words on YOUR blog and judge for himself.

You DID ADMIT THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVATION THROUGH THE LAW. And please, do not think too highly of yourself. Nobody wants to "shadow" you. You wrote heresy on blogosphere, and as a fellow "watchman" like yourself, we have the responsibility to expose your HERESY.

It is only right before God to do so.

May God have mercy on your soul for believing such heresy.

Antithesis

Daniel C said...

ROFL! Don't make me laugh! Now, before I descend down to your level of debauched irrationality, I will excuse myself from your ignorant rantings... May God have mercy upon your irrational and depraved soul.

Daniel C said...

Talking about "shadowing", somebody does not have the guts to reveal his real name... and it ain't me! Wasn't there a verse talking about the Devil doing his deeds in the dark? Hmmmm.......

Antithesis said...

Dear Mr Chew,

Besides ad hominem attacks on my character, what have you done to refute my exposé of your heretical beliefs?

The silence is deafening.

Talking about "watching," why don't you encourage others to "watch" you as well? Afraid of being exposed?

Antithesis

gbhfdl5555 said...

Dear Antithesis, excellent expose of puritanreformed aka astronova aka Daniel Chew's soteriology.
It is just as well that this is your blog or he would be deleting your posts and blocking you from posting by now. I speak with experience. I also was called the Devil for having the audacity to use an online pseudonym. Silly question, you have an online pseudionym and you are the Devil, he has at lreast two online pseudonyms, what does that make him?

Antithesis said...

Dear gbhfdl5555,

Daniel is a sick boy. His ego needs such stroking that even a little criticism would kill him.

As a Watchman of Watchmen (self-appointed like Daniel), I have to "watch" his heresies like a peeping tom (like Daniel).

Peeping Daniel peeps at others; but he doesn't like others peeping at him.

What a hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

It seems that Daniel Chew Huicong is a closet heretic who flaunts an evangelical facade.

I agree with what you noted: even Barthians are more orthodox than Daniel Chew Huicong’s heretical beliefs concerning works-based salvation.

yours,
Michelle DeYoung

Anonymous said...

Mr Watchman Daniel Chew isn't Confessional or Reformed, nor should he clam to be and he doesn't follow the Westminster Standards.

Also, the way he comments here it sounds like he needs to be wearing an ADULT DIAPER!

Anonymous said...

Tsk tsk tsk, Daniel is truly a heretic. He goes around criticizing other pastors, but HE IS THE ULTIMATE HERETIC. He is a legalist and definitely not Reformed.

And fancy putting a graduation photo of himself ... is he THAT desparate to SHOW OFF his BSc? I heard from his classmates that his grades sucks too ... the truth hurts, isn't that so?

Boon said...

I googled "Daniel Chew" and this blog came up second in rank ... I'm not very surprised that Daniel is what you described him to be. I was once his friend and to cut things short, I broke up the friendship with him. I am now a graduate student and he probably doesn't like the idea. If he would have the opportunity to study theology, imagine the kind of PRIDE he would have. He is like THIS BEFORE any academic qualifications!

Puritan Deformed said...

Hey Antithesis,

Your blog ROCKS!

Just found your blog by googling Daniel's name, and I thot the posts are just hilarious!

Keep up the GREAT work. It feels so GREAT to see the unchristian, evil Daniel being put in his place!

He has a spirit of bitterness, and you can tell that from the spirit of all his critical posts on heretics, apostates etc.

I rebuke thee, you spirit of bitterness. Get thee out now!

Anonymous said...

Whoever you are

I googled "Daniel Chew" and this link came up second in rank.

You have an axe to grind with him eh?

Sadly, Daniel doesn't seem to know that he is the cause of all these. Many see him as a horrible testimony for his religion: petty, narrow-minded, vengeful, two-faced, and uses his blog as a vent for his pent-up anger and frustration.

This blog is funny because ... BECAUSE ... what you write is very sadly true.

Why don't you talk to him if you know him?

I don't think he will change though ...

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Dan Sheehan said...

Having read this expose of Daniel Chew, it is clear that he is heretical in his soteriology. It seems that he carefully hides his heresy by confounding the readers with circumlocution and double entendres. The trait of deliberate pussyfooting on crucial theological issues while "exposing" non-essential errors is the mark of the beast - Daniel Chew Huicong.

Well said, AT.