...thou shalt not build it of hewn stone (SDG)

In a previous post, I quoted C.F.W. Walther on the role of faith in the Doctrine of Justification (page 105 in a book).  I am repeating it here:

It is said that man must also do something in justification, namely believe.  Under such circumstances justification is not attributed solely to God.  But that means nothing else than robbing God of part of His honor and ascribing it to man.  Then it would not be God alone who saves us, but we would work together.  Only those who cannot distinguish sharply between condition and means can conceive such a thought.  A condition demands a performance on the part of the person who is to receive something.  For example: “I’ll give you the horse with the condition that you pay me so much for it.”  With the meeting of the condition the other promises performance in return.  Faith would then be an accomplishment on our part for which God would give us salvation in return.  But this is false.

 There was a Old Testament Bible passage that I recalled (but could not find it until recently) that brought out this thought beautifully.  Here it is:

Exodus 20:25
And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 

God clearly stated that man was not to dress up the stones for his alter so that man could claim some of the honor and glory, some of the credit.  No, salvation is from God alone!

To God Alone Be The Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

SDG!