Three Alones Rhetorical Analysis
Christina Han
TH01703
I. The three “alones” of Reformation theology is Faith alone, Scripture alone, and Grace alone. Salvation is a gift given to humans by God’s grace, and through faith alone we receive this gift of salvation. If we erroneously believe that our own actions, such as going to church and obeying the Ten Commandments, play a role in achieving salvation, then salvation would no longer be a gift from God but rather a sort of human accomplishment. In order to be given the gift of salvation, we simply need to receive it rather than pursue it by our own actions. By faith alone, we are forgiven; there is no additional “requirement” of us to do something in order to earn this salvation. We know that God is favorable to us by trusting in the promises of God, which are dictated in Scripture. So, through faith we trust in Scripture, and in Scripture we see God’s promise of salvation to all that believe. Finally, through God’s grace alone we are forgiven and saved because God’s promise of salvation is made by grace. God’s grace is …show more content…
In his arguments, Pascal attempts to illustrate the attractiveness of Christianity by describing the human condition as one of inconstancy, boredom, and anxiety when we are distant from God. In a situation without God, humans are caught in a state of uncertainty, with no stable foundation upon which a meaningful and joyous life can be founded. We are inconstant in that we find it difficult to commit ourselves to a certain issue, only partially devoting our time and thought. Since God is the ultimate ontological good that humanity seeks, without God we are left restless and dissatisfied. Thus, we quickly become bored with our present existence, forever seeking diversions and vain pleasures that might fill the void within us. However, we are ever restless and unhappy until God completes us. As a result, the more inconstancy and boredom we feel, the more anxious we get in trying to obtain some sort of satisfaction in
TH01703
I. The three “alones” of Reformation theology is Faith alone, Scripture alone, and Grace alone. Salvation is a gift given to humans by God’s grace, and through faith alone we receive this gift of salvation. If we erroneously believe that our own actions, such as going to church and obeying the Ten Commandments, play a role in achieving salvation, then salvation would no longer be a gift from God but rather a sort of human accomplishment. In order to be given the gift of salvation, we simply need to receive it rather than pursue it by our own actions. By faith alone, we are forgiven; there is no additional “requirement” of us to do something in order to earn this salvation. We know that God is favorable to us by trusting in the promises of God, which are dictated in Scripture. So, through faith we trust in Scripture, and in Scripture we see God’s promise of salvation to all that believe. Finally, through God’s grace alone we are forgiven and saved because God’s promise of salvation is made by grace. God’s grace is …show more content…
In his arguments, Pascal attempts to illustrate the attractiveness of Christianity by describing the human condition as one of inconstancy, boredom, and anxiety when we are distant from God. In a situation without God, humans are caught in a state of uncertainty, with no stable foundation upon which a meaningful and joyous life can be founded. We are inconstant in that we find it difficult to commit ourselves to a certain issue, only partially devoting our time and thought. Since God is the ultimate ontological good that humanity seeks, without God we are left restless and dissatisfied. Thus, we quickly become bored with our present existence, forever seeking diversions and vain pleasures that might fill the void within us. However, we are ever restless and unhappy until God completes us. As a result, the more inconstancy and boredom we feel, the more anxious we get in trying to obtain some sort of satisfaction in