Justification by faith alone, anathema?

[Nehemiah6]

Faith Without Works Is Dead of course we all do not believe that.

This is an entirely different matter. Firstly we need to be clear about justification by grace through faith. God justifies -- declares righteous -- the sinner who repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ APART FROM ANY AND ALL GOOD WORKS.

At the same time God imputes righteousness to this converted sinner, and deems him or her to be as righteous as Christ. This is possible because God clothes this person with the "robe of righteousness". This is a spiritual reality based solely upon the grace of God and the finished work of Christ (who died for our sins and rose again for our justification).

Unfortunately this truth blows the minds of too many Christians (let alone the unconverted), since it goes totally against the grain of humanistic thinking.

Good works follow conversion, and if they are absent it means that there was no genuine conversion. But good works do not maintain salvation, which is by grace through faith.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I want to reassure you that I have no intention of joining hands with the Pope any time soon.

I did not think so. But there are many evangelical "leaders" who have done exactly that.

 

[John146]

This is an entirely different matter. Firstly we need to be clear about justification by grace through faith. God justifies -- declares righteous -- the sinner who repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ APART FROM ANY AND ALL GOOD WORKS.

At the same time God imputes righteousness to this converted sinner, and deems him or her to be as righteous as Christ. This is possible because God clothes this person with the "robe of righteousness". This is a spiritual reality based solely upon the grace of God and the finished work of Christ (who died for our sins and rose again for our justification).

Unfortunately this truth blows the minds of too many Christians (let alone the unconverted), since it goes totally against the grain of humanistic thinking.

Good works follow conversion, and if they are absent it means that there was no genuine conversion. But good works do not maintain salvation, which is by grace through faith.

What kind of good works? How much? What about the baby Christian who has no knowledge of what they should be doing? Do works really come automatically or with growth?

 

[Runningman]

Why did Rome Anathemize Justification faith alone.?

On the objective side they agree with Christ's work on the cross, advent, death and resurrection etc.

yet on the subjective side they anathemize the gospel of justification by faith alone.

Why is this important?

Do you believe that there are those who dislike the Protestant reformation so much that they would try to poison their watering hole with destructive and false doctrines?

 

[Nehemiah6]

What kind of good works?

1. Here's a start: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18.19)

2. How much? Jesus said greater works than His. Which is difficult to comprehend, unless it covers the good works of all the saints (the Church).

3. What about the baby Christian who has no knowledge of what they should be doing? Baby Christians can do what James said -- visit the widows and orphans and do something for them.

4. Do works really come automatically or with growth? Automatically. That is a given. See Acts 2.

 

[phil36]

Do you believe that there are those who dislike the Protestant reformation so much that they would try to poison their watering hole with destructive and false doctrines?

Yes! There are a lot of people who dislike the gospel as scripture teaches, that is, justification by faith alone. And that scripture is our infallible authority alone.

That's why the Reformation happened in the first place.

 

[Evmur]

Don't know much about Rome (don't care much about Rome, either.)

Bible is clear about all this. We come by faith, and we live by faith. Today's works are a product of the Spirit working within and through us and have no part in saving us. The saving works were accomplished by Jesus 2000 years ago.

Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Works are an effect of salvation, not a cause of it.

God is a Faith God, everything He does is by faith

... here is the trick that takes a bit longer to learn ... It is all by HIS faith

 

[Runningman]

Yes! There are a lot of people who dislike the gospel as scripture teaches, that is, justification by faith alone. And that scripture is our infallible authority alone.

That's why the Reformation happened in the first place.

Yea it’s quite a blessing to be justified by faith alone. Glory to God. Faith should not be lost under any circumstances though. Jesus of Nazareth warned us about the seed falling in unsuitable places so we could prepare for such problems.

Parable of the sower, Matthew 13.

 

[mailmandan]

I agree. But think about this: James isn't saying our works can save us. He pointing out that our good works reflect our faith, the very thing that does save us.

Exactly. In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.

 

[ResidentAlien]

God is a Faith God, everything He does is by faith

... here is the trick that takes a bit longer to learn ... It is all by HIS faith

I'm probably going to regret even asking, but I'll step out on faith. What are you talking about?

 

[John146]

1. Here's a start: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18.19)

2. How much? Jesus said greater works than His. Which is difficult to comprehend, unless it covers the good works of all the saints (the Church).

3. What about the baby Christian who has no knowledge of what they should be doing? Baby Christians can do what James said -- visit the widows and orphans and do something for them.

4. Do works really come automatically or with growth? Automatically. That is a given. See Acts 2.

Baby Christians don’t know what James said because they don’t know the Bible. Some may not even have a Bible, or church, or anyone in their life to disciple them. They may just fade back into their old ways.

Works do not save, neither do they prove someone is saved. Scripture proves someone is saved. Did they call upon the name of the Lord? Yes, then they are saved. Period.

 

[JohnDB]

Micah 6:8 connects our faith with our actions, our care for those in need with our walk with God: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”

 

[phil36]

Micah 6:8 connects our faith with our actions, our care for those in need with our walk with God: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”

Yeah, even though justification is by faith alone, its never a faith that's on its own. The faithful will bear fruit.. Good works. 👍

 

[Magenta]

Philippians 1:6
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

 

[Evmur]

I'm probably going to regret even asking, but I'll step out on faith. What are you talking about?

Faith is the imparted gift from God it comes from hearing the word of God, when that hearing with our natural ears opens the door to our inner ears we will cry for faith and God grants it.

It is the faith of God.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

Well, Catholics and Lutherans signed a Joint Declaration on Justification recently, which I believe the World Methodist Federation also adopted: https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/w...declaration-of-the-doctrine-of-justification/ Methodists tend to believe in a "second work of the Holy Spirit" called "perfect sanctification".

Some sample statements from the declaration: "4.3 Justification by Faith and through Grace 25. We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They place their trust in God’s gracious promise by justifying faith, which includes hope in God and love for him. Such a faith is active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should not remain without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it ...

4.7 The Good Works of the Justified 37. We confess together that good works—a Christian life lived in faith, hope and love—follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. Since Christians struggle against sin their entire lives, this consequence of justification is also for them an obligation they must fulfill. Thus both Jesus and the apostolic Scriptures admonish Christians to bring forth the works of love. " https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/2020/documents/joint_declaration_2019_en.pdf

God Bless.

 

[JohnDB]

Yeah, even though justification is by faith alone, its never a faith that's on its own. The faithful will bear fruit.. Good works. 👍

How can two walk together unless they agree?

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

The Catholic Church has always held, and holds to this day, that good works done post-justification by faith (as opposed to pre-justification, without faith), are "meritorious" in the sense that they are promised a Reward in Heaven. Thus, Saints who labored more for the Lord will be rewarded with a higher Crown in Heaven, as is taught in 1 Cor 3:14, Rev 2:10 etc. Similarly, Martyrs will have a Greater Reward than ordinary believers, because they suffered more for the Lord than we did, as the Lord Himself teaches after the Beatitudes. Those who fast, pray, love, give alms more etc, likewise, a greater reward. Yet, none will be saved without faith in Christ. Faith then is the basic necessity for salvation. Works earn or merit a higher reward. But Eternal Salvation is not earned or merited, but remains a purely gracious or unearned gift of God's Grace. Recently, I learned that some Protestants, theologians as well as laity, agree with the concept of "Biblical Reward" for good works done post justification. God Bless.

Taken from: https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1984-1/1984-1-08.pdf

"1. Texts on Works and Final Reward Texts which seem to show a final relationship of works and reward include the following:

Matt 5:11-12 - "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you . . . for great is your reward in heaven."

Matt 6:l-4 - Alms are to be in secret, "and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly."

Matt 6:14-15 - "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, your Father will not forgive your trespasses."

Matt 19:27-30 - Peter queries, "What, then, shall we have?" (after stating, "We have left all and followed YOU"). Jesus responds by referring to final rewards, adding that "many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." 1

Cor 9:24 - Counsel is given to so run the race as to obtain the prize. 1 Cor 15:58 - Exhortation to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

 

[Grandpa]

Faith is the imparted gift from God it comes from hearing the word of God, when that hearing with our natural ears opens the door to our inner ears we will cry for faith and God grants it.

It is the faith of God.

John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

I would add 2 Jn 1:8 and 1 Cor 3:8 and 14 to the above verses that speak of reward for works done in faith, post justification.

2 Jn 1:8 "Watch yourselves so that you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward."

1 Cor 3:8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

1 Cor 3:14 "If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward."