Wanted to get back to this oxymoron idea.
What I had said was this:
WE ARE SAVED BY ONLY FAITH.
BUT NOT BY FAITH ALONE.
JUSTIFICATION:
We are saved by faith in God.
Just as in the OT.
Just as anywhere in the world where a person comes to have faith in God.
Yesterday, today or tomorrow.
ONLY FAITH saves a person.
We could try to be good all our lives and do all the best good works we can,
but if we don't have faith in God - our works will amount to nothing.
SANCTIFICATION:
Once we are saved....FAITH ALONE will not save us, or keep us saved - I think you like this term better.
Why will FAITH ALONE not keep us saved?
Because it's not what the NT teaches.
Faith Alone is a new idea which would be monerfism. As you know the reformed believe in monergism.
The rest of Christianity has always believed in synergism.
Because faith cannot stand alone...
it must be active.
Paul said if we do not have LOVE,,, we're like a clanging bell.
Paul, who penned Ephesians 2:8 said that we have to have love. (will avoid using the word "must").
Paul just ADDED SOMETHING TO FAITH.
So....faith alone does not describe the Christian person.
Faith Alone,,,being by itself, is a dead faith.
It's dead.
To be alive, it must function...our faith has to be an active faith.
Here is what I teach. Man is saved through faith and not by works (
Romans 4:5-6;
Ephesians 2:8,
9;
Titus 3:5;
2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (
James 2:14-24)
You're saying this:
Here is what I teach. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-24)
in your opinion, are we stating the same concept?
Your saying that works prove our salvation.
So if we DO NOT have works,,,then we're lost.
Right?
*Jesus saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (
Romans 3:24-26) Not to be confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" barren of works. (
James 2:14)
But this is NOT what FAITH ALONE means.
I've known for a long time that we basically agree but there's some nuance here that I can't grasp.
I believe you have an incorrect understanding of FAITH ALONE.
Could you describe it please?
People that believe in FAITH ALONE believe that they don't have to do ANYTHING in order to "remain" saved......I'd say, instead of remain...I'd use the term have a relationship with God. it takes two.
YOU don't seem to believe this (faith alone) by your statement that faith DOES produce good works.
So it would not be what is commonly known as FAITH ALONE.
It is through faith "in Jesus Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (
Romans 4:5-6;
5:1;
5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (
James 2:14-24) *Perfect Harmony*
OK
You've gone from justification to sanctification,,,but agreed.
My teaching is much older than that and comes straight out of scripture.
The Apostles come straight out of scripture.
If you're speaking of the Apostolic Fathers,,,,
they taught exactly what the Apostles taught...
and they agreed on fundamental doctrine.
FOR salvation or AFTER salvation?
I'm always speaking about AFTER salvation.
We agree 100% on how salvation is obtained.