Not By Faith Alone

[Linkowski]

Yes, we are to make certain of our calling and election…yes, we are to fear God…but, we have confidence that we are saved and we know that we are saved by the Word of God…

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are…of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Assurance comes through the book of 1 John…

1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {is born: or, has been born}
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. {is born: Gr. has been born}
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. {is born: Gr. has been born}
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Of course, 1 John 5:4 shows that we who are born of God will persevere as do many other scriptures.

Then he says -

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Present tense - have…

Then, the last question that I got was, “how do you know”. You cannot deny that God’s Word says “once saved always saved” and, if I remember correctly, nobody could really exaplin this verse nor the others the last time that I was on here. How do I know??? Can you know…

1Jo 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

God’s Word is clear…

1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

I thank the Lord for the gift that He has bestowed upon me!

 

[Randy_Carson]

Yes, we are to make certain of our calling and election…yes, we are to fear God…but, we have confidence that we are saved and we know that we are saved by the Word of God…

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are…of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Assurance comes through the book of 1 John…

1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {is born: or, has been born}
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. {is born: Gr. has been born}
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. {is born: Gr. has been born}
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Of course, 1 John 5:4 shows that we who are born of God will persevere as do many other scriptures.

Then he says -

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Present tense - have…

Then, the last question that I got was, “how do you know”. You cannot deny that God’s Word says “once saved always saved” and, if I remember correctly, nobody could really exaplin this verse nor the others the last time that I was on here. How do I know??? Can you know…

1Jo 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

God’s Word is clear…

1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

I thank the Lord for the gift that He has bestowed upon me!

Link-

Long time no see.

Are you saying that salvation is an event that is past tense? Justification is past tense? Nothing yet to come?

 

[Linkowski]

Justification is past…Sanctification present…and glorification future…

When one has been born of God and is in Christ and has passed from death to life…etc…they are in Christ and dead to the law. Sin cannot be imputed when there is no law that we can be comdemned by…

Ro 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Now, I live by the law…but the law as you know was made for the sinner that their sin might be revealed. But once justfied (declared righteous), then we are dead to the law and there is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus…

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Ro 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Dead to the law, declared righteous…

Ro 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Impute means to take our sin into account from the standpoint of law and justice. We will still sin although, as we mature in Christ, we are purged from our dead works and are conformed to the image of Christ and are free to serve God (as we are detangled from the sin in our lives).

Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

Or, in other words, if we persevere - that means that we HAVE BECOME partakers with Christ. Perseverance is an evidence and not a condition - although we must persevere.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Justification is past…Sanctification present…and glorification future…

I hear ya. So, was Abraham justified one time at some point in his life?

 

[Redbandito]

Also, I just read this Scripture on line today but I forget the reference. If you have a concordance you’ll find it. It talks about the Spirit bearing witness with us and assuring us that we ARE children of God. Not that we may be after dying and perhaps a trip through purgatory. It is saying that we ARE children of God. The Holy Spirit does not lie. Peace.

1 Jn, Rom 8, and Gal 4 all tell us this. Catholics agree that we receive divine adoption in our initial justification through faith, repentance and baptism. HOWEVER, this does not mean that we cannot disown our family. Unless you deny free will, there is no way around this. For love is a choice and a commitment. If we decide to reject our family, a loving God cannot force us against our will.

 

[Redbandito]

Or, in other words, if we persevere - that means that we HAVE BECOME partakers with Christ. Perseverance is an evidence and not a condition - although we must persevere.

So in other words, one can have no “assurance” until he knows he has persevered? Just using your words here Craig. Also, your final sentence contradicts itself. If perseverence is not a “condition” then we DON’T have to persevere.

 

[SolaScriptura]

I hear ya. So, was Abraham justified one time at some point in his life?

Yes, he was, which was the Apostle’s Paul argument in Romans 4 against the Jews. He was justified at Genesis 15 when his faith was credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:1-3
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

But this was only part of the argument. The other part is that he was justified before circumcision which took place at Genesis 17 as the Apostle goes on to say:

Romans 4:9-10
9Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

The Jews were contending that Abraham was justified by works as covenant keeping Jew in Genesis 22 when he offered his son up. This is why the Apostle Paul makes the argument that he was justified before the Covenant was ratified in Genesis 17. Therefore, because Abraham was justified before the covenant was ratified by faith, then the Gentiles can be justified in the same way.

Grace and Peace.
solaFidian

 

[Redbandito]

Yes, he was, which was the Apostle’s Paul argument in Romans 4 against the Jews. He was justified at Genesis 15 when his faith was credited as righteousness.

But this was only part of the argument. The other part is that he was justified before circumcision which took place at Genesis 17 as the Apostle goes on to say:

The Jews were contending that Abraham was justified by works as covenant keeping Jew in Genesis 22 when he offered his son up. This is why the Apostle Paul makes the argument that he was justified before the Covenant was ratified in Genesis 17. Therefore, because Abraham was justified before the covenant was ratified by faith, then the Gentiles can be justified in the same way.

Grace and Peace.
solaFidian

Actually, the Bible, and Paul, did not teach this. What Paul teaches is that Abraham was not justified by the Mosaic ceremonial laws that included “Circumcision,” but rather through his faith. This is made quite clear by appealing to Romans 3:28 where Paul makes the distinction as plain as day. Paul states, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Thus, we must enter Romans 4 with this in mind. We see that Paul intended this train of though to continue throughout chapter 4 because he states in verses 9-11, "We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them."

In other words, it was not circumcision that justified Abraham, but rather his faith.

However, this presents us with an apparent problem. Because this is not the first, nor would it be the last time Abraham was “justified” (i.e. Considered righteous) according to the Scripture. James 2:21 states, **“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?” **Thus, while Paul tells us Abraham was justified by faith, and not works of the law, James tells us that Abraham, as any “person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jam 2:24). This apparently puts Paul and James at odds. James was written later than Romans (earlychristianwritings.com/romans.html and earlychristianwritings.com/james.html), so is he completely rejecting Paul’s thoughts on justification? Of course not! James is correcting a common error in thought, even for Christians today, that Paul rejected the idea that “works” justified. Paul, in fact, in his own writings did not reject this. Paul rejected that we were justified by “works of the law.” In other words, Paul rejected that we must become Jewish to be justified. This is why Paul states that Abraham was **“the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them” **(Rom 4:11).

So, while Paul is saying that being a Jew did not justify Abraham, he is not making the point that Abraham was ONLY justified in Gen 15. He NEVER states that. Paul’s focus is specifically and clearly on whether Abraham had to be Jewish in order for his faith to justify him. Paul’s answer is NO!

 

[Redbandito]

Continued…

The other discrepancy that is apparent between James and Paul is that Paul seems to think that Abraham was justified in Gen 15, while James states this about Abraham in Gen 22. How can this be? James is clearly making the point that justification is not a one-time event. Why? He uses the terminology applied to Abraham in Gen 15 for Abraham’s action in Gen 22. Thus, James clearly shows that Abraham’s justification was not a one-time event, but rather a process.

To add to this, we see that the writer of Hebrews states, **“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. **
**11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because hea]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” **(Heb 11:8-12).

Okay Josh, what’s your point? It’s all fine and dandy, Abraham had faith according to the writer of Hebrews, big deal! The problem is that this refers to another chapter of Genesis. Gen TWELVE! Thus, Abraham had faith, and put this faith into practice, BEFORE he was reportedly justified in Gen 15.

We also know that the writer of Hebrews was discussing faith that justifies, because he made this quite clear in verse 4, **“By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.” **So the context of Heb 11 is clearly speaking of justifying faith.

How can this be if justification is a one-time event? Well, that’s just it. It CAN’T be. That is why justification is NOT a one-time event. Gen 12 states, **"1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. **

**2 "I will make you into a great nation **
**and I will bless you; **
**I will make your name great, **
**and you will be a blessing. ****3 I will bless those who bless you, **
**and whoever curses you I will curse; **
**and all peoples on earth **
will be blessed through you."

Thus, we know God and Abraham had a “personal relationship” prior to Gen 15. We know Abraham believed and obeyed God. This is what Protestants often call “saving faith.” Thus, Abraham is justified in Gen 12, Gen 15 AND in Gen 22. Justification is thus, not a one-time event, but rather a process, as the Scripture teaches quite clearly.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Yes, he was, which was the Apostle’s Paul argument in Romans 4 against the Jews. He was justified at Genesis 15 when his faith was credited as righteousness.

One time?

Justification as an ongoing process

In Genesis, we read: “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

Commenting on this passage, the Apostle Paul wrote:

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ “ (Romans 4:1-3)

If justification is a one-time event as many Protestants claim it to be, then Abraham could not receive justification either before or after this event in Genesis 15:6. However, the Bible states he did both.

First, consider this passage:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)

The subject of Hebrews 11 is saving faith as can be seen from the opening verses: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” (Hebrews 11:1-2) One is not commended for one’s faith unless it is saving faith. Therefore, the faith that Abraham is commended for in Hebrews 11:8 must be saving faith. But when did Abraham have this saving faith? It was “when called to go to a place he would later receive” and he “obeyed and went”.

The problem for the once-for-all view of justification is that the call of Abraham to leave Haran is recorded in Genesis 12:1-4, three chapters before he is justified in Genesis 15:6. From this, we see that Abraham was justified before, years before, he was justified in Genesis 16:6.

But that’s not all. James tells us:

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:21-23 KJV)

The account of the testing of Abraham is found in Genesis 22 which is well after Genesis 15:6.

We see, therefore, that Abraham was justified on at least three different occasions: Genesis 12, when he left Haran in faith; in Genesis 15, when he believed God’s promise concerning his descendants; and in Genesis 22, when he offered his son, Isaac, on the altar. As a result, justification must be seen, not as a once-for-all event, but as a process that continues throughout the believer’s life.

*Adapted from *The Salvation Controversy by James Akin.

 

[kaycee]

It is truly by Faith, Works are the result. Eph 28-10

Rom 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about–but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 **Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. **."

The Book of JAMES, the Faith that saves show itself to the world by good works. Eph 2:8-10

The question of faith alone or faith plus works is made difficult by some hard-to-reconcile Bible passages. Compare Romans 3:28, 5:1 and Galatians 3:24 with James 2:24. Some see a difference between Paul (salvation is by faith alone) and James (salvation is by faith plus works). In reality, Paul and James did not disagree at all. The only point of disagreement some people claim is over the relationship between faith and works. Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works. This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about. James is refuting the belief that a person can have faith without producing any good works (James 2:17-18). James is emphasizing the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his life. If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his life – then he likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17)! James and Paul do not disagree on their teaching on salvation. They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith alone while James put emphasis on the fact that faith in Christ produces good works.

We find that there is no conflict in doctrine between James and Paul. A common denominator between them is found in John, Chapter 15. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2, KJV.) Jesus is the source of works for those who have faith, and those works are presented in this chapter as “fruit.” One would not expect an apple tree to bear figs, or an orange tree to bear potatoes. An apple tree bears apples because it is the nature of the tree to do so. Likewise, a Christian bears fruits of the spirit because it is the nature of the spirit within all Christians to do so. This is how James can say, “I will show thee my faith by my works” (2:19, KJV.) James is not referring to the keeping of Sabbath laws; he is referring to works that are fruits of the Spirit. Consequently, James can say that “faith without works is dead” (2:20, KJV.)

 

[Redbandito]

Kaycee,

With all due respect, Paul never teaches faith alone. He teaches faith apart from works the law. These are two very different things.

Catholics do agree, however, that our works are the fruit of the grace we received through our faith. That is why Catholics say that our works don’t “earn us salvation.” Simply because they are the product of grace, just as our faith is.

 

[kaycee]

Kaycee,

With all due respect, Paul never teaches faith alone. He teaches faith apart from works the law. These are two very different things.

Catholics do agree, however, that our works are the fruit of the grace we received through our faith. That is why Catholics say that our works don’t “earn us salvation.” Simply because they are the product of grace, just as our faith is.

Paul never says Faith plus anything else for salvation.

If it is Faith and anything else, we could boast!

 

[Redbandito]

Paul never says Faith plus anything else for salvation.

If it is Faith and anything else, we could boast!

Actually he does. And by way you explain “merit,” wouldn’t us having to believe or have faith (something we do and have) give us reason to boast? The answer is of course, NO! Because just as works are a gift of the grace of God, faith is a gift of the grace of God. Thus, we have no more reason to boast in ourselves than unbelievers.

 

[SolaScriptura]

One time?

[Justification as an ongoing process
In Genesis, we read: “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

Commenting on this passage, the Apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 4:1-3
**
Yes, I quoted that same verse. If justification is the event that brings someone in a right relationship with God, explain to me how one comes into a more right relationship with God?

If justification is a one-time event as many Protestants claim it to be, then Abraham could not receive justification either before

did Abraham have this saving faith? It was “when called to go to a place he would later receive” and he “obeyed and went”.

The problem for the once-for-all view of justification is that the call of Abraham to leave Haran is recorded in Genesis 12:1-4, three chapters before he is justified in Genesis 15:6. From this, we see that Abraham was justified before, years before, he was justified in Genesis 16:6.

Here is your first problem. Hebrews 11 is not necessarily about saving faith. This is easily proven by looking at the examples of faith it gives in that chapter.

Hebrews 11:3
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

If believing the above is saving faith then all OrthodoxJews were justified and still are today because they all believe this!! Another example.

Hebrews 11:29
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

We know from Hebrews 3:16-19 that those who by faith passed through the Red Sea with Moses never entered God’s rest. It is because they never combined their hearing of the Gospel with faith!(Hebrews 4:1-3). So it is faith in the Gospel that saves!! Having faith by doing these other things is great, but t not necessarily justifying. So this doesn’t prove your point.
Randy Carson:

But that’s not all. James tells us:
(James 2:21-23 KJV)

The account of the testing of Abraham is found in Genesis 22 which is well after

Genesis 15:6.

James is not talking about justification in the sense of coming in a right relationship with God, because Abraham already had that as shown by the Apostle Paul when he was credited with righteousness in Genesis 15. So what is James point? Well, earlier in the chapter he makes it clear that he is talking about a demonstration or showing of one’s justification.

James 2:18
“… Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

Coming into a right relationship with God is an invisible thing that takes place when God declares one as just. Our good works are a vindication of God’s declaration and it shows that we are truly justified.
Randy Carson:

We see, therefore, that Abraham was justified on at least three different occasions: Genesis 12, when he left Haran in faith; in Genesis 15, when he believed God’s promise concerning his descendants; and in Genesis 22, when he offered his son, Isaac, on the altar. As a result, justification must be seen, not as a once-for-all event, but as a process that continues throughout the believer’s life.

You haven’t proven a thing yet. The Catholic position about Abraham is nonsensical in the end. You have to believe the following in order to accept this teaching.

1. 
   *]Abraham was justified in Genesis 12 ( per Hebrews 11 )
   *]Abraham lost his justification
   *]Abraham was re-justified in Genesis 15 as an ungodly man( per Romans 4:1-5)
   *]Abraham lost his justification
   *]Abraham was re-justified in Genesis 22 on the basis of works.( per James 2:21,24)
   
   Not only is this nonsensical, but it refutes Paul’s argument in Romans 4. Because if Abraham is re-justified in Genesis 22 based on works, then Paul’s argument against the Jews that justification happens not because of work before circumcision( that Genesis 17 ) is not really true! The Jews could have responded, but you missed one important point Paul, Abraham was justified after circumcision based on his work of offering up his son in Genesis 22!!
   
   Grace and Peace,
   SolaScriptura( aka SolaFidian )

 

[SolaScriptura]

Actually he does. And by way you explain “merit,” wouldn’t us having to believe or have faith (something we do and have) give us reason to boast? The answer is of course, NO! Because just as works are a gift of the grace of God, faith is a gift of the grace of God. Thus, we have no more reason to boast in ourselves than unbelievers.

Whenever the Apostle Paul is speaking of justification faith is one side and works on the other. Faith is always distinguished from works and not just “works of the law”. Good works only come from someone who is already justified, because before that they ungodly( Romans 4:5). Good works only come from one who is already in Christ(i.e. justified) which is the point of Eph 2:10. One can definitely boast about grace infused works. The Jews the Apostle Paul was writing against believed in grace and they also believed in their works, sounds just like Catholicism

 

[The_Catholic]

John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not OBEY the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.”

Hebrews 5:9: “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who OBEY him.”

James 1:22: But be DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

1 Peter 1:2: “…chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for OBEDIENCE to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood…”

There are many other verses similar to these too, especialy Matt. 7:16-27; Titus 3:5-8; and James 2:14-26.

What is Faith, a simple head knowledge of who God or Jesus Christ is? Or is it making a speech about accepting Christ as your savior? No! Faith is giving your ENTIRE life to God/Jesus Christ/The HolySpirit and following Him. Anotherwords, one does not say “I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as my savior. But I’m a sinner and so tonight I will again go to the strip club, or cheat on my wife, etc. Because God understands.” No way! Holy Scripture clearly condems this type of “faith.” 1 John 2:3-6: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we know that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

What are these commandments? I would think that they are every commandment in the Bible, especialy Jesus’ whole teaching on morality when He spoke on the Sermon on the Mount. Also, to repent of our sins, and to believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son are commandments: Acts 17:30; 1 John 3:23. These are not options but commandments that we have to OBEY, otherwise we sin. And when we obey it is not us nor our merits, but the grace of God. He gets all the glory, all of it!

 

[The_Catholic]

Canons among the Catholic Church:

Canon 20: "Man does NO GOOD except that which GOD BRINGS about that man performs.

Canon 25: “In a word, to love God is a gift of God. He, yet unloved, loved us and gave us the power to love…Through the sin of the first man, the free will is so weakened and warped, that NO ONE THERE-AFTER CAN EITHER LOVE GOD AS HE OUGHT, OR BELIEVE IN GOD, or do good for the sake of God, UNLESS MOVED, PREVIOULSLY, BY THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE MERCY…In every good work that we do, it is not we who have the initiative, aided, subsequently, by the mercy of God, but that he begins by inspiring faith and love towards Him, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR MERRIT OF OURS.”

There are many more canons like these within the Catholic Church. Therefore, the stuborn myth, mainly from ignorant Protestants (no pun intended) should cease to exist but sadly, it doesn’t.

No Solo Scriptua, the jews were not at all like Catholicism. Not now, not ever.

God bless you.

 

[SolaScriptura]

Canons among the Catholic Church:

Canon 20: "Man does NO GOOD except that which GOD BRINGS about that man performs.

Canon 25: “In a word, to love God is a gift of God. He, yet unloved, loved us and gave us the power to love…Through the sin of the first man, the free will is so weakened and warped, that NO ONE THERE-AFTER CAN EITHER LOVE GOD AS HE OUGHT, OR BELIEVE IN GOD, or do good for the sake of God, UNLESS MOVED, PREVIOULSLY, BY THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE MERCY…In every good work that we do, it is not we who have the initiative, aided, subsequently, by the mercy of God, but that he begins by inspiring faith and love towards Him, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR MERRIT OF OURS.”

There are many more canons like these within the Catholic Church. Therefore, the stuborn myth, mainly from ignorant Protestants (no pun intended) should cease to exist but sadly, it doesn’t.

No Solo Scriptua, the jews were not at all like Catholicism. Not now, not ever.

God bless you.

Of course they are, the Jews believed the same thing. All you have to do is substitute Baptism for circumcision. They believed in God’s grace, God chose them by grace and established the covenant with them by grace. However, in order to be saved at the end they had to obey God’s commandments. Like Catholicism, you get in by grace, but you remain in by your works, of course they are grace infused as if that makes a big difference.

 

[The_Catholic]

Are you so dull that you cannot understand the Church’s teaching on Grace? Did not what I just wrote you, show you, that we are saved by grace, completely by His grace? Or do you believe that you can call Christ your savior, and still continue to live in sin because, oh God understands?

Baptism? Martin Luther, the first, at least the first known solo scriptua, believed in Baptismal Regeneration and many other “Catholic” doctrines.