[fortheDeclaration]

The Galatians had received from Paul the wisdom of justification before God by faith in Christ alone. Paul never said "alone." In reality, the only time “alone” appears with the word “faith” in the original Greek text is in James 2:24 where it says we are not saved by faith alone.

Actually, I did not say that it was faith 'alone' I said it was in faith in Christ alone.

In other words, no 'wafer'gods, Mary gods or Pope gods'

Justification is said to be without works in Gal.3:16, hence 'alone'.

James has to do with how man sees our faith, not whether we were saved by it (James 3:14-2)

[winstonchurchill]

In other words, no 'wafer'gods, Mary gods or Pope gods'.

Boy, you are firing on all cylinders this morning.

What is interesting about your post is that Luther refused to reconcile with Zwingli on Zwingli's (proper) 'remembrance' view of the Lord's Supper (as opposed to Luther's 'consubstantiation' -- whatever that means) because Luther held out hope of reconciling with the RCC and felt that Rome could never be completely reformed to the Scriptural view in one step. He felt that his 'compromise' with their 'wafer god' (as you so aptly put it) was a necessary concession to 'compromise'.

Obviously, it didn't work and the RCC marched on in their multiple errors and the poor Lutherans were left with a Scripturally indefensible doctrine.

[WriteOn]

Quoting Paul with reference to the context is an exercise in schism. Paul contrasts Faith with the Law (works). As such his emphasis on faith is to counter the influence of the Mosaic influence of his listeners, particularly the Galatians. For anyone to read that and think the he means Faith alone, when he clearly means faith versus the Law of Moses is a great error. Justification is said to be without works in Gal.3:16, hence 'alone' I have to say again, that you and Luther are both adding the "alone." It is not Paul's meaning. How could it be when God himself emphasizes the works of the Good Samaritan, the charity of the Widow's Mite, etc. You are lost if you believe in Faith Alone.

[WriteOn]

Before I continue to go on about this. Here's a link to James Akin on Justification by Faith Alone versus salvation sola gratia.

http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/faith_al.htm

Is your position(s) sola fide formata or sola fide informis? If it's sola fide formata, I'll go away...