(Warning: no, I did not read all, just the beginning and end.)
Perhaps.
My problem with the “Protestant” “faith-only” is that it means people can glibly fly in the face of God even while professing to “believe” and even “love” Him.
To happily, knowingly carry on with sinfulness - especially blatant, obvious, horrible sin - is extremely disrespectful to God. I fear it has led to our society stating to itself “I can do anything I want, because God will still love me and save me” (along with the Calvinist vision of “God will do whatever He wants with me so it matters not if I am immoral or good”). That may be true, but it’s like stabbing Him in the back.
I truly appreciate the Protestant idea that it’s “grace” alone, God’s will to reward faith only.
But honestly, perhaps it IS both - more emphasis on the faith, but still some acknowledgement that “you better be good”.
People are excusing themselves too much nowadays with the “but God will forgive me”.
I think if you read the article you’ll see you agree with the author. He deals with the subject you raise and how Scripture addresses the problem.
I hear this often. While I am no homophile, I don’t see why a homo can’t be saved, in fact, we should all pray for that. “Continuing to live in sin”. Unfortunately, we all do. “We all fall short” our Sin is covered in His Grace. THis week has been a challenge in discriminating Righteous Indignation vs Hate. Righteous Indignation is a pretty delicate trick to pull off and best avoided by most of us.
Jesus’ half-brother, James, had the same problem with “faith-only” and you do! Read his letter! It is really enlightening.
The point is you don’t HAVE to do anything for your salvation, except believe, BUT, if you really believe then you WILL DO things that show you are “keeping His commandments.”
Uh, no. It's does not.
One lives his faith. Everyone does. If you stumble, it's because your faith stumbles. If you "glibly fly in the face of God," then you do not have the faith that saves.
We’re talking about real faith here, not lip service.
People who pay lip service to God and profess to be Chrisitans and have that kind of attitude are no Chrisitans.
Your comparison does not negate the security of the BELIEVER, the one who is born again by God, not the one who claims to be and has no fruit to show it.
By stating assurance is heresy, the CATHOLIC religion is professing that GOF is not big enough, knowledgeable enough, or Righteous enough, nor is the sacrifice of JESUS (God with us) on the Cross enough to assure GOD's Promises, so man has to help GOD! THAT IS REAL DAMNING HERESY, rejecting THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.
AS a Lutheran, of the Missouri Synod persuasion, I can say that much has been said in my church about this. The issue is one of timing. We believe that we are saved by grace alone, through faith, FOR works.
The believer is not saved, by his works, but the works are rather the logical output of a person who has the assurance of salvation. The works demonstrate that we are saved; they don’t save us. The good works that Christ prepared for us to do are our fruits. Jesus said, “by their fruits, you will know them.” James says, “Show me your faith by what you say; I will show you mine by what I do.”
As Christians, we should seek to do good works out of gratitude to God for his grace, and therefore our faith. We will still mess up and sin and do wrong, but that is being human. That said , it’s not a loophole. We must acknowledge our sin and seek forgiveness by our repentance and prayer. Our assurance rests on the fact that Christ died for us and that we know, because God is no liar, that if we believe (and everything that comes with that), we will be saved.
Hope this helps.
SAVED by grace:
KEPT by works.
The gracious gift of salvation commensurate with the new Spiritual Birth is the beginning of sanctification, not the end of it.
“People are excusing themselves too much nowadays with the “but God will forgive me”.”
The Lord cannot be gamed, as He recognizes evidence and knows the heart of every man. They are only fooling themselves.
And Roman Catholics don't go out and sin and then head for confession???
Your argument fails on this point....you presume all "protestants" are conducting their lives in the manner you describe.
To happily, knowingly carry on with sinfulness - especially blatant, obvious, horrible sin - is extremely disrespectful to God.
Hey, we've got Roman Catholics on these forums tossing profanities around like they're candy and then try to make excuses for doing so. Some even type out "My God..." or "SOB" and think nothing of it.
I truly appreciate the Protestant idea that it’s “grace” alone, God’s will to reward faith only.
Actually, it's His idea. Ephesians 2:8-9 confirms that.