Faith alone beyond the text?

What is not a baptist view? That Faith Alone can be determined from the text which incorporates the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the faculties of the human mind, and the incorporation of several passages to discover the doctrine of faith alone. Or that the text states "faith alone" explicitly?

Also is it an accurate evaluation? What do the scriptures say explicitly?

 

Things like the Trinity are clearly defined. It is not necessary to say "this is the Trinity" in order for it to be clearly defined or understood explicity. Such is an absurd standard. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are all clearly spoken of.

Faith alone is also clearly defined. It is never beyond the text. Poor use of words and a very odd standard which holds no reality.I suggest you do a word study on faith. Sometimes your silliness astounds me.

 

Just because God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned in scripture does not mean there is clear indication how it all works together. Also textual problems arise

Does scripture say anywhere that Jesus is Homoosious with the Father and the Spirit? Its not an absurd standard when you say you are only scriptures alone. Well, how do we get to the point where we define substance with the Father and the Spirit. We find allusions but clearly defined? Which text will we use? and all the rest.

Also I may agree with you regarding faith based on how you believe scriptures define that faith. If for instance faith does not indicate action on belief I would disagree with you based on the select passages I mention above in a previous post when looking at it in more detail.

Oh, and thank you for the compliment.

 

I don't disagree that salvation is by faith alone as long as that faith includes acting on belief. My contention is that scripture may alude to salvation being by faith alone but it isn't specified in those terms which means that to make that determination you must use resources beyond text. Such as your mind, the leading of the Holy Spirit (Ghost if your pentecostal), etc.... salvation by faith is derived at not explicit in the text.

 

Saving faith is never alone. It is always accompanied by love for God and neighbor and good deeds done out of that love.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1Co 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

That is what the Catholic Church teaches as well.

 

The Catholic Church teaches that works, not simply faith saves.
It teaches that you must be born again, and then defines born again as baptism. Baptism is a work. If you don't have the work of baptism you cannot be saved. The RCC has a works-based salvation, not a salvation based on grace.
Think of this verse.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
--It is either grace or works; it cannot be both.

 

It is GRACE. The Catholic Church does not teach that if a person is simply baptized that they have salvation. If it did teach that, then it would be a 'works based salvation'. Just being a card carrying Catholic does not get a person into heaven. A Catholic's salvation is based on the Grace of God, through faith.

Interesting that Luther cut the book of James out of the Bible when he came out with his September bible. The epistle of 'straw'.

 

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

GRACE + WORKS = WORKS
Grace is canceled out by works. That is what the verse teaches. Study it carefully. If there are any works involved in salvation then there is no grace at all. This verse alone teaches that salvation is by grace alone and therefore by faith alone. There are no works involved in salvation. There can be no baptism (a work) involved in salvation. Otherwise it is a works-based salvation.

 

Context, DHK. Romans 11:6 is talking about works of the law. It is preceded by and followed by Paul's discussion of the Jews. Moreover, it says "no more of works." The NASB says "it is no longer on the basis of works." Paul is comparing what was previously (works of the law) with what now is (grace). Any discussion of baptism or any other so called "work" is irrelavent to this passage. In fact, I can't at the moment think of anywhere Paul wrote about works that he wasn't referring to circumcision, dietary rules and other works of the law.

 

James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

Proving yourself as a doer of the word is beyond the text. It is applying the text.

 

Then you are not thinking.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 4:1-5 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
--Abraham was justified by faith alone. Abraham lived before the law.

I posted (in one of these threads) a list of about a dozen Scriptures showing how works cannot be a part of salvation. You have a short memory.
Salvation is the same in the OT as it is in the NT. It is by faith, not by works. It was never by works and never will be by works. God did not accept the works of Cain, and he won't accept your works or anyone else's works. Salvation is by grace through faith and that not of yourselves. It is not of oneself; not of one's works or doings. It is by faith; faith alone.

 

HP: I missed that "period” in the Word of God. Be reminded of two other conditions of salvation besides faith that are mentioned, i.e., repentance and continued obedience. :thumbs:

 

"repentance + obedience" = works.

works = no salvation.

"repentance + faith alone = salvation.

There are no works, no continued obedience as requirements for salvation.
This is a heretical view of salvation. In fact it is the same view of salvation that is held by Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Taoism, J.W.'s, Mormons, the RCC, and every other religion of the world. Christianity does not hold to a works-based salvation, as you have described.

 

If what you say is the case it ignores Jesus own words. If faith is nothing more than believing something then scripture contradicts itself. Thus the gospels and James contradict Paul and the epistles of Paul become null because of what the Lord himself has said. No faith can only be understood as a belief that acts on what it believes or you throw out these verses:

 

James 2:14-26, "14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, [being] by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

A genuine saving faith is accompanied by works. A genuine saving faith in Jesus Christ is proven by the works that accompany it. One who believed in Jesus Christ at that time was baptized. By naming Christ as Lord meant that the emperor could have had that person executed.

An alive faith in Jesus Christ shows.

A creedal faith is nothing more than intellectual faith disguised as genuine faith. I have never seen a person who is genuinely saved and obedient who has not made disciples.

 

HP: Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Keep on thinking Zenas! :wavey::thumbs: