salvation by faith alone is a shell game

1. DE MARIA May 26, 2013 at 5:34 am

   JASON LOH May 25, 2013 at 6:58 pm

   I think you have just reversed our respective theological positions. Protestants (confessional Reformed and Lutheran) do not teach and speak of salvation as being on the basis of one’s faithfulness but precisely on the faith and faithfulness of Christ.

   That’s the shell game Jason. You claim salvation by faith “alone”. Whose faith does that speak of?

   Besides, if it were by Christ’s faith and faithfulness, that would be universalism, the salvation of all regardless of their sins, which many of you preach as well.

   Or if you if will, salvation is God justifying the sinner apart from the Law.

   That’s a description of justification in Baptism and the Sacraments, where we approach God calling on Jesus name with complete faith that He will accomplish in us that which He promised, the washing of our sins.

   If I may add Luther here: If the sinner is judged but not saved on the basis of the Law, then God’s decree of justification is synonymous with election and predestination. Thus, Romans 9:18 – “[He] hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” as quoted by Jonathan (actually) support the Protestant position (and not the RC) since it clearly refers to 1. unconditional predestination and 2. particular salvific will of God. No. 1 is not official or mainstream RC teaching and No.2 is explicitly condemned by the Church.

   You read that as though God was flippant. But God has already revealed to whom He will show His mercy:
   Exodus 20:6
   King James Version (KJV)
   6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

   Those who keep the Commandments, those who do the works of God, those who obey His Son, are they whom He will justify and save. That is from Scripture, properly understood:
   Romans 2:13
   King James Version (KJV)
   13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

   Sincerely,

   De Maria