Inherint contradictions teaching Faith Alone

[JLB]

You did not answer my questions directly and this above is 'descriptive' of the unrighteous/children of the devil. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 John 3:7-10)

I showed you where I answered your question.

If you have another question then ask it.

 

[JLB]

so sinless perfection is out.

I have found that the sinless perfection people and Reformed people have the same belief.

Neither group believes they need to confess their sins.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Then there is the command to forgive others if we want our sins to be forgiven.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

 

[mailmandan]

Amen.

The question is…

If you should sin, do you confess your sins so that you will be forgiven?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

I already told you numerous times that 1 John 1:9 needs to be interpreted in contrast with 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10.

 

[mailmandan]

I have found that the sinless perfection people and Reformed people have the same belief.

Neither group believes they need to confess their sins.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Then there is the command to forgive others if we want our sins to be forgiven.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

What if you forget a sin? Inventory confession is fallible. Forgiveness is the mark of a genuine believer.

 

[mailmandan]

I showed you where I answered your question.

If you have another question then ask it.

Vaguely but not directly. I was looking for yes or no answers.

 

[Free]

I have found that the sinless perfection people and Reformed people have the same belief.

Neither group believes they need to confess their sins.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Then there is the command to forgive others if we want our sins to be forgiven.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

That is blatantly false regarding Reformed beliefs. Sure, there might be some who believe it, but clearly there are some non-Reformed people who do as well.

 

[JLB]

That is blatantly false regarding Reformed beliefs. Sure, there might be some who believe it, but clearly there are some non-Reformed people who do as well.

There are people on this Forum and others, that are “Reformed” that either don’t answer the question or they say all their future sins have been forgiven so they have no need to confess their sins.

That is what I have found, so no it’s not blatantly false.

Maybe there are some Reformed that believe they actually do need to confess their sins to be forgiven.

I have personally noted this similarity between the sinless perfection camp, and the Reformed/Calvinist camp.

 

[mailmandan]

Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17) Inventory confession turns 1 John 1:9 into a work for salvation. 1 John 1:8 is in the present tense.

Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)

 

[GodsGrace]

To oneself primarily; to others secondarily.

Why would I need to do good works in order to prove to myself that I'm saved?
Why would I care to PROVE to others that I'm saved?

I believe I replied to this .... maybe not to you.

This was in my post 1292:
The good works we do are evidence to who?

God does not require evidence,,,
He sees our heart.

Is the evidence for man?
I do good works for the Kingdom of God...
to make it be a better place...
to love my neighbor, which includes everyone, IF I can by helping out in any way I can.

Jesus said we are to be a light for the world...
and salt.

This requires taking action....
If someone knows we are Christian, AND, they see us doing something good....
it gives GLORY TO GOD..
I don't believe I need to prove to my neighbor that I'm doing good works.

In fact, Jesus said to pray in our closet...
to give secretly...
so as to not make a show of it, or be proudful of it.
If so, glory would go to us instead of to God.

I don't believe EVIDENCE has any role in this discussion.

And, if a person claims to be a Christian, but doesn't do what is commanded, then their neighbours know their faith is false.

It doesn't matter what my neighbor believes...
It's what God KNOWS that is important.

My neighbor only need know that IF I CLAIM to be Christian, to THAT neighbor,
and I do a good work for them....
it is glory to God.

I don't need to give any evidence to my neighbor of my Christianity.

This is why I say that evidence is of no value in this discussion.

Mat 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

I'm sorry Free. I'm having a little trouble following along.
Wish we had an "up arrow" to bring to the post in question.

I think you're saying that Christians will be recognized by their fruit.
I agree.
Christians will produce good fruit.

Of course, but I don't see what this has to do with anything I said.

It has a role in this discussion because too many are still conflating works being evidence for salvation with works being necessary for salvation.

Ok. I see.
Let me make this perfectly clear ....
I am not conflating anything...can't speak for anyone esle.
THIS is what I'm stating:
WORKS ARE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. (caps for emphasis).

Obedience is evidence of belief.

No.
Obedience is required from one that claims to believe.
Christians must obey the teachings of Jesus.

Nothing. It's just part of the passage.

To add "obey" is salvation by works. Where does that passage say "obey"? It only says that one must believe to be saved.

You call it "salvation by works".
Jesus calls it obedience.

If obeying Jesus is salvation by works...
then so be it.

Again....let's try to remember what BELIEVE means in the original Koine Greek language.
If someone BELIEVES....he also OBEYS.
If someone believed a person...he obeyed that person.

Where did I add obey?
Maybe I posted
John 3:36 NASB
36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Obedience is throughout the NT.

John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Which commandments would those be?

James 1:22
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Was James not taught by Jesus? He tells us we must DO...be doers of the word.

Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Jesus expects us to obey the commands He left to us.

That we are justified (saved) by grace alone through faith alone is the NT teaching, and is exactly what sola fide means.

No Free.
Sola Fide does not mean being saved by grace alone through faith.
ALL Christians believe this.
Sola Fide means all that man needs to be saved is to "believe" in Jesus and Jesus will take care of everything and man needs to do nothing.
Sola Fide never existed before the reformation.
It was never taught in the early church and onwards.
The early church taught that we are to obey God and that He expects us to follow
His commands.

Having faith alone cannot work together with the teachings of Jesus.
Here is the teaching of Jesus:

Matthew 25:34-36
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'


Matthew 25:41-43
41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

Jesus taught that we are to do good works for the Kingdom of God on earth.
He meant to make the earth a better place.

This is for BELIEVERS....non-believers do not believe God and are not required to obey Him...
they are already lost.

Faith Alone....
faith with nothing else....
is not what Jesus taugth.


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[GodsGrace]

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Free

A person who is saved does good works out of obedience to Christ and are evidence of their having been saved. I don't understand why this discussion keeps going in circles about this, given how clear the NT is.

It keeps going in circles because even you have stated that obedience, good works,,,
is salvation by works...
as if works is an unwelcomed word in Christianity.....
when instead...
it is what Jesus taught.

This is what you stated...just above.
"To add "obey" is salvation by works."

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.

Correct. All Christians believe this.

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. (ESV)

If we are saved for good works....
then why is obedience to these good works salvation by works??
Is obedience not what God desires?

Tit 3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Titus. One of the books in the NT that most exhorts us to good works.
Paul left him instructions for the new church that was being established.

Here are some of Paul's instructions:
This is for an elder....
Titus 1:6-7
6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,


The opposite is also then true:


Titus 1:8-9
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.


There's much more...
the question is: Does the above uphold Faith Alone?

And as to your verse, Titus 3:5
Read a few verses ahead....the bible always explains itself:

Titus 3:8
7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.


Titus 3:14
14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

OUR PEOPLE: BELIEVERS,,,SAVED PERSONS.
MUST learn to engage in good deeds.
They MUST NOT be UNFRUITFUL.

Tit 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (ESV)

It's throughout the NT.

So are good works.
Faith without good works is dead.
It does not exist.
God wants faith PLUS good works.

Mar 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Joh 3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Joh 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
...
Joh 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Joh 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
...
Joh 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

Joh 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Joh 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Act 4:4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Gal 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Gal 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
...
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Etc. (All ESV.)

I gave several verses above. Faith and belief are often used interchangeably. To believe in Christ is to put one's faith in Christ.

If we have faith...we trust the one who is instructing us.
If we believe....we follow the one who is instructing us.
Same.

Of course, but they don't claim to have faith in Christ.

Sorry...lost you.
Who doesn't claim to have faith in Christ?

 

[Free]

There are people on this Forum and others, that are “Reformed” that either don’t answer the question or they say all their future sins have been forgiven so they have no need to confess their sins.

That is what I have found, so no it’s not blatantly false.

Maybe there are some Reformed that believe they actually do need to confess their sins to be forgiven.

I have personally noted this similarity between the sinless perfection camp, and the Reformed/Calvinist camp.

I have never seen nor heard any Reformed person say that there is no need to confess their sins; not here nor anywhere else. It is blatantly false as an official Reformed position on the matter of the need to confess one's sins.

 

[GodsGrace]

I have never seen nor heard any Reformed person say that there is no need to confess their sins; not here nor anywhere else. It is blatantly false as an official Reformed position on the matter of the need to confess one's sins.

The reformed teach that sins are to be confessed.
There will always be some person or other that states he is reformed but might make up his own teaching...
this happens in all denominations, and is unfortunate.

 

[JLB]

I have never seen nor heard any Reformed person say that there is no need to confess their sins; not here nor anywhere else. It is blatantly false as an official Reformed position on the matter of the need to confess one's sins.

You say what you like about whatever official Reformed position on the matter all you like.

You don’t represent anything of any official capacity to me at all.

You say you’re not a Calvinist but now you are the official word on the matter of all things Reformed?

Save your breath.

I know what people have said when I have asked them.

Most of the time they don’t answer the question or they dodge it.

The ones who have answered they have said that all their future sins have been forgiven, so they don’t confess their sins.

 

[JLB]

I have never seen nor heard any Reformed person say that there is no need to confess their sins; not here nor anywhere else. It is blatantly false as an official Reformed position on the matter of the need to confess one's sins.

What is the main difference between a person who is Reformed and a Calvinist in your opinion?

 

[Free]

Why would I need to do good works in order to prove to myself that I'm saved?
Why would I care to PROVE to others that I'm saved?

It has nothing to do with the need or desire to prove one's salvation. It is simply the evidence that one is saved. One of the issues is that Christians largely don't seem to take stock of their spiritual health, where they are at in their walk. If they did, a noticeable lack of good works, especially a lack of belief in or desire to do good works, would be a very worrying indicator that all is not well, that they might not actually be saved.

I believe I replied to this .... maybe not to you.

This was in my post 1292:
The good works we do are evidence to who?

God does not require evidence,,,
He sees our heart.

Is the evidence for man?
I do good works for the Kingdom of God...
to make it be a better place...
to love my neighbor, which includes everyone, IF I can by helping out in any way I can.

Jesus said we are to be a light for the world...
and salt.

This requires taking action....
If someone knows we are Christian, AND, they see us doing something good....
it gives GLORY TO GOD..
I don't believe I need to prove to my neighbor that I'm doing good works.

In fact, Jesus said to pray in our closet...
to give secretly...
so as to not make a show of it, or be proudful of it.
If so, glory would go to us instead of to God.

I don't believe EVIDENCE has any role in this discussion.

Yes, that was to me, which is what I addressed. I should add that our need for evidence comes in at the final judgement. Obedience to Christ separates believers from unbelievers; it is the evidence either of faith or the lack of it (Matt. 25:31-46). Works, that is, in how faithful we were to Christ's commands and how well we stewarded what we were entrusted, will also determine the level reward for believers. But, works do not save.

It doesn't matter what my neighbor believes...
It's what God KNOWS that is important.

My neighbor only need know that IF I CLAIM to be Christian, to THAT neighbor,
and I do a good work for them....
it is glory to God.

I don't need to give any evidence to my neighbor of my Christianity.

This is why I say that evidence is of no value in this discussion.

But, again, evidence very much has value in this discussion. As far as it relates to the OP, it proves the OP is incorrect in understanding "faith alone." As far as it relates to justification (to salvation), it is central--works do not save; they are evidence of having already been saved.

I'm sorry Free. I'm having a little trouble following along.
Wish we had an "up arrow" to bring to the post in question.

I think you're saying that Christians will be recognized by their fruit.
I agree.
Christians will produce good fruit.

Yes, that is what I am saying. A good tree can only refer to one who follows Christ, one who is saved. It is those that bear good fruit. First comes the good tree, then comes the good fruit as evidence that the tree is good; good fruit doesn't make the tree good.

Ok. I see.
Let me make this perfectly clear ....
I am not conflating anything...can't speak for anyone esle.
THIS is what I'm stating:
WORKS ARE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. (caps for emphasis).

Again, this is why the issue of evidence is of central importance in this discussion--because good works never save, they are only evidence of having already been saved, according to both Paul and James. A person who professes to follow Christ but doesn't do good works nor have any desire to do good works, isn't saved.

No.
Obedience is required from one that claims to believe.
Christians must obey the teachings of Jesus.

Of course it is required, but it is evidence that one is saved. An unbeliever doesn't want to obey Christ; a believer does. If you want to argue that desire to obey isn't relevant, that it is strictly obedience to the commands of Christ, then that is perilously close to works salvation without any faith in Christ whatsoever.

Besides, did the thief on the cross obey Christ's commands, or was he saved solely by faith? What about "death bed confessions"?

You call it "salvation by works".
Jesus calls it obedience.

No, he doesn't. Obedience does not save us. Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is what saves us. The desire to obey Christ is evidence that one is saved.

If obeying Jesus is salvation by works...
then so be it.

It is if one believes that one must obey Jesus in order to be saved, that is, to be declared righteous.

Again....let's try to remember what BELIEVE means in the original Koine Greek language.
If someone BELIEVES....he also OBEYS.
If someone believed a person...he obeyed that person.

I don't know where "obey" comes in here. The word translated as "believe," pisteuō, means "to have faith in," "place confidence in," or to "entrust." It is related to faith, not to obedience.

 

[Free]

Where did I add obey?
Maybe I posted
John 3:36 NASB
36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Obedience is throughout the NT.

Notice first that it is belief--faith in Christ--that saves. That is supported by what Jesus had just stated in 3:14-18. This means that, once again, lack of obedience is the evidence, the physical manifestation, of disbelief.

John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Which commandments would those be?

Is someone going to be saved if they simply claim to love Jesus and obey him? That would be salvation by works without any faith in Christ and his work on the cross. So, there clearly is more to it than just obeying Christ for salvation.

James 1:22
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Was James not taught by Jesus? He tells us we must DO...be doers of the word.

Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Jesus expects us to obey the commands He left to us.

Yes, of course. I don't know why you keep bringing up obedience. Not a single person here is saying that we never do good works. The one and only point is that works do not save us. We are saved the moment we are justified, which is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Good works necessarily follow; we must be doers of the word, otherwise we are deluded and not saved at all.

Remember, no one in this thread is arguing against the necessity of obedience or good works. We all know we are commanded to obey and do good works. The central issue is what role do obedience and good works play. They either are evidence of a person's salvation and faith in Christ, or they are necessary for salvation, making Christ's atoning sacrifice insufficient (or irrelevant) for our salvation.

No Free.
Sola Fide does not mean being saved by grace alone through faith.

More specifically, yes, it means that justification is based only faith in Christ and not any works. It opposes works as a means to salvation. But, it must be understood within the context of the full confession that it is "by grace you have been saved through faith." Faith is the means by which we receive salvation. It is the message of the entire NT, in which even the OT is invoked as support.

ALL Christians believe this.

But, it seems not all do, or this thread and the ongoing discussion wouldn't exist.

Sola Fide means all that man needs to be saved is to "believe" in Jesus and Jesus will take care of everything and man needs to do nothing.

Yes, that is what sola fide means and, no, all Christians do not believe this.

Sola Fide never existed before the reformation.

Strange, isn't it, considering that it's mentioned throughout the NT? One of the main points of the Reformation was to combat the false teaching that works were necessary for salvation and get the Church back to the biblical understanding of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

It was never taught in the early church and onwards.
The early church taught that we are to obey God and that He expects us to follow
His commands.

Having faith alone cannot work together with the teachings of Jesus.

It works perfectly with the teachings of Jesus. I highly doubt the Reformers taught that we never need to do good works. They taught that works don't save us.

Here is the teaching of Jesus:

Matthew 25:34-36
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'


Matthew 25:41-43
41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

Jesus taught that we are to do good works for the Kingdom of God on earth.
He meant to make the earth a better place.

This is for BELIEVERS....non-believers do not believe God and are not required to obey Him...
they are already lost.

Faith Alone....
faith with nothing else....
is not what Jesus taugth.

And no one in this thread is teaching it either. But, Jesus never taught that obedience and good works are necessary to procure one's salvation. He did mention fairly often that all that was necessary was to believe in him and the one that sent him.

There is significant confusion in this thread as to just what sola fide means, what it implies, and how it relates to salvation. Once again, it means that we are justified (saved) by faith alone in Christ and not works. And that salvation is provided by grace alone; faith is the means by which we receive the free gift of God.

The cross is either all sufficient for our salvation or it is not. To add works as necessary for salvation is to say that the cross is insufficient, that Christ's righteousness is insufficient.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=397265032550340

 

[JLB]

There is significant confusion in this thread as to just what sola fide means, what it implies, and how it relates to salvation. Once again, it means that we are justified (saved) by faith alone in Christ and not works.

I agree that we are saved when we believe the Gospel.

What biblical believing means may differ from person to person.

Faith alone is specifically mentioned is scripture as being dead.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:17

However, you and I agree that we must believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus to be saved.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Hopefully you see that there is more that just “believing” in our heart to being saved.

And that a Christian can indeed become lost.

 

[Randy]

I'm having a difficult time understanding your OP.
No worries.... I started one like that a couple of weeks ago!

There is only one place in the entire NT that speaks of faith alone.
It's in James and it's negative.

James 2:24
24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James was saying how Abraham was justified by his works....they completed his faith.

We say this too now....
Faith without works is a dead faith.

But we cannot DO anything to save ourselves...this is 100% the work of God WHEN we decide to respond to His grace with a Yes.

After this yes, right, works are necessary to retain that justification.
Catholics call it on-going justification.
We call it sanctification.
Same thing.

If one is baptized and receives the Spirit of Christ in them then they are one with God/Christ. In Him there is no sin. How can anyone who has no sin be considered unrighteous in any manner?

Sure, if the man on the cross next to Jesus didn't put his faith into action by asking Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom his guilt would have remained on Him. But it wasn't works that caused his sins to be forgiven. It was the grace of God through Christ our Lord that acted according to his faith.

Sure, Rahab the prostitute saved herself and her family because she believed God and hid His spies.

 

[Free]

I agree that we are saved when we believe the Gospel.

What biblical believing means may differ from person to person.

Faith alone is specifically mentioned is scripture as being dead.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:17

However, you and I agree that we must believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus to be saved.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Hopefully you see that there is more that just “believing” in our heart to being saved.

And that a Christian can indeed become lost.

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. (ESV)

Nothing of what you have said is an argument against anything I have said. You seem to not understand what it means to put one's faith in Christ.

 

[Rodger]

Not turning from sin.

Turning from Satan as lord, by confessing Jesus as LORD.

Please go back and read Acts 26:15-20

Satan is the lord of the kingdom of darkness.

In order to be transferred into the kingdom of God a person must “bend the knee” to Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord.

By this act of faith we are transferred out of the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.

There were no elections at that time.

The stronger kingdom made the lesser kingdom subservient to the king of the superior kingdom.

In order to survive you must confess the superior king as Lord, thus pledging your loyalty to serve him and his kingdom interests.

Thanks for your personal input, but Technically, repentance is a change of mind, not a turning from sin.