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Do
You Believe That Persons Are Saved by Faith Alone?
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Consider:
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Think works are not necessary for salvation? Click here
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Think the only 'mortal sin' for believers is unbelief? Click here
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Do you believe you are 'saved' and that your salvation cannot be
lost? Click here
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says that it is necessary to keep the commandments to gain eternal
life (see Mt. 19:16-17)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that
Scripture clearly says that people will be judged based on works
(see Mt. 25:31-46)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven"
(Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 7:21, emphasis added)...?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says: "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.
By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned" (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 12:36-37, emphasis
added)...?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says that those who have done good deeds will receive the resurrection of
life while those who have done wicked deeds will receive the resurrection of
condemnation (see Jn. 5:28-29)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says that "Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the
recompense I will give to each according to his deeds" (Rv.
22:12)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says that God will "repay everyone according to his works:
eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality
through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those
who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness" (Rom.
2:7-8)...?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
clearly says that faith without works is useless? As stated in the
Letter of St. James: "Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is
useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and
faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says,
'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness,' and he was called 'the friend of God.' See how a person is justified by works and not by faith
alone. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also
faith without works is dead." (Jms. 2:20-26, emphasis
added)
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says: "And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2)
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If persons are saved by faith alone why does Scripture say
that charity is greater than faith (see 1 Cor. 13:13)? That whoever does not love
remains in death and has no eternal life remaining in him (see 1 Jn.
3:14-15)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture
tell us certain sins exclude people from heaven (e.g. 1 Cor.
6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:5, Rv. 21:8, Rv. 21:27, Rv. 22:15)? If persons are saved
by faith alone, why does Scripture repeatedly show such
great concern over sin (e.g. Mt. 5:29-30)?
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If we are saved by faith alone, why must we "work out [our]
salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12)?
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If we are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture indicate that achieving
salvation is so difficult (e.g. 1 Pt. 4:17-18)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that our righteousness must surpass the scribes and Pharisees in
order to enter heaven (see Mt. 5:20)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that we must become like children to enter heaven (see Mt. 18:3)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that it is necessary to take up one's cross, deny ourselves, and
follow Christ to enter heaven (see Mk. 8:34-5, Lk. 9:23-24)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that we must eat the flesh of Christ and drink His blood in order
to have life (see Jn. 6:53)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that we must be baptized to enter heaven (see Jn. 3:5)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that it is necessary to accept those whom Christ sends and that
those who don't accept them reject Christ (see Lk. 10:16)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that "if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will
live" (Rom. 8:13)...?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that all possessions must be renounced to be Christ's disciple (see
Lk. 14:33)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
says even St. Paul wasn't sure of his own salvation, despite the
fact that he obviously had faith (see 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 1 Cor. 9:27,
Phil. 3:12-14)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that women are saved by motherhood and not faith (see 1 Tm. 2:15)?
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
asks what good is faith without works (see Jms. 2:14) and
says that faith without works is dead (see Jms. 2:17)?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why doesn't Jesus just
focus on having people believe and nothing else?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Christ say
that the kingdom of God will be taken from certain persons and
given to people that will produce fruit (see Mt. 21:43)?
Why does Jesus curse the barren tree (see Mt. 21:19)?
What fruit does faith alone produce?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that "The law and the prophets lasted until John; but from then on
the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone who enters does so
with violence" (Lk. 16:16)? What 'violence' is it to simply believe?
[Note: Clearly, this passage does not refer to violence (e.g.
acts of aggression) in a literal manner.]
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (see
Mt. 19:23)? How can it be more difficult for the rich to have
faith than the poor?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture say
that "That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten
severely" (Lk. 12:47)? How can this be if one is saved by
faith alone? Do you suppose one shall be "beaten
severely" in heaven? (Remember, Protestants generally reject the
concept of Purgatory.)
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture not
show hell as being reserved for unbelievers? Why does Scripture
continually show hell being reserved for sinners, not unbelievers?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture so
often talk about being watchful and prepared?
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If you believe that one is saved by 'faith alone', do you
"rewrite Scripture" to support your belief? For example,
a very small sampling of items that would need to be "rewritten" follows...
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True Scripture
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As
"Re-written"
(Blasphemously!)
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Heb. 12:14: Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without
which no one will see the Lord.
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Don't
worry about peace or holiness. Just have faith and you will see the Lord.
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Gal.
6:7: Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he
sows
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Don't
worry. Just have faith. Persons who have faith won't reap
what they sow. |
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Jms.
1:26: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his
tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.
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There
is no need to bridle one's tongue. Just have faith and your
religion will not be in vain. |
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Jms.
1:27: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows
in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
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There
is no need to care for orphans or widows or keep oneself
unstained by the world. For pure and undefiled religion,
simply have faith. |
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1
Pt. 1:17: Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your
sojourning
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Invoke
your Father who judges impartially according to one's faith.
Don't worry about conducting yourself with reverence. Just
have faith. |
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1
Jn. 3:10: In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.
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The
children of God are made plain by their faith. Those who
fail to act in righteousness and those who do not love their
brother belong to God as long as they have faith. |
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2
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
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We
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that
each one may receive recompense, according to one's faith,
regardless of the good or evil one did in the body. |
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Gal.
6:9: Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.
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We
will reap our harvest in due time as long as we have faith.
It is not necessary to do good to reap this harvest. |
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Lk.
10:16: "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
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It
is not necessary to listen to those sent by Christ.
It is acceptable to reject those sent by Christ. Just
have faith. |
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Rom.
13:2: Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.
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There
is no authority besides oneself. Just have faith. |
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1
Pt. 3:12: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears
turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
evildoers."
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The
eyes of the Lord are on those who have faith and his ears
turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who have not faith. |
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Mt. 5:20: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of
heaven."
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Righteousness
is unnecessary. Just have faith. |
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1
Pt. 4:17-18: For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of
God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to
obey the gospel of God? "And if the righteous one is barely
saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?"
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There
is no judgment for the household of God. Don't worry about
sin, obeying the gospel, or righteousness. Just have faith
and you will be saved. |
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Heb.
10:26-27: If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of
judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.
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Don't
worry about sin or judgment. You are safe if you have faith. |
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Mt. 19:17:
"If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
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If you wish to enter into life,
don't worry about keeping the commandments - just have
faith. |
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Rom.
8:16-17: The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
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We
are children of God and heirs, regardless of whether we
suffer with Christ. We just need to have faith. |
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Jn. 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
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Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
and whoever disobeys the Son also has eternal life as long
as he has faith. |
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Jn.
8:51: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never
see death."
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Whoever
has faith will never see death, regardless of whether the
word is kept. |
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Mt.
16:27: For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's
glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
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Conduct
is unimportant. Persons will be repaid according to their
faith. |
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Lk.
10:25-28: There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and
said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus
said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your
heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your
mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You
have answered correctly; do this and you will live."
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To
inherit eternal life, don't worry about the commandments.
Simply have faith. |
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Lk.
14:25-27: Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and
addressed them, "If any one comes to me without hating his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and
even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not
carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my
disciple."
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The
only requirement to be a disciple is faith.
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Heb.
5:9: ... he became the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey him
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He
is the source of
eternal salvation for all who believe in him, regardless of whether
or not they obey him.
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1
Jn. 2:17 Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
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Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever
has faith remains forever.
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If
you subscribe to the above "re-written" scripture
passages, you should take heed of the
following...
Gal.
1:8-9: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be
accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!
2
Pt. 2:1-3: There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.
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Do you not see how your theory of 'faith alone' cannot be squared
with the whole of Scripture? Do you not see that the consideration
of faith in isolation - without works - is contrary to God's
revelation? For example, Scripture says that, "You are not a god who delights in evil; no wicked person finds refuge with you; the arrogant cannot stand before you.
You hate all who do evil; you destroy all who speak falsely. Murderers and deceivers the LORD abhors."
(Ps. 5:5-7) To be consistent, Protestantism - to hold to it's
'faith alone' theory - must say that wicked persons and persons
who speak falsely and murderers and deceivers find refuge with the
Lord and are not abhorred by the Lord - provided that they have faith.
Is this not ridiculous? Why do Protestants claim to adhere to 'bible alone'
and 'faith alone' theories when they seem to have no faith in
God's word and want us to believe precisely the opposite of what
Scripture says? And, please do not attempt to argue that one who
has faith cannot sin (or that it is not "imputed") - surely such an assertion is ridiculous
(not to mention contrary to Scripture). Note: Try
here for more on this topic.
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Do you not see how your theory of 'faith alone' is completely
contrary to the just God that we see throughout Scripture? The Old
Testament shows that God does exact wrath against the disobedient
and the sinners (not merely those who do not believe in him), and
that God only rewards the righteous. How could God be
just if He ignores all your sins simply because you believe
in Him? And, how could He be said to be just if He not only
ignores all your sins, but rewards you eternally despite your
sins, without your making any restitution for them (or even
repenting of them)? How can you ignore the fact that Christ says
you must keep the Commandments - not just have faith - to gain
eternal life? Considering that Scripture says (emphasis added)...
Sirach
16:12: Great as his mercy is his punishment
Sirach
5:7: For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath.
Sirach 16:11: And had there been but one stiffnecked man, it were a wonder had he gone unpunished.
For mercy and anger alike are with him who remits and forgives, though on the wicked alights his wrath.
...why do you say that the
unchangeable God is now only capable of mercy and not justice
(towards believers)? Do
you really discount all of Scripture to the contrary to believe
that God can no longer exact wrath against sinners, but only
against those who don't believe in Him? Is it that you believe the
unchangeable God has somehow changed or is it that you believe
that Scripture speaks untruthfully? "As long as the Israelites did not sin in the sight of their God, they prospered, for their God, who hates wickedness, was with them. But when they deviated from the way he prescribed for them, they were ground down steadily, more and more, by frequent wars, and finally taken as captives into foreign lands. The temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were occupied by their enemies."
(Jdth. 5:17-18)
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How can faith alone be considered meritorious when even Satan may
be said to 'believe in God'? "You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons
believe that and tremble." (Jms.
2:19)
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How can one believe that persons are 'saved' by faith alone
without rejecting the entire concept of judgment, so clearly
spelled out in Scripture? If one is already 'saved', how
can he or she be judged? What judgment is left if all one needs to
do is have faith? Do you not see how the theory of 'faith alone'
makes a mockery of judgment and fear of the Lord? Don't forget
that Scripture calls fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom. Note:
Click here for more
on this topic.
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How can persons be saved by faith alone considering that Scripture
frequently shows judgment being based on one's deeds and never
being based merely on one's faith? For example, consider this
passage from Revelation: "I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds."
(Rv. 20:12-13, emphasis added)
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Do you not realize that those in Scripture who are told
that their 'faith has saved them' were already living good lives,
and were previously only in need of faith? As St. Clement of
Alexandria has said, "When
we hear, 'Your faith has saved you,' we do not understand [the
Lord Jesus] to say simply that they will be saved who have
believed in whatever manner, even if works have not followed. To
begin with, it was to the Jews alone that He spoke this phrase,
who had lived in accord with the law and blamelessly, and who had
lacked only faith in the Lord." (St. Clement of Alexandria,
c. 203 A.D.)
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Do you not realize that although Scripture has some
references to 'salvation by faith', that faith is simply a first
step (e.g. the foundation) and not the only step? For example, one may be said to
"buy a car" when a loan is taken out. However, it is
clear that one has not completed the purchase of the car until the
loan is paid in full. It is clear that such statements
presuppose that all necessary steps will be completed. Just as in
Scripture, we see quite clearly that numerous other requirements
besides faith are ultimately necessary to be saved (e.g. baptism,
reception of the Eucharist, following the commandments, taking up
one's cross...). Even passages such as Rom. 10:9 should not be
considered in isolation from the fact that "confessing with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord" at that time "subjected a person to
many and potentially severe consequences (financial hardship,
disruption of family life, legal penalties, etc.) - and was not
just a mere verbal confession of faith!" Remember further
that the authors of Scripture were speaking to those who already believed.
They did not have to worry about their words being taken in the
wrong way or being distorted by those whom they wrote to, nor did
they have to spell everything out each and every time they wrote,
since they were writing to those who already held the faith.
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How can one persist in the belief that persons are saved by faith
alone when Scripture is so clear that all will be repaid according
to works and that salvation depends on works along with faith, not faith
alone? Is not this theory of 'faith alone' based on wishful thinking?
"For
we find far more men who would rather believe well than do well."
(St. Thomas More)
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Why is it that so many Protestants attribute belief in Christ to
faith when history proves that Jesus existed and was crucified? Even those who do not claim to be Christian
(and even enemies of Christianity) believe as
much! Such is not faith, but rather historically verifiable facts.
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Why is it that Protestants claim to be saved by 'faith alone', yet
they often do not have faith in those points of Christ's doctrines
which take the most faith (e.g. that the Holy Eucharist is really
the Flesh and Blood of Christ under the appearance of bread
and wine)? "You say 'faith alone', but what faith do you have?
You have no faith in the Real Presence, but only a historical faith that Jesus
existed on earth, which
even enemies don't deny, but those things that require faith
(transubstantiation, etc.), you do not have faith in." And
furthermore, rather than just having simple faith, why do
Protestants want everything of faith explained to their reason -
even that which is beyond reason? Where is the faith in
that?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, why does Scripture contain so
many edicts that have nothing directly to do with faith?
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If persons are saved by faith alone, how can Scripture say that
one who doesn't provide for relatives is "worse than an
unbeliever" (1 Tm. 5:8)?
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Why is it that Protestants claim to be saved by 'faith alone',
when they reject authority and subject everything to their own personal
feelings? And that's what you call 'faith'?
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Does it not trouble you that Luther added "alone" to
Rom.3:28
in order to support his doctrine that one is saved by 'faith
alone'? What must one think of a person
who purposely corrupts the word of God in order to fit his
theories? Do you realize there is no support for this addition
anywhere? That it is a deliberate mistranslation? In consideration
of this, can you also not see why the Catholic Church has been so
careful about correct translation of Holy Scripture?
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Does it not trouble you that the Apostles and those they taught
never held the "faith alone" doctrine?
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How can you claim to have a biblical faith when the Bible contains
so many passages which directly contradict the 'salvation by faith
alone' theory?
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While faith is necessary to salvation, not just any faith
is sufficient. For faith to be of value, the object of one's faith
must be true. The Catholic Faith alone is the only true
faith - all other faiths contain error. What good is it to have
faith in what is erroneous? Further, if you base your salvation on
'faith alone', can you not see the great importance of having the
correct faith?
In
Closing...
"For
if a man believe rightly in the Father and in the Son and in the
Holy Spirit, but does not live rightly, his faith will avail him
nothing toward salvation." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of
the Church, c. 391
A.D.)
"[The]
Christian will gain nothing for eternal life from his faith unless
his life be ordered in accordance with what faith prescribes.
'What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith,
but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?'" (Pope
Leo XIII, "Magnae
Dei Matris", 1892 A.D.)
"A
soldier cannot be considered safely armored when either shield is
disjoined from the other. For faith without works of justice is
not sufficient for salvation; neither, however, is righteous
living secure in itself of salvation, if it is disjoined from
faith." (St. Gregory of Nyssa, 4th century A.D.)
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