justification by faith alone?

[PureX]

Are you just stating your personal beliefs on the subject, or are you trying to project your personal beliefs onto others?

Just sharing an observation. You can do with it whatever you like, of course. If you prefer to imagine that some sort of magic is happening, you can. But that never seemed a particularly effective way of seeing the world, by my observation.

 

[Brian2]

Many christians believe that faith alone saves. BUT they also believe that those who have true faith in Jesus Christ will be “eager to do what is good.

Salvation comes by God’s grace through faith, and that faith is made manifest in good works. The works follow the faith and are a proof of it.

So if you believe in Jesus Christ but do not do good works then you are not saved at all

No, if you believe in Jesus then you should follow His teachings. But it is only God who says whether we are saved or not.

 

[Kenny]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

Accepting the work of the Cross and the resurrection. Not by anything we have done for it but what God did through it received in your heart without works because it was His work.

 

[Brian2]

But what does "faith" mean in this context?

To trust God, that what He has done through Jesus is true.
I guess this trust is not just a once off thing. We keep trusting in God in our lives and believing those things that He has told us in His word.

 

[metis]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

The Lutherans and Catholics had a dialogue on this several decades ago and found general agreement on this. With the former, good works taught by Jesus is a reflection of having faith in Jesus, which is compatible with Catholic teachings as well.

 

[metis]

Accepting the work of the Cross and the resurrection. Not by anything we have done for it but what God did through it received in your heart without works because it was His work.

But that's only part of the story as we see in Jesus' Parable of the Sheep & Goats, whereas the latter believed some things about Jesus but not in Jesus.

Where some get confused [not you] is when Paul especially talks about "good works" not saving anyone, but what he is referring to is "good works under the [Jewish] law". He later clarifies this with his response to the question of "faith, hope, and love" and which is most important.

 

[Kenny]

But that's only part of the story as we see in Jesus' Parable of the Sheep & Goats, whereas the latter believed some things about Jesus but not in Jesus.

Where some get confused [not you] is when Paul especially talks about "good works" not saving anyone, but what he is referring to is "good works under the [Jewish] law". He later clarifies this with his response to the question of "faith, hope, and love" and which is most important.

Now... THAT is a great and deep subject.

But I do know that just knowing something vs believing on something are totally different. You can know that Jesus is Lord (Goat) where even Satan knows that is one thing, but believing to the point of accepting (Sheep) is different. You can even try to cast out demons in the name of Jesus of whom Paul preaches and not get the results that the disciples did.

 

[InChrist]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

It means someone is forgiven their debt of sin and justified before God when their faith and trust is placed in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior and His finished work on the cross to pay for their sins and His resurrection which provides eternal life to all who have faith in Him.

 

[syo]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

That they agree with priests.

 

[InChrist]

That they agree with priests.

Actually, if you are referring to Catholic priests; they are adamant in reminding people that faith in Christ alone is never enough.
Rather a person must continuously earn their justification by their own efforts, which in Catholicism means doing everything the RCC and priests say to do.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

To believe on bad, or no, evidence.

 

[Balthazzar]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

It may have something to do with substance and the establishing of faith as opposed to how some suggest a blind type of faith. The term justification alone would imply something of substance and evieence. I think, to be honest, and maybe it's a fear more than anything, that some are counting on an easier path than what's in play. Strait and difficult is the way to life, or that's what I've gathered from both the scriptures and through life experience.

 

[1213]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

They may mean many things. I think faith should be understood as faithfulness/loyalty, because:

But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38

Person is righteous, if he remains loyal to God.

 

[Clara Tea]

In Christianity, when people talk about "justification by faith alone" what exactly do they mean by "faith" in this context?

My aunt had two stillborn kids. She buried them in her mother's unmarked grave (couldn't afford gravestone).

She had believed that there might be a God prior to this, but she needed some justification for the horrible tragedies. She turned to God in a big way. She joined a church that practiced "talking in tongues." The congregation would writhe around on the ground, babbling incoherently (presumably in the language of God, in communication with God). Onlookers thought they that were all nuts and babbling.

Others use God to get themselves off of hard narcotics. They often hear and see God (drugs cause hallucinations), and they swear that their visions are real.

Any psychologist will tell you that the human mind is fragile. Severe trauma can cause insanity.

Faith is belief without proof.

 

[Clara Tea]

It may have something to do with substance and the establishing of faith as opposed to how some suggest a blind type of faith. The term justification alone would imply something of substance and evieence. I think, to be honest, and maybe it's a fear more than anything, that some are counting on an easier path than what's in play. Strait and difficult is the way to life, or that's what I've gathered from both the scriptures and through life experience.

Satan rules by lies, fear, and greed. Satan wants to destroy God's greatest triumps (environment).

God fearing Christians don't want to burn in hell for all eternity. Would a kind God burn them? Does it make sense to join an unkind God?

Many have faith in God because they can't handle the harsh realities of their lives.

Drug addicts have hallucinations, and some think that God is ordering them to do crazy things that could hurt them.

 

[Clara Tea]

Just sharing an observation. You can do with it whatever you like, of course. If you prefer to imagine that some sort of magic is happening, you can. But that never seemed a particularly effective way of seeing the world, by my observation.

Maybe if we zap you with our wands? Potions? Caudrons of eyes of newts?

 

[Clara Tea]

They may mean many things. I think faith should be understood as faithfulness/loyalty, because:

But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38

Person is righteous, if he remains loyal to God.

Jews were loyal to God, but always picked on. They remained loyal as they were tortured to death by Nazis. God wasn't righteous to allow that.

 

[Clara Tea]

Actually, if you are referring to Catholic priests; they are adamant in reminding people that faith in Christ alone is never enough.
Rather a person must continuously earn their justification by their own efforts, which in Catholicism means doing everything the RCC and priests say to do.

The Religious Right wants wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Niger, Iran, and rattle sabers at Russia--threatening nuclear war), torture camps, gun rights (must be a member of the National Rifle Association to run for the presidency). They pamper the rich with lower taxes, insist that universal health care is Socialism, and don't realize that Jesus was for it (healed everyone, didn't charge). They outsource factories for cheap foreign labor, they beg for donations, claiming that God will pay them back ten fold. Joel Olsteen bought a multi-million dollar jet with donated money.

It is hard to believe that the Religious Right and the Catholic church are part of the same religion. By the way, the pope is on the enemies list of the NRA.

 

[Balthazzar]

Satan rules by lies, fear, and greed. Satan wants to destroy God's greatest triumps (environment).

God fearing Christians don't want to burn in hell for all eternity. Would a kind God burn them? Does it make sense to join an unkind God?

Many have faith in God because they can't handle the harsh realities of their lives.

Drug addicts have hallucinations, and some think that God is ordering them to do crazy things that could hurt them.

Probably-

 

[PureX]

Maybe if we zap you with our wands? Potions? Caudrons of eyes of newts?

That stuff only works on the people who believe in it. And it usually doesn't work the way it was intended. Which is why most people have learned to leave it alone.