Protestants: can you explain what justification by faith alone means as it relates to repentance?

Question

Generally speaking Protestants will say that someone needs to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus to be saved and have eternal life. They will also affirm 'sola fide,' or justification by faith alone. This is what confuses me. They will say that hte basis of your salvation is not works, and yet repentance is necessary for salvation.

According to the Bible in James 4:17 knowing the right thing to do - or a good work - and failing to do it is a sin. So to repent of that sin is to do good works, and repentance is seen as part of what is necessary for salvation.

So if repentance is necessary for salvation, and repentance must consist of good works, then how can salvation be based on faith alone and not of good works?

The Catholic position just makes so much more sense on this. Faith and works can't be separated.

Answer 1

Repentance and Faith go hand and hand in the Salvation process. You can't separate them and you can't be Saved without both. Before I was Saved I believed everything I had ever been taught about God but eventually the Holy Spirit started to deal with me and I realized that an intellectual belief wasn't enough to Save me. In time I began to know that what was keeping me from being Saved was I was holding on to some pet sins and if I didn't give them up I would spend eternity in Hell. I fought it for a while but eventually bowed before God, Repented of my sins and through Faith Trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Our ticket to Heaven is our Salvation and since there can be no sin in Heaven we must turn them over to Jesus Christ. (Repent)

Answer 2

Protestants: can you explain what justification by faith alone means as it relates to repentance?

Answer 3

Jesus had nothing to do with the Catholic church. And they were not the "First Church" as they often claim. Jesus founded the Christian Church - later, after Constantine founded what became the RCC (and its later Catholic offshoots), Catholics tried to claim Saint Peter was the first pope - actually, Peter never heard of the Catholic Church. The Catholics then filled in the gap between Peter and Constantine with a few actual people and a LOT of people whom they invented out of thin air; none of whom actually existed.



None of the Churches of the Epistles were Catholic. You can read that for yourself. The Catholic Church came later- not first. The Catholic Church IS a Branch on the Tree, but not the WHOLE Tree.



All Churches were ordered to be autonomous. The Head of the Church is Jesus Christ, not the pope.



The Church at Rome is Christian - but it's literally a smoke and mirrors Church that puts it members though a bunch of unnecessary doctrine.



Many Catholics will go to Heaven, thank God, but it will be in spite of Catholicism - not because of it.

Answer 4

This matter is cleared up by passages like Eph. 2:10 ("works of God obeyed by mankind') This understanding makes other passages more clear: John 6:29, Gal. 5:6, James 2:24, 26, 1 Thess. 1:3, 2 Thess. 1:11. Everyone knows that "works" from the mind of man are never in view. "For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.

Answer 5

The flaw in your reasoning is that you are working from the wrong definition of repentance. One does not "repent of their sins" which is a regret for sins committed. Note from Scripture (you know... the Bible that Catholics rarely resort to reading) that repentance was something "granted" to the gentiles. Anyone can regret their sins.



Repentance is the act or action of "turning (back) to God and thereby abandoning the previous lifestyle of sin. This however is only half the equation. The call of Christ is to repent and believe the gospel; salvation through faith only in Jesus the Christ regarding one's salvation. It is the righteousness derived through faith, as attested to in the law regarding the life of Abraham, who "believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness."



So the Catholic "faith" ignores the real definition of repentance which results in rejecting the true gospel in favor of a gospel of works.



You need to read the whole book of James. He is explaining how works of the faith follow those who have the Spirit; the fruits of the Spirit, as notated in Galatians 5:22-23. James is not talking about any works of the law or a law created by any church corporate. A person who is led by the Spirit will, as a result, do good works. If they neglect to do good when it is in their power to do so, they err; they "sin" but not a sin leading to condemnation, for the true believer is no longer under condemnation (Rom. 8:1). Christianity is a growth process. And like an infant to begin with, you are going to fall while trying to walk. God is not standing there with a whip, waiting to beat you with it every time you trip.

Answer 6

They can't. No place in scripture does it describe being justified by faith alone. In fact, there is only one place in the Bible where to the two words "faith" and "alone" are found together and it says "NOT by faith alone" (Jas 2:24; emp. added).



Biblical faith is an obedient faith (Rom 1:5; Ac 6:7; Heb 11:8), and thus obeying the command to repent is a part of that faith (Lk 13:3).

Answer 7

There is NO Bible verse which says "by faith ALONE" That word has been added to Yahoo answers - it's not in the Bible. In fact James says the opposite.



When the Pharisees went to be baptized, John asked them, "Who has warned you to flee from the wrath of God to come?" "You need to bear fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3: 7 & 8) because every tree which does not bear good fruit is thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10) - this was BEFORE he would even think of baptizing them if you notice (Matthew 3:7)



"Man is justified by works and NOT by faith only" (James 2:24)



"What does it profit someone if they have faith but not works? Can faith save them?" (James 2:14)



"You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith WITHOUT your works and I will show you my faith BY MY WORKS" (James 2:18)



"Don't you know 0 foolish man that faith WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD?" (James 2:20)



"Faith if it BY ITSELF and does not have works IS DEAD (James 2:17)



The Bible says that in the past God winked at ignorance but NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT" (Acts 17:30)



Peter told us "Repent and be baptized every one of you, for the remission of your sins, in the Name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38).



People on Yahoo say this is not necessary but God says He gives His Spirit to those who OBEY HIM (Acts 5:32)



And the way I see it is this, if repenting and being baptized in a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins gets our sins remitted, as John the Baptist said, when they were all in the water getting baptized and confessing their sins (Mark 1: 4 & 5),and gets us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) then unless we obey this command of Jesus Christ to be baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), as Peter confirmed in Acts 2:38, then without it our sins are not remitted and we obviously don't have the Holy Spirit, because He is the gift we receive if we obey Acts 2:38), as God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).



Besides, the command to repent is all over the New Testament



Jesus Himself told us that Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem, and the disciples were witnesses of these things He said, as He went on to fulfil His promise to send the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47)



Peter said in 2 Peter 3:9 that it's not God's will that anyone perish but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.



If repentance was not necessary why is it in every gospel, as well as places like 2 Corinthians 7:10 2 Timothy 2:25 Hebrews 6:6, Matthew 3:11 etc., and Esau, who God hated, produced many tears, but found no place of repentance (Hebrews 12:17).



So why is it necessary? - answer, because even repentance is a gift which God gives by His grace being merciful to us sinners so that we may be humble and repent and be saved.



The works that we CANNOT get saved by are spoken of in Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done (in order to save ourselves) but according to His mercy, HE SAVED US through the washing of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). That's water and Spirit.



In other words, we cannot EARN our salvation by anything good or self-righteous which we have done in the past or even that day, but only according to His mercy we are saved through WATER (baptism) & (HOLY) Spirit - which lines up with John 3:5 that UNLESS a man is born again of WATER & SPIRIT, he CANNOT enter God's kingdom (John 3: 3-5). This is obviously a baptism of repentance because one has to have a repentant heart or getting into the water is useless.



Simon the Sorcerer tried to buy the Holy Spirit and he had been baptized, but Peter said his heart wasn't right in the sight of God (Acts 8: 13 - 21), so I believe a repentant heart leads us to be baptized, receive remission of sins/salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit as Peter said (Acts 2:38) which is why He commanded Cornelius and his crowd to be baptized (Acts 10:48)

Answer 8

This is explained in the Bible in Ephesians 2:4-10: "It is by grace you have been saved... for it is by grace you are saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."



Notice how God's grace is mentioned twice, faith once, and works once? The grace of God has to come first, so that when a repentant sinner puts faith in that provision (Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection being that gracious provision), then they are saved by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. And then - because they are justified by God - they start to do the good works God had long before prepared for them to do. Those good works bring glory to God, not salvation to the person doing the good works. That's because good works that glorify God are not done for personal gain, but purely to glorify God, because the person doing them has been saved.



It's a question of order of events. Catholics seem to think they must do good works to contribute towards an eventual salvation, but the moment there is an ulterior motive in doing a work, there is no glory to God in it. Further, regarding order of events, God demonstrates His grace by doing for us what we could never do for ourselves, while we were still sinners. This is explained in Romans 3:20-28



"Through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known... [it] comes through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood... For we maintain that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." That was the Apostle Paul writing.



So, the act of Grace is performed by God first (providing Christ to bear the punishment for our sins we deserve to suffer), when we see how hideous our sins are that the penalty was so severe, we are burdened by our sins, confess to God who then uplifts that burden off us, and we put total faith in Christ alone. Being in agreement with the justification of God, we can then do the good works that are fitting for saved sinners to do. It is all of God, from start to finish! That's the miracle of grace which, when grasped, leads to putting faith in what Jesus did to save us.

Answer 9

Repentance is a gift of God.



The works are God's works.

Answer 10

Protestants just make it up as they go. Pull a bible verse here, pull a bible verse there.

Answer 11

Lol!!! Not all Protestants accept that interpretation. I remember having to resolve that issue in my faith when I was young. I also remember my best friend point out how Catholics believe they can be absolved from sin, by going to confession. So to me, it's always been a wash. I never really care much about any disputes between Catholicism and Protestantism. I find it trivial and petty, but I also can understand how people make these things matters of importance to one's faith. I happen to disagree.



I don't believe in "repentance without good works", or that it is possible to separate the two. 'Good works' demonstrates that we have 'repentance' in our hearts, or at least the potential for it; and having repentance would imply that good works comes with the fulfillment of one's potential, by the 'Glory of The Lord'. It is by our faith, that God is revealed to us, in all of His 'Stunning Glory', which is fundamental to receiving Salvation, and already has "repentance and good works intrinsic" in the "packaging".



In John 14:12, Jesus says, "Truly, whomever believes that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me, will go on to do the works I am doing, and even 'greater', because I am going with the Father". Would Jesus had invited Peter on to the water, were he not capable of making it out, as if it we possible for our Lord to deceive us? You see, the promise of Salvation, by accepting there is a God, and Christ as His Son, was not enough for Peter to succeed. Peter mainly lacked the faith in himself, to believe that Jesus trusted that, 'he could make it.'



All of Peter's repentance and good works before accounted for nothing, in that moment, because he was not rooted primarily in 'faith'. Notice how Jesus was a little taken aback, after Phillip said "show us the Father, so that we may believe", in John 14:9. Accepting Christ, and His Salvation does not imply that we are not subject to fault. Fundamentally, humans are inherently sinners, and are prone to error.



Although, Jesus claimed not to accept human testimony, He testified that there is one who's testimony is acceptable as 'valid'. Jesus is referring to John the Baptist, and says he mentions this so that we may be saved. What is it about John the Baptist that warrants Jesus pointing him out, that has to do with our Salvation? John accepted and recognized God and Christ, at least as much as anyone else, at the time. Could it possibly be that John repented and performed more good acts than everyone else?



What distinguishes John from lowly, common, and advanced man, is the recognition of faith and Salvation is not a result of anything we "do" or "have", but a consequence of what we 'are' and have 'become'. 'Faith' and 'Salvation' are a 'way of being' in the world. It is not an addition or an extension of oneself, but the acceptance of oneself and others. 'Effortless being' is the default of all that exists. Things cannot be other than how they are. Because of his faith, John recognized the 'essence' of Divinity, and was not fooled by "appearances".



'Salvation' is an expression of Peace and Goodwill, out of the 'forgiveness' for the faults and limitations of self and others, hence the principle of the 'Golden Rule'. I do not interpret, "faith alone", as the mere acceptance of a belief, without any tangible demonstration. I take it to mean that 'faith' is the foundation by which things are 'revealed' and 'given' to us. "Repentance" and "good works" are instructions for those who have yet to attained this level of awareness, so that we shall recognize the truth when it is revealed to us.



I imagine there isn't anything special about it all to Christ, because to Him, it is just ordinary reality, which we have yet to awaken to. Jesus taught that we are all God's children, and that the same 'Divine Essence' dwelling in Himself, dwells in us all. The Life and Example of Christ teaches us to live and be the example of our own faith, without passing judgment, so that we shall enter The Lord's Kingdom. Jesus did not discriminate between, "low, middle, and high", because the point is to direct us to 'The Highest'.



Christ willingly went to His own death to demonstrate that God doesn't favor any of His children over any other.

Answer 12

Justification by faith alone is a lie of Satan. The Bible does say that we are saved by faith and not by works when it says,



"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)



It does not say that works aren't necessary, only that works can't save us. Works do not take away sin. It says that we need faith to receive God's grace. We do not have faith if we do not believe



"“If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15)



"26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." (Hebrews 10:26,27)



"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17)



I am not a Catholic. Catholics treat doctrines of men to supercede scripture. All of my postings above are strait out of the New Testament, and not Papist teachings.

Answer 13

Catholicism is the One True Faith and a person can know this with certainty by reciting the rosary each day with care.

Answer 14

No they can't. Nobody understands religion. Especially religious people. It's all garbled nonsense invented by backward superstitious people.

Answer 15

Just a follower of Jesus here:



Faith, not works, saves with a repentant heart.



Questions or comments, leave in the comments section.

Answer 16

The Prots. did missed the boat: they still puhed the sola fide?? The entire bible is all about the Way: Love, faith, trust and believe in Jesus... why focus on sola fide...duh

Answer 17

NO ONE can because "FAITH" is a "Spiritual gift" (I Corinthians 12:9) one receives >>>AFTER<<< Holy Spirit baptism (I Corinthians 12:13)!



That's PRECISELY why Ephesians 2:8 has been MISINTERPRETED by the MAJORITY of people who claim Christianity!



How can salvation be >>>"THROUGH FAITH"<<< that one DOES NOT HAVE due to LACK OF Holy Spirit baptism >>>INITIALLY???<<<



FIRST! Otherwise you're STILL a "DEAD spirit" (Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:21-22)!



It is ((( BY ))) >>>THAT<<< "FAITH" that is a "Spiritual gift" received AFTER Holy Spirit baptism that one even "HAS (((ACCESS))) INTO THIS GRACE" according to Romans 5:1-2!



You don't even have "ACCESS INTO THIS GRACE"



Consequently, Ephesians 2:8 DO NOT APPLY TO YOU AT ((( ALL )))!!! @@@



You're still a "DEAD spirit!"



"REPENTANCE?"



You "confess your sins TO THE LORD and HE forgives your iniquities" (Psalm 32:5)!



It's a HEART THING (I Samuel 16:7) under the New Covenant!



ALL SPIRITUAL!



YOU AND GOD!

---------------------------------------

As far as you WORKING vs GOD WORKING (Philippians 2:13)!



GOD "REVEALED" James 2:14-26 means as follows:





"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a [physical] man say he hath [his] faith, and have not works [of God]? can [his] faith save him?" (James 2:14).



And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?



Even so [a man's] faith if it has not [Spiritually produced] works, is dead, being [your faith] alone.



"Yea a [physical] man may say, Thou hast [Spiritual] FAITH [I Cor 12:9;13], and I have [My physical] works: show me thy [Spiritual] FAITH without thy works [But God's] and I will show you my [physical] faith ((( BY ))) my works" (James 2:18).



Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe [There is a God who does nothing], and tremble.



But wilt thou know, O vain [physical] man, that [YOUR] faith without [Spiritually produced] works is dead?



Was not Abraham our father justified by [Spiritually produced] works, when he offered Issac his son upon the altar?



Seeth thou how [Spiritual] faith wrought with his works, and ((( BY ))) [Spiritually produced] works was [his] FAITH made perfect?



And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: and he was called the friend of God.



Ye see then how that by [Spiritually produced] works a man is justified, and not by [his] faith only.



Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by [Spiritual] works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?



For as the body without the [aka God’s] Spirit is dead, so [your] faith without [Spiritually produced] works is also dead" (James 2:14-26).





GOD GAVE THAT TO ME!



THANK YOU JESUS (MATTHEW 11:25)!



THANK YOU LORD!!!@@@



IF I HAD A MILLION TONGUES I COULDN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH JESUS!



OH THANK YOU JESUS!



THANK YOU LORD JESUS!'



I pray for you people (Ephesians 1:18)!



That's all I can do; "only God draws" (John 6:44)!



"And if by [God's] grace, then is it no more of [your] works: otherwise [God's] grace is no more grace [Who does all the work]. But if it be of [your] works, then is it no more [God's] grace: otherwise [God's] work is no more [God's] work" (Romans 11:6) but YOUR works!

Answer 18

Here your problem is one of confusion! I don't blame you because Catholicism is synonymous with confusion.



Let's see if we can't straighten things out......



Salvation comes from one thing and one thing only ............Faith in Jesus Christ.

NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.



..however, it has to be true faith, no fake faith, pretend faith or faith in any other than the real Christ... and the point is that faith in Christ manifests repentance. Saying repentance is requirement for salvation is technically and strictly not true. Only faith in Christ is a requirement...... but if you have the right faith then you also will be repentant. In others you cannot be saved if you don't repent but repentance is an effect of salvation not a cause.



In like manner, works. The bible tells us that "faith without works is dead" but it does not tell us that works are required for salvation. Works is product of having the right faith in Christ but works are not a requirement of salvation.



The biggest point here, and one that Catholics cannot escape, is that if works are part and parcel of salvation then to some degree (no matter how minor), we earn our salvation and that is strictly ruled out by the bible. We are saved, ONLY by God's grace, not because of ANYTHING we have done, except accept that grace... and even then we can only accept God's grace as the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of it to us.



Now if you think the Catholic position makes more sense then you're not following the bible, that makes it absolutely clear that faith is the ONLY requirement for salvation.

Answer 19

I'm a Catholic Christian who came from the Protestant church. Before we can be saved we have to accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, ask him to forgive us our sin and to change us from within. If we don't this FIRST, then works and sacraments will mean nothing to God. I go to the bible for instruction and guidance. I don't believe any other rituals or traditions are equal to God's word, yet the Catholic church believes that this is so. No one said works aren't important, but if we don't accept Christ first as our savior, recognize we are sinners in need of Christ's salvation through grace alone, then nothing else will matter. Faith and works can't be separated, BUT, works without FAITH can't be either.

Answer 20

I AGREE WITH DAVID....WE REPENT AND WE GET BAPTIZED AND GOD CAN EVEN SAVE US BEFORE THE BAPTISM...I HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT ALREADY WHEN I WAS BAPTIZED AS AN ADULT...MOM ALSO HAD ME BAPTIZED WHEN I WAS ABOUT 3..

Answer 21

There is no such thing as faith alone.

Answer 22

"Faith alone" or sola fide, was a tenant of Martin Luther's new religion. It is not taught by the Church, and it is not even taught in the bible. He added that word to the gospel to promote his new heretical doctrine. The only place in the scriptures where the words "faith alone" appear together is in the book of St. James. He declares that "faith alone, without works, is a dead faith." Martin Luther wanted to throw the book of James out of his new bible, because it disagreed with his declaration and new religion. Many protestants even today still follow the error of Luther and proclaim "faith alone" as their and "scripture alone" as their mantra.

Answer 23

NOPE! That is what the few that have decided to leave GOD dreaming they may break Laws/Sins and they may get away with it as Atheists; would have to Come Back to GOD and the LOVE they had also gave up! For LOVE comes only from and with GOD!

Answer 24

In the Christian sense, faith is trust in God and His word that leads a person to follow Christ and repent. Christ taught repentance, sacrifice of self and good works. It is clear who has and who does not have faith. A person that trusts in God's counsel enough to repent and do good, has faith. Faith without works is dead. In the judgement, it will be easy for God to know who trusts in Him.

Answer 25

This is much simpler than you are making it.



The New Covenant is a legal contract between humans and GOD. Like all contracts, it requires a 'meeting of the minds.' That means that both parties, (the human and GOD), must each make their agreement to the contract clear in each individual case. This is because GOD requires that 'liberty' be maintained, since it is central to His nature, (2 Corinthians 3:17), and liberty requires having a choice between two equally accessible options, both of which must have some version of everything contained in the other. Our choice is between 'good' and 'evil.'



The 'works of faith' are exhibitions demonstrating our choice. They do NOT factor into the terms of the contract itself, which undeniably stipulates that NOTHING we do could possibly 'save' us from the otherwise unavoidable returning judgment of sin, which MUST come back upon us according to the identical standard we applied to others while treating them as less than our equals, (Matthew 7:1-2).



This is a universal law established by GOD which applies to EVERYONE every time. There is no 'act of goodness' capable of fully mitigating it, since one violation ripples into the next which ripples into the next, (James 2:10). This is because our 'sin,' (any failure to maintain the 'Golden Rule'), creates a cascade effect that joins into an entire system of sin called the 'diabolos,' (the word typically translated 'the devil').



From GOD's perspective, there are no 'good' people' and 'bad people,' because those attempting goodness are actually exploited the most by the evil system, which uses the appearance of goodness to obscure its worst crimes, (2 Corinthians 11:14). GOD sees only two distinct systems. One is irrecoverable evil, turning even the best acts and intentions into wickedness through betrayal and exploitation; and the other is irreversibly good, turning even the worst acts and intentions into shared benefit to everyone inside that system, (Romans 8:28).



Since this is the case, GOD has given us a Covenant to join in order to enter that irreversibly good system. Those refusing that Covenant remain inside the irrecoverably evil system.



Perhaps the best example of a renowned 'good' man who rejected the New Covenant is Mohandas Gandhi. Jesus taught us that we can always know the true nature of anyone by the 'fruit' produced by their proverbial tree, (Matthew 7:12-20). No one on earth has ever been more exploited for evil than Gandhi. His 'passive resistance' movement and martyrdom led to the partition of his homeland based on religion, since it succeeded in removing a stable Christian superpower, leaving a sudden power vacuum. One million people died just during the initial separation. After this, an arms race ensued which gobbled up the new resources being brought into his nation through commerce. This arms race culminated in a nuclear standoff that threatens more than 1 billion people with instant extermination and permanent poisoning of the lands. The Muslim side of the partition is arguably the central front for organized worldwide terrorism, funding and training terror groups including those responsible for events like 911, which set off 'Arab Spring,' destroying entire nations across the world, creating tens of millions of helpless refugees, sparking the western invasions of the Middle East and trillions of dollars in squandered treasure. This has given rise to even worse groups willing to torture and kill children, (on video), recruit women around the world to come be raped, enslaved and impregnated with new 'future jihadists' and bringing worldwide human trafficking, (once known as 'slavery'), to its highest levels in world history.



Do you think that the gentle Gandhi 'meant' to do any of this?



Does it really matter what he MEANT to do? Not to GOD. There is no act of goodness that can mitigate that kind of evil. If you cannot learn this lesson from Gandhi, you will never learn it because you can never be even as 'good' as him. We have only one clear choice. GOD alone is able to turn all choices into goodness through the active power of His Spirit. That Holy Spirit is the only evidence we have of being 'regenerated' members of His Covenant and we must enter that Covenant through faith alone. Our 'works' only demonstrate our choice. The rest is GOD Himself doing good through us. He may form a 'stable Christian superpower' through us. He may simply ask us to hold back tides of evil in our own neighborhood. However, it will be Him doing it and He will do it DESPITE our weaknesses, moral failings and struggles with sin. That is how we know that salvation is by faith alone, not by means of any goodness we have done on our own. As Jesus Himself said, only GOD Is truly good. We are just along for the ride.

Answer 26

Read Galatians. Paul wrote that there are two ways to live. One is the laws of Moses (Jewish law) and the other by faith in Jesus Christ. You have a choice. He says this reasoning is for the devoted only, to avoid ‘showing off’ righteousness or bragging about obedience as a tool of coercion or subversion. God doesn’t like such pride. Now...part two of the theory is that your salvation would not be on the line if you do BOTH live by the law and walk by faith. It assures the believer that obedience to the law (or try to) therefore God grants ‘blessings’ while you are here on earth. Call it a perk. Lol. Repentance simply means ‘turn around, go another way’, it’s meant for anyone who is walking the wrong path. It can be anything. God loves it when you ask for help in this area, he always seeks glory.

Answer 27

I was raised as a Protestant and we were taught that fiath and good works would lead us to Heaven. Faith alone was nothing, if we did not do the right thing. That is where morality and folowing the example of Jesus came in.

It is only the born again Christians, not the old school Protestants who have the 'faith alone' belief. They seem to think that all you have to do is declare your faith, and you can keep on sinning and stealing or whatever else. That is too convenient, too easy, and does not make a true follower of righteousness.

Answer 28

Well...according to which doctrine?

There are several different doctrines addressing this matter.



P.S. You wrote "The Catholic position just makes so much more sense on this."

but...more sense than what? There must be at least half a dozen different Protestant positions on that, and some Protestant denominations doubtless have a position identical to the Catholic.



SO: which particular position are you comparing to the Catholic one?