The doctrine of Justification by faith alone is one of the most attacked and misunderstood of all Protestant beliefs. Justification by faith alone excludes all human works as a means of attaining to or apprehending justification, it does not mean that believers produce no works at all. The believer’s works are produced by Christ via the Holy Spirit in and thru us. So those who uphold the gospel of ‘faith alone’ will always produce works of the Spirit or works of love. While those who uphold the gospel of ‘faith plus works’ will always produce works of the flesh or works of the law which are never acceptable to God. The Catholic church being the most famous example of the corrupted ‘faith plus works’ gospel where Christ is robbed of his power to save sinners to the uttermost. Souls that are won to Christ under the corrupted ‘faith plus works’ gospel often enter a lukewarm state and are only partially if ever fully converted. Faith alone being the hot state and works alone being the cold state in the famous Laodicean analogy.
I am going to work through this quote and highlight areas of fault.
"Justification by faith alone excludes all human works as a means of attaining to or apprehending justification, it does not mean that believers produce no works at all:" Correct. It also renders any works as a product of faith, null and void. AKA: useless.
"The believer’s works are produced by Christ via the Holy Spirit in and thru us:" Does this include sinful actions? Because if not, then works are a product of a person's will. Granted, good works, such as charity, are aided by the inspiration of Christ/Holy Spirit, but that does not mean that the works are those
belonging to the Holy Spirit. Allow me to clarify, if I may.
In Revelation, when "christians" approach Christ and say "did we not cast out demons in your name," He says, "Depart. I never knew you." (this is that lovely analogy of lukewarm and hot/cold that you love to reference). Are these acts not good? And isn't your argument that any good acts performed are those of the Holy Spirit? Compare that with a Christian (who accepts faith alone doctrine) who never goes to church. Why should they? They are saved by their faith, no? Is this direct contradiction a product of the Holy Spirit? The action is not empirically bad, nor good. Let us add to that the Christian (once again, faith alone subscriber) who masturbates. Are their actions those of the Holy Spirit? Naturally one would say not. But these are actions of
a Christian.
"So those who uphold the gospel of ‘faith alone’ will always produce works of the Spirit or works of love:" Not true at all. I just provided an example of a work of lust, existing withing a "faith alone" Christian. I know many devout "faith alone" Christians who struggle with masturbation and lustful temptations.
"While those who uphold the gospel of ‘faith plus works’ will always produce works of the flesh or works of the law which are never acceptable to God:" False again. Many atheists are charitable. Are these the works of the law/flesh? One would say acts of charity and goodwill are Godly actions and works.
"The Catholic church being the most famous example of the corrupted ‘faith plus works’ gospel:" Combine this statement with the last one, and you have a great falsehood. The Catholic Church is the largest missionary denomination in the world. Over 60% of all finances go to missions and the missionaries and in aiding those who they reach out to.
"corrupted ‘faith plus works’ gospel where Christ is robbed of his power to save sinners to the uttermost:" How is this so? This is always stated, but never supported by any decent piece of logic or reasoning.
"Souls that are won to Christ under the corrupted ‘faith plus works’ gospel often enter a lukewarm state and are only partially if ever fully converted:" Where is your evidence of this? Please provide it and the actual statistics. (this seems to be more of an invented fact on your/whoever told you's part)
"Faith alone being the hot state and works alone being the cold state:" Please show Scriptural evidence and support of this. Or even logic would suffice. (once again, this appears to be an invention of your mind and doctrine)
Almost your entire statement is without evidence, without biblical support, and littered with false applications and facts. I do think the one point you made, which is partially true, is that the Doctrine of Faith Alone is attacked and misunderstood in protestant beliefs. I do not know if it is the most attacked, but it could very well be. Especially since Calvinists are adamantly opposed to it. However, one could but scan the forums here and see that the Doctrine of Election is more often than not attacked (and misunderstood if one talks to a Calvinist). But I will give you the benefit of the doubt on that statistic. (As far as Faith Alone vs Faith+Works. Faith+Works is always more vehemently attacked. And definitely misunderstood or the target of misapplied ideas and ideologies.)
I do thank you for your comment though, as I feel it was the most accurate/precise at demonstrating the average belief of Protestants who adhere to faith alone doctrines, and their applications of beliefs towards faith+works doctrine.
