Refuting Gerry Soliman on FAITH ALONE

   "Sin boldly and let your sins be strong. But let the grace of Christ become stronger" (Martin Luther)
                               

Note that Gerry's arguments are in red while mine is black

Gerry Soliman said:

I was reading articles in some apologetic websites these past several days. I came across a really cheap argument against the Evangelical doctrine of salvation by faith alone. The argument goes: How can we say that we are saved by faith alone with no good works added when faith itself is a form of good work?

My reply is this, we are saved only through God's grace. If faith alone is needed, why the need to obey Christ? Even our Lord emphasized this in Matthew 7:21,"Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord', will enter the Kingdom of heaven, only those who do the will of My Father in heaven".  Faith must have good works for having faith is synonymous to obeying as the Scripture says,"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.Whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment" (John 3:36, Good News Bible)

People using that argument are really childish. The apostle Paul teaches us this:

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

Now comes the detractors of Sola Fide giving the above argument. I wonder what would it be like if these detractors themselves tell that to Paul: "But Paul, faith itself is a good work!" They so miss the point.

Gerry, I can agree on that passage you used, however, the way you interpret it is not correct because what were the works that Paul is referring to there in that passage? Let us read from the book of Acts 13:38-39, here's what it says:

Acts 13:38-39 (Good News Bible), "All of you, my fellow Israelites, are to know for sure that it is through Jesus that the message about forgiveness of sins is preached to you; you are to know that everyone who believes in Him is set free from all the sins from which the Law of Moses could not set you free."

Have you read this? The works does not just refer to our good works (Isaiah 64:6) but on the works of the Mosaic Law by which we could not be justified (Acts 13:38-39). Believing my friend, is synonymous to obeying according to the Bible.

They should be familiarized about the rationale of Sola Fide: Salvation is by grace and cannot be merited by good works but faith alone. We have given Ephesians 2:8-9, here some supporting verses from Romans:

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:5

My friend, salvation is not through faith alone, but faith and works. BTW, you quoted Romans 11:6 right? Try reading it to Romans 11:21-22, here's what it says:

Romans 11:21-22, "For if God did not spare the branches, which are the Jews. Do you think He will spare you? Here we see the kindness and severity of God, severity to those who have fallen but to you, kindness, if you will continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off"

Paul is saying that if the Jews weren't spared for their disobedience to God, He will not spare us also if we didn't obey Him. That's the God of the Bible and not the "false god" of Eternal Security and about Romans 4:5, try also reading it to Romans 8:13, here's what it says:

Romans 8:13 (Good News Bible), "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.But if by the Spirit, you put to death your sinful actions, you will live"

We are saved by faith, yes, but if we live according to the flesh, we will die. Now can Christians do this? Yes! What are the works of the flesh that Paul is referring to here? Let us read from Galatians 5:19-21, here's what it says:

Galatians 5:19-21 (American Standard Version), "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (emphasis mine)"

If we do these, we won't inherit God's kingdom.

Salvation is God's doing and not by the efforts of man:

It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Now after all these verses and a detractor would insist on his cheap argument, well, it is really childish.

I agree with you that salvation is only through God's grace however we have an obligation to do.What is this obligation?

John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will obey My commandments"

If we love Christ, we will be able to obey His Commandments. Well, the fact that you say, Catholic arguments on faith alone is very childish is very absurd because you just don't get it my friend. Let me enlighten you on what the True Gospel of Christ is which Catholics are holding to for over 2000 years before your church came:
 
The true plan of salvation is this, God loved us that He sent His Son, we are to believe in Him (John 3:16-18), we are to repent (Matthew 3:2, Luke 13:3), we are to prove by our works that we have repented (Jonah 3:10, Matthew 3:7-8, Acts 19:19, 26:20), we are to work our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13), we are to endure to be saved (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13, Hebrews 3:14, 12:14).

Haven't you read these? Or are you just relying on your proof texts without considering the whole of Scripture? Please, do study Scripture again. And consider these passages that I have quoted. God bless in your search!!!

                                                  Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You!!!