“Sola fide en Solus Christus: Faith Alone in Christ"

[NetChaplain]

I think a good crux-question could be “Can one have faith in Christ and in works for receiving and/or retaining salvation?” I believe the answer lies within defining "faith in Christ."

Romans 10:9 could be the most applicable when addressing faith in Christ because the doctrines contained therein are universally related to all the Scriptural (not man's) articles of faith in Christ. I think it's also important to note that believing in Christ is synonymous with "receiving" Him, as in John 1:12; Rev 3:20.

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." "Confessing" or acknowledging the Lord is the same intention as in Matthew 10:32, 33, which also incurs "denying" Him. Not as Peter's verbal denial which was not truly in his heart, evidenced by his remorse and eventual lifestyle; but the absence of an outward lifestyle in accordance with Scripture, "as the Holy Ghost teaches" (1 Cor 2:13). This complies with Titus 1:6 and James 2:17, 18, 22, 24, and 26.

Can one accept these two articles as truth without being affected by believing in something untrue, which is not truly related to these articles?

I'm convinced that one can believe or disbelieve in any doctrine which is unrelated to faith in Christ (Rom 10:9 articles) without detracting credibility from their faith in Christ. It's through faith in Christ that saves (Eph 2:8); all else is only affects growth in the faith.

I believe John Gill's commentary presents a good explanation here: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,.... That is, if a man shall make a good, sincere and hearty confession to God, before the church and people of God, and before the world, that Christ is his Lord and Savior, whom he desires to serve and to be saved by; and this as arising from a comfortable experience of the grace of God in his soul and from a true faith in Christ in his heart.

"And shall believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for this article of Christ's resurrection includes the several other articles of faith: it supposes His death, and that supposes His life and the obedience of it; and His life implies His being here on earth and that His coming down from heaven to do the will of His Father; and this is the rather mentioned, which is here ascribed to God the Father, though not to the exclusion of the Son and Spirit, because that Christ is risen again for our justification, with which true faith is principally concerned.

"For such a faith is intended, not which lies in a mere assent to the truth of this, or any other article of the Christian religion; but which is concerned with Christ for righteousness, life, and glory; and with such a faith salvation is certainly and inseparably connected."

 

[clark thompson]

we do works by His power because we are His

 

[DHC]

Hello NetChaplain.

Very reasonable thread, what you stated is the simple Gospel.

Where the difficulty seems to arise is after you have believed and
have received the Holy Spirit. Then what does the Christian walk entail.

We do know that the Galatian church started correctly, but were bewitched
into following Mosaic laws. Paul states a simple truth below;

Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

On one level, faith is the very heart of the Gospel.

On a secondary level, "love" is the fruit that should be evident.

It appears NetChaplain that through the New Testament that faith and love
are intertwined. God is love, the Holy Spirit is love, the fruit of the Spirit is love.
Love must be expressed in faith.

 

[NetChaplain]

Where the difficulty seems to arise is after you have believed and
have received the Holy Spirit. Then what does the Christian walk entail.

Hi DHC - Thanks for the comment. I believe the "walk" evinces two truths; the presence of faith which includes all that accompanies it (2 Pet 1:3) and the level of our progression in growth of these things. Your focus on love is applicably valid, it being the highest spiritual achievement in Christianity. As I suspect you know, unconditional love to others is the judge for maturity in Christ's image because it is the purpose and sum of everything (John 15:12).

After being saved (unless eternal security is not accepted) it's just a matter of time concerning progression, because there's no child of the Father whom He does not continue to work in "both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13); which is accomplished through the Spirit quickening His Word in those who spend sufficient time in it for application. (John 6:63).

God's blessings to your Family!

 

[DHC]

Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 15:9
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

Romans 5:5
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

 

[james1523]

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." "Confessing" or acknowledging the Lord is the same intention as in Matthew 10:32, 33 which also incurs "denying" Him. Not as Peter's verbal denial which was not truly in his heart, evidenced by his remorse and eventual lifestyle; but the absence of an outward lifestyle in accordance with Scripture, "as the Holy Ghost teaches" (1 Cor 2:13). This complies with Titus 1:6 and James 2:17, 18, 22, 24 and 26.

Agree. Confession is the action, belief is in the heart.. together this is called faith. Faith is belief in action. This establishes Christ as the foundation. The rest of our living and doctrines is what we build upon the foundation.. gold, silver, precious stones..these have value.. or wood, grass, stubble..these don't have value. Our foundation is strong and secure, our eternal destination is secure.. our building is not guaranteed secure.. it depends upon us, how we build (1 Cor 3). It makes sense that if the foundation of a house is valuable material which Christ is, then the material used for building the rest of the house should also be the same material - Christ. Wood, hay, stubble, is anything not of Christ that we build with e.g. Philosophy, Judaism etc. The building will be tested with fire and reward given if our building stands the test ( 1 Cor 3 etc).

Now some Christians confuse laying the foundation with constructing the building. If we trust in works for laying the foundation, it is not right, and is anti-Christ. Only Christ is the foundation. But we must work in order to construct the building, it takes effort in prayer, studying the Word, fellowshipping with other Christians, doing good etc. If someone is against these kinds of works, they will have nothing to show Christ for their life, they will not get any reward.

Maybe the use of house and building terminology is confusing.... Christ spoke much in parables, not speaking plainly. To say it plainly.. Christ the foundation is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ joined to our spirit. That is the foundation of our life. Our building is what our soul ( mind, emotions, will) consists of. Is our mind, emotions, will, filled with philosophy, theology, Judaism, or perhaps even sinful and worldly things, such as greed, fortune, gluttony (desire for food) etc. Or is our mind, emotions and will constructed with Christ. Anything other than Christ will not stand the test of fire because Christ is the only eternal life. All the other things we may use to build with, are temporal and can be burnt with fire. Only Christ is eternal and cannot be destroyed by fire.

 

[NetChaplain]

Faith is belief in action

Hi James - Nice reply and thanks. Your comment here collates with James 2:18, "I will shew thee my faith by my works."

If we trust in works for laying the foundation

I agree that if one believes works are a part of receiving salvation, they've gotten it wrong concerning faith only in Christ for salvation. But if one believes that receiving salvation is only through faith in Christ and also believes works are required to retain it, the salvation is still there whether they realize it or not because error with non-essentials only impedes growth in salvation, but error with essentials prohibits salvation.

 

[NetChaplain]

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.

Whenever I have opportunity to comment on this passage I like sharing that I believe the reason why Jesus said "a new commandment" is because now love to others is no longer conditional. Instead of loving as you love yourself, it's now as He loves us, with unconditional forgiveness (Matt 6:15; Mark 11:26).

 

[B-A-C]

I'm convinced that one can believe or disbelieve in any doctrine which is unrelated to faith in Christ (Rom 10:9 articles) without detracting credibility from their faith in Christ. It's through faith in Christ that saves (Eph 2:8); all else is only affects growth in the faith.

Matt 7:19; "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Jas 2:16; and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Jas 2:17; Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18; But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Jas 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Jas 2:20; But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?