After reading the item you linked, I see no reason to think Armstrong has gone off on a deep end.
quoting him: "I am arguing this "faith" is one that works, one that cleaves, one that follows, one that obeys. I am arguing that making radical distinctions between faith and works, at this point, is both wrong and harmful (thus the non-Lordship errors and a host of related ones). Most Reformed proponents would say, "We are saved by the God-given gift of faith in Christ alone." Agreed! But we must biblically deal with the faith itself or we simply pour our meaning into a vitally important word. Since Luther, we have had a Protestant tendency to see faith as the exact opposite of works. I see faith as the exact opposite of unbelief and disobedience. (See such use in Romans again.) Faith, in this sense, is a synonym for works, obedience, etc."
Faith is made up of belief that acts. Belief without action is what James says is dead. Romans 10:9-10 shows us faith.
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
True faith includes belief from the heart the Gospel truth and its corresponding works which includes confession of that belief. One cannot simply believe Jesus is Lord and never confess it and expect to be saved.
What God does for those He loves is transform their lives so that they are a new person. Being new and seeing life from a new perspective, as beloved of God as opposed to being at emnity with Him leads us to walk in a new way. We have a new and different spirit in us and hence walk in a new and different way. IF one does not walk in a new and different way, then it is indicative of a lack of that new spirit. It stands to reason that when the Spirit of a Holy God resides in us, we should no longer walk in the same way.
But because we DO believe a new thing and because we ARE a new thing, we walk in a new way. Hence it is not faith that saves but God who saves. Faith is the evidence of that salvation [Heb 11:1]. We know we are beloved by God because we-belief-and-walk-in-that-belief [faith].
When we falter in our walk, we still have the witness of the Spirit to our heart. We get back up and walk again because of who we are.
Faith is both what we believe and how we walk. Sometimes it is used to describe belief alone like James2: 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless]
Othertimes it is used to describe belief and works:
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
Romans 1:12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
