Originally Posted by JesusFan
Will attempt to answer your questions here!

4.No, salvationd from start to finish os thework of the Lord, Romans 8, and do see that faith alone saves me, but that faith when real and active will produce good works/fruit to give evidence of now being a Christian!
nope "that faith alone saves me,...". Sinners are saved BY grace (alone) through faith. Faith in and of itself is of no value whatsoever. There are many who have "believed" but are yet dead in their sins (cf. Jh 2:23-25; 6:1ff).

I love how Calvin explains this truth, i.e., faith has no salvific value. Paraphrased: Christ is like a pot of gold and faith is like the hand which grasps hold of that pot. What is it that makes that person rich? It is not the grasping for one can grasp a multitude of things which have no value. So, the value is in the gold itself. Thus faith is but the instrumentality which grasps onto Christ who is the richness of grace."

You would do well to read Joel Beeke's article here: Justification by Faith Alone (The Relation of Faith to Justification).

All non-Reformed denominations, churches and individuals hold that one's personal faith is what saves, thus effectively making faith a work; grace+faith=justification. For an easy to understand presentation on this pernicious error you may read this: By Grace Alone?

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simul iustus et peccator

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