Justification by Faith Alone and Future Justification / Ask Doug

[michaeljay]

Praise God. I heard some terrible rumors that Pastor Doug taught justification by faith and works, or justification by faith and sanctification. But what he has said here is exactly the Gospel as far as I know by the grace of God. We are saved entirely by faith. Both at the beginning of our walk with Christ, and throughout our stay here on earth. The works only serve to proves that the faith which saved us was in fact a real faith (a living faith, and obedient faith). The obedience which this living faith produces is not the grounds of justification, but only a fruit. if anyone is having a difficult time understanding what he says, (which contains a some complex words probably intended for pastors and theologians), is that we are saved by faith alone, but never by a faith that is alone. I think the exact phrasing he said was “we are justified by faith. Our works justify our faith.” That is to say, that good works prove you have saving faith; the works don’t save you.

[jyhoke]

Wow, I am very hard on Wilson, but he is beautifully sound here.

[BehaviorModification]

I don't see what's so difficult here. He's saying that saving faith is itself both a gift and a result of justification. And that the good works that follow in the wake of faith are what "vindicates, " or reveals the authenticity of, that saving faith.

[jwalkermtnr]

Other than his post-millennial eschatology (which I mostly agree with) I don’t understand why Doug is so controversial. What am I missing?

[wingandprayer]

“Faith alone” in practice, generally leads to faith without repentance aka “ cheap grace”. Satan believes in one God too.
God Bless

[TheMcGloneCode]

I am trying to understand the issue some well-meaning Christians have with Doug Wilson. Is the issue that he's an overpusher? Or is just that he's not a pushover?

I don't think he's either. I think he runs the risk of being an overpusher BECAUSE he's not a pushover, but his willingness to repent and clean up any messes he makes justifies that, imo.

[chrisctlr]

Where's the heresy? I'll wait.

[twowitnessesoftheson]

the hands and feet of any would be followers of the Way. The church today has done the same thing the Jews had done 2000 years ago. "Come to the house of God, " they say. God says that He does not live in a building of brick and mortar but of flesh and bone. The Bible says to draw near to the house of God to hear for God speaks but do not do as they do for they know not what they do is evil. Church goers dont see that they are stuck suckling from the Pastor only milk. Only the Holy Spirit...

[rubynobles]

1st corinthians 13:13 which is greater faith hope or love. If love is greater than faith how can someone believe in faith alone?

[twowitnessesoftheson]

can feed meat for He seasons it with salt so that we may be the salt of the earth. Let those who have ears to hear understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches!

[jshir]

*Glorification is part of the Ordo Salutis, so as Orthodox Christians teach, no one is glorified until they die or Christ returns. The problem is then one is not fully saved in this life & how saved does one have to be to enter God's presence?*

[twowitnessesoftheson]

has done over the last two thousand years? They incorporated pagan beliefs and systems into a church that used the supposed name of our Lord. His name was changed of course for God would not allow His true name to be used. The true church is YOU... the kingdom of God is within YOU... the Holy Spirit is here to forge you into a weapon bringing together all the resources God has put at your disposal not from a book, but by the Spirit. It is His holy Fire that will drive the evil from within.

[twowitnessesoftheson]

We are supposed to be the body of Christ yet the vast majority of church goers limit themselves to service within the confines of the church. Jesus did not serve the church. He served God. He did not preach in the church. He preached in the streets and everywhere He went. He is the living breathing Word of God sent to set the captives free not only from sin but from the confines of religion and man made traditions. Yet here we are again. A denomination on every street corner. Traditions binding

[bryanjacobs]

It makes no sense to say our cooperation with grace comes by grace. Then we can't do anything but wait around for grace to move us. All the commands in Scripture are farcical because we can't respond to them.

[cmac]

If works are necessary to have true saving faith why not just tell people you have to have works and faith? Why are they so afraid?

[twowitnessesoftheson]

Exactly... but what you fail to realize is that those who have created this religion we call Christianity today have developed this mentality in all those who go to church. They say, "If you are here today and you want to give your life to Christ then come forward." They make it simple. Yet Jesus says that eternal life is difficult and narrow is the Way. The church today is of Satan just as it always has been. Do you really think that God would allow His church to do what the Catholic church...

[adamgunari]

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24 ESV)

[MrOphachew]

What does the Bible say about Justification by Faith Alone? read James 2:14-17.

[MrKev]

Christ be with you
St Paul disagrees
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (rom 3:31)
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.(rom 2:13)

St John says
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. (1 John 3:7)
God bless you

[williemoe]

So God does not say look at the good work you did or look at your obedience to my commandments, which is our righteousness by the way, to let us into heaven. Oh, we can't be righteous as we are filthy rags. That is for those in the flesh, not in the Spirit. 1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. RC Sproul keeps twisting the bible in Genesis 15 claiming Abraham believed God but it says "Abraham believed in the Lord" in Genesis 15. Romans 4 says he believed God. Why does he do that? Because he does not understand that Abraham was declared righteous not just because Christ's righteousness was imputed to him but also because his works were righteous. Faith without love is a false dead faith.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.



This nonsense that we are justified before God once and forever is a damaging lie. God created us to love him and obey him and that is our righteousness. Not of ourselves, it is Christ in us and us in Christ but it is still our righteousness. People think they can sin and not be condemned which is nonsense.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Does it say the soul in Christ is fine because I forever declared them justified? No, the soul that sins, even the righteous man in Christ will be damned to hell. Read Heb 3 and 4 and see what the 4th commandment is all about. It is about losing our salvation through a faith that does not endure.