Faith alone?

Question

I've heard many explain faith alone to me as true faith produces works, but works cannot produce faith, nor will God grant faith to the man who attempts to do works. My question is, if this is true, then why isnt everyone who believes Faith Alone Calvanist?

Consider that if there is nothing you can do to achieve faith, and works are to no avail, and all good works flow from Faith anyway, then who can come to God of their own choosing? It must be God who grants Faith to some, but not to others. Then it is God who decides who is saved and who isnt, and the man has no say in the matter. Was the man who pleaded "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!" pleading in vain? Or is there something, some work, that us men must do in order to receive God's calling us to salvation? If so, doesnt that make it not faith alone, but faith and works both? Even if this work is only accepting Christ into your life, is this still not a good work and not by faith alone?

In response to an answer I received, the Original Greek Septuagint and even the Latin Vulgate never said "Faith alone". They only say saved by faith. Luther tried to add the word alone to make the phrase "faith alone" in the book of Galatians somewhere, but I believe he ended up deciding that was a bad idea.

Please answer my question. I got one long answer giving protestant doctrine of faith alone without explaining why it isn't Calvinist. I learn nothing from such posts, because I have heard this before. Please defend your stance, don't state what I already know - read the question, give your background as you see fit, and then please answer the question.

for pjerry:

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Galatians 2:16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

and Gal 3:11-12 "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”[a] 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”"
-Galatians addresses works of the law. I believe this taken to mean faith alone takes the book of Galatians out of its historical context.

Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."

I don't see "Faith Alone"

for pjerry:

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Galatians 2:16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

and Gal 3:11-12 "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”[a] 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”"
-Galatians addresses works of the law. I believe this taken to mean faith alone takes the book of Galatians out of its historical context.

Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."

I don't see "Faith Alone"

sorry about the double post above, glitch in the internet connection. Anyhow I think Jonathan seems to be making some sense. I take "it is the gift of God" in Ephesians to refer to salvation, not faith. Although even if it is referring to faith, it is still up to the man to accept or reject God's gift.

I have yet to receive an explanation for why Faith Alone doesnt imply Calvanism...

Answer 1

I think the problem lies in the fact that many do not understand the difference between faith and grace.

Our own faith (belief) is a work:

1Th 1:3 - Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

2Th 1:11 - Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

And we know that works do not save:

We are saved by grace through not our own faith (work, no substance) but by the faith OF Christ:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8,9.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16 kjv.

Again:

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, - 2 Timothy 1:9.

Answer 2

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. God gives us the gift of faith, we cannot whip it up within ourselves. What does Ephesians 2 say? We were dead in trespasses and sins. A dead man can do nothing. How does one become alive spiritually? By the indwelling of the Spirit. Any fleshly work to achieve salvation is useless, filthy rags. Christ did it all on the cross, it is finished, nothing more needs to be added. God chooses out those for salvation, their names written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. God draws those whom He has chosen, no one comes to God unless he be drawn.

Rom 8:28 But we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good, to those being called according to purpose;
Rom 8:29 because whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.
Rom 8:30 But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Do you see anything here that we do? Check Ephesians 1 and 2, tell me where we play any part in it? That is Pauline theology, it is all of God (monergism), we don't help Him. We don't do good works to get accepted or become something, we are saved, believers, the ecclesia, and do works because of who we are.

Answer 3

Faith is not true unless it's back by Good deeds. And I don't think that faith Stand because if I couldn't prove it then I wouldn't believe it. I think there is a rational to my belief and I can prove it; at least to myself .

Answer 4

Salvation is by grace through faith. But faith without works is dead. Faith is belief that produces action.

Answer 5

If there is a voice inside your head telling you that you don't believe it is probably right...try to accept this and get on with the rest of your life as an atheist, many of us already do and it's just great.

Answer 6

Your bible says "Man is justified by Faith alone".

Answer 7

Calvanists believe in predestination.


I don't.

Answer 8

Faith can't be forced. Other wise its just fear.