The Reality of Apostasy

Taylor you said we are either
"justified by faith alone or by faith and works"

This is a false dichotomy. We are neither justified by faith alone nor by faith and works ... this is because both saving faith and works are beyond the native powers of the unspiritual / unregenerate man (1 Cor 2:14). Faith is no less difficult than works, without renewal of heart. The truth of the Scriptures teach, rather, that we are justified by grace alone in Christ through faith. And it by GRACE from which all faith and works spring. Faith is the instrument that takes hold of Christ. But Faith has no intrinsic justifying value in itself, nor do works. But true faith and works always spring from a divinely wrought grace in the heart. It is Christ alone who justifies. If you rely on either faith or works then you are trusting in them as your savior. Only Christ can save.

" But true faith and works always spring from a divinely wrought grace in the heart. It is Christ alone who justifies. If you rely on either faith or works then you are trusting in them as your savior. Only Christ can save."

Amen!

One should be able to clear up their spiritual vision to see clearly that when you consider how the Apostle Paul treats the Word justification and justification in Romans 5.

Here are the verses. Consider that Paul uses one Greek Word for justification in Romans 5:16, which holds this meaning and value: "an equitable deed"; and Paul uses another Greek Word for justification in Romans 5:18, which holds this meaning and value: "an acquittal".

Here are the verses:

Rom 5:16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification/
dikaiōma.
Rom 5:17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification/dikaiōsis and life for all men.

There is no faith or works found there that is required of us. What is required of us to do, then? We are called upon only to become happy receivers of an abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness in a new relationship with God [through a Christ endeavored and Blood purchased act of obedience and suffering to secure salvation on our behalf]!

He dies, we live. By His death, we inherit all the spiritual blessings of God now in Christ!

Pope Benedict XVI comments on Luther and justification during a General Audience on 11/19/2008.

"Being justified simply means being with Christ and in Christ. And this suffices. Further observances are no longer necessary. For this reason Luther's phrase: "faith alone" is true, if it is not opposed to faith in charity, in love. Faith is looking at Christ, entrusting oneself to Christ, being united to Christ, conformed to Christ, to his life. And the form, the life of Christ, is love; hence to believe is to conform to Christ and to enter into his love. So it is that in the Letter to the Galatians in which he primarily developed his teaching on justification St Paul speaks of faith that works through love (cf. Gal 5: 14)."

http://www.reformationtheology.com/2010/10/justification_by_christ_alone.php#