Protestant pastor: This is what we believe the Bible says about Justification. It is an act of God and God alone. It proceeds from His free grace (a “gift”). But the Scripture makes it clear that even though it justification is God’s activity, there is an activity that should come from the recipient of the gift. That activity is FAITH (Eph. 2:8-9) and it is faith alone that brought by the recipient into this relationship to justification. We are justified through our faith (Rom 1:17, 3:22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30; 4:3, 5, 16, 24; 5:1; Gal 2:16; 3:8, 9; 5:4, 5; Phil. 3:9).
Abe: I couldn't help noticing your use of Rom 1:17 to support your view of faith being all that's required for salvation. ( I also seem to get the impression that for you justification is a one-time event. )
I was wondering how you would reconcile this with "through faith for faith," a phrase used in Scripture to indicate an on-going growth in something that's living, as in Ps84:8, 2 Cor 2:16, 2 Cor 3:18, Rom 6:19.
Also, especially since Paul used "he who through faith is righteous shall live" seems to be a spinoff from Habakkuk 2:4.
In this passage, the prophet assured that the Jews who kept the law and trusted in its promises would not succumb when the Babylonians invaded. By its use, Paul seems to be saying that the Christians who stay firm in their faith (work out their salvation in fear and trembling if you may) will continue in the life of grace.
In short, in Romans 1:17 Paul seems to be speaking precisely of the opposite of the view that salvation is a one-time event, that is that salvation is a steady growth or progression.
Notice how the same Habakkuk 2:4 is taken up in Gal 3:10-14 and Heb 10:36-39 in addition to Rom 1:17.
Notice likewise the pervading theme- salvation being an ongoing process.
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