Buzzard3

You seem to be saying, faith alone makes you "right with God". If that is so, that means a believer can lead a life filled with the worst kinds of evil deeds imaginable (faith without works - James 2:26) and he is still "right with God", does it not?

Jesus gave believers this commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). That commandment means believers are under a law of works - loving one another - aka, "the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2). Romans 13:8-10 also indicates that Christians are under a law of works - "he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law".

Jesus said he did not come to abolish the Law. Hence, Romans 13:8-10 demonstrates that Christians are under the law to love one's neighbour, which comes from the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18): "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Your "faith alone" doctrine says a believer can spend his life raping and murdering countless little children, for example, and God will still grant him eternal life.

In James 2:24-26, for example,"works" refers to keeping God's commandments - obedience, in other words. Other words for (good) works and obedience are righteousness and holiness. Salvation through faith and works means salvation through faith and obedience.

James 2:24-26 says otherwise: "a man is justified by works and not by faith alone ... faith without works is dead." According to you, dead faith will produce good works!!

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done" means not by works alone ... it's not referring to faith and works.

"though faith" means faith is essential for the promise. Where does it say "faith alone"?

You misunderstand what "law" and "works of the law" means in those verses. Paul is not referring to all law and all works, but the ritual/ceremonial laws of Moses that Christ did away with, such as circumcision and the dietary laws. The moral laws of Moses remain, such as loving your neighbour (see Romans 13:8-10). James 2:21 says Abraham was "justified by works". Please explain.

Are you saying a believer's actions and behaviour are not the result of his own free will? What about a believer's sinful works ... who's works are they? And how would you define "works"? What are "works", exactly"?

Eph 2:8-9 doesn't disprove salvation through faith and works. It simply says (a) faith is essential for salvation (b) no one is saved by works alone.

At what point does this kick in? ... "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13) Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide us "into all the truth". Does your reliance on Scripture mean you have "all the truth"? If neither you nor the ECFs have "all the truth", who does?

I don't understand your point. Why have you quoted Matt 7:21-23 to support Eph 2:8-9?

I didn't misrepresent you. You believe that faith alone - ie, faith without works - will guarantee you eternal life. But faith without works is dead (James 2:26), so the doctrine of salvation through faith alone can be summed up as "dead faith = eternal life". The "dire consequences" for sin you speak of don't include eternal damnation (hell) - therefore your "dead faith = eternal life" doctrine says a believer can live a life filled with lying, deception, adultery, rape, stealing. murder and all manner of foul deeds and God will still grant him eternal life. If your doctrine logically leads to absurd conclusions (and it does), it's not my fault.

Christians are obliged to keep all the law of Moses that remains after the Cross - ie, the moral laws of Moses.