"I may say also that Scott doesn't even discuss the point that some Protestants infelicitously express justification in a way that makes it sound as if the justification comes on the merit of faith. Again, I have been saying for at least 50 years that it is incorrect to say the Bible and reformed theology teach that justification is based upon the merits of the believer's faith. Protestants are not saying that one act of Protestant faith can do what all the works of the Roman Catholic cannot do. Now if faith were viewed as a work, it would be teaching the same thing Rome is teaching, only in a form so diminished that it is more atrocious than the Roman Catholic doctrine could ever be. This would mean that one act of ours is so meritorious that it redeems us from sin and entitles us to heaven forever. When we talk about justification by faith alone as the Bible talks about it, we refer to faith alone as coming to Jesus, resting in Jesus, and being identified with Jesus. Because we are one with Jesus, all that Jesus has done for us is ours in the experience. Nothing in our hands we bring. Simply to His cross we cling. But clinging to Him does not save us. Coming to Him does not save us. Trusting in Him does not save us. He ALONE saves us."
According to the Reformed faith (again, the historical Protestant faith) Christ even produces in us the spirit of faith, which we exercise non-meritoriously... I stressed the fact that so far from faith being a meritorious work, it is itself a gift of God..."
According to the Reformed faith (again, the historical Protestant faith) Christ even produces in us the spirit of faith, which we exercise non-meritoriously... I stressed the fact that so far from faith being a meritorious work, it is itself a gift of God..."
-- JOHN GERSTNER
an Appendix titled Rome NOT Home (A Response to Rome Sweet Home, by Scott and Kimberly Hahn)
in Justification by Faith Alone
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