Actually it's you who has the very distorted concept of salvation.
I did not understand salvation as a Catholic, but I do now as a Christian.
Man is saved by grace through faith and not by works. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16). That is scripture and is not some formulated philosophical concept. 2 Corinthians 4:3 - But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which BELIEVE NOT, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
In regards to interpreting scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:11 - For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Do you believe that we are righteous "in of ourselves" or positionally in Christ? Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: Do you reject IMPUTED righteousness for imparted righteousness, as Roman Catholics do? 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Philippians 3:9 - and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. That is the position of BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.
Why do you think that Christ lived a sinless perfect life, died for our sins, was burial and rose again from the dead? It was to provide for us eternal life. You confuse what we are saved BY - grace through FAITH; with what we are saved FOR - good works.
Faith in Christ doesn't simply make union with Him and salvation possible, it makes it actual.
This is what we are saved FOR and not by. We could never be sufficient enough servants or do enough good works to earn our salvation. That's why salvation is by grace through faith and not works.
It shows me he never had genuine faith but a temporary shallow belief that has no root.
We have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). We are not still in a process of becoming saved through faith, but believers are in a process of ongoing Sanctification (which unbelievers often mix up with Justification) by which we are being saved from the power of sin. Believers have been saved from the penalty of sin.
Faith IN CHRIST alone for salvation is not meaningless because He alone is the all sufficient means of our salvation and the Object of our faith in receiving salvation. Faith that claims to be genuine yet remains alone (barren of works) is meaningless because this is not genuine faith but an empty profession of faith, a dead faith. Works show that our faith is genuine and that is the sense in which we are justified by works. Not saved by works, but shown to be righteous.
I agree. Like I've said many times before. Faith is the root and works are the fruit of salvation. No fruit demonstrates no root.
No contradiction. John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. The term "know" implies intimate, experiential knowledge, through a relationship with Him, not merely theoretical knowledge. This loving, obedient relationship is what we are saved FOR and not by. We don't even begin this loving, obedient relationship with Him until we are saved.
So where do you draw the line in the sand and say that you were faithful "enough"? How much is enough? See your confusion? That's not salvation through faith in Christ but salvation BY WORKS! It's no wonder you have no security.
If you were standing at the gates of heaven right now and Jesus asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would be your exact answer? Your answer will demonstrate exactly what you are trusting in for salvation.
Works are the demonstrative evidence of our faith, but not the means of salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will confirm/keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Christ is all the security that I need. Your security rests in your performance so of course there is no guarantee for you.
I'm not talking about becoming exactly like God. We will reach entire sanctification in eternity and receive our glorified bodies. We will then be saved from the presence of sin.
I'm not worried about babes in Christ. They are saved, but you keep saying that salvation is based on our performance so I asked you that question about babes in Christ, but you didn't bother to answer it. So where do you draw the line in the sand and say that you were faithful ENOUGH? Is that salvation through faith in Christ or salvation based on your performance/works?
No misconception at all. That is your implication. What obligations are there for us to accomplish in order to become saved after we have been saved through faith? Believers are committed to Christ and all believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful (Matthew 13:23). No man can lay any other foundation which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
No misconception and I didn't contradict anything. Which explanation? Your explanations equate to salvation based on man's performance/works and not faith in Christ. Your faith is in works.
True, yet we are still saved through faith and not by works.
You cannot demonstrate that you believe/have faith without works.
Created FOR good works, not saved by good works. Without faith, one is not in the Body of Christ to begin with.
False. That is the usual response from works salvationists in order to get around the truth found there. Verse 13 says each one's work and verse 14 says if anyone's work and not simply teachers. We must ALL stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (including pew believers and not simply Pastors and teachers. Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
There are multiple crowns mentioned in scripture. So you are saying that eternal life/salvation is a "reward" and is "not a gift?" in contradiction to Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8. The Greek word for "reward" is misthós Strong's #3408 (a primitive word, so NAS dictionary) – a reward (recompense) that appropriately compensates a particular decision (action).
reward, wages.
Apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad -- hire, reward, wages. Now to him who works the wages are not counted as grace but as debt (Romans 4:4). 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works. So much for salvation by works or working for and earning salvation as a reward.
Rewards "in addition to receiving eternal life" are Biblical, as we have seen in Matthew 16:27 and 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 yet this truth found in scripture on rewards does not accommodate your works based false gospel of receiving eternal life as a reward "based on your performance" (wages earned) instead of through faith in Christ, so you reject the truth. It sounds to me like you are deeply indoctrinated into the theology of your church and are unable to see anything beyond your indoctrination.