Dysfunctional Faith-Alone justification

[Proximus]

You are off track here.

You keep trying to argue Bible with me.

I’m trying to tell you the OP is not arguing Bible at all.

You aren’t listening.

Are you?

 

[Dino246]

Are you?

Given that I initiated contact with you, you should reconsider that question.

 

[CS1]

Since faith-alone without works cannot work to justify anyone, then your question is: What are works to have faith with works?

First, with God the Spirit, there is no faith-alone without works, because works begin in the heart of man, not in the flesh only:

Mat 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

Works of the flesh are not limited to the flesh, but are lusts in the heart, such as idolatry, hatred, envyings, coveteousness...These things are works committed in the spirit, that only God can see and judge.

And so, once again, no living person on earth can be without works, but only the dead. God judges every person's work, beginning in the heart:

Psa 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Rom 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.




You mean not confessing the Lord Jesus with the mouth? Once again, God sees the work of the heart, and not the flesh alone:

1Sa 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Heb 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Even as the Lord can be denied by deeds without words, so can the Lord be confessed by deeds without words.

The works of men and women created in the image of God, are intents of the heart, words, and deeds. The animals not created in God's image, have no heart nor spirit nor mouth to do good or evil.

And such is seeking the justification of God by works, not with men:

Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

Good questions. Thanks.

Good answers but you missed my point of questioning. what is a work? it is an action of doing something. Contextually a task, job, or a something to be completed.

There is the work of the Cross Completed by Christ alone

Jesus’ final words on the Cross, “It is finished” in John 19:30, signify the completion of the finished work of the Cross. Everything necessary for salvation was accomplished through His death, as He fulfilled the requirements of God’s justice and provided a way for humanity to be restored to a right relationship with the Father. Colossians 2:14 explains: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” The law, which exposed humanity’s sinfulness, was fully satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice, leaving no outstanding debt for those who believe on the Lord.

1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” This verse very clearly shows the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death. He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity and, through His suffering and death, offered healing and reconciliation with God to all who believe.


Then there is a work of the believer to be done by them in faith unto the Lord

The Bible teaches that genuine faith is not static but produces action. James 2:17 says, “So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.” Abraham’s faith was shown in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (James 2:21–22), illustrating that works are the natural outflow of living faith


When we say works they are i n fact two different things contextually.

Can a person who has a Cognitive disability get saved Or are they saved already? I believe God can save anyone.

In the context of the disability mental or physical the ability to do a "work." of the believer may not be seen. God fully knows your works done in faith or the lack of. The argument of works for salvation or the works do not save is a argument that is futile at best unless one teaches salvation by works. Meaning our good action produced salvation.

Yet the "works" we are doing after salvation is motivated by Love for God not in a context of legalism as the Pharisees demanded Read Matthew chapter 23.

 

[ATG]

You can choose to understand Luther's the doctrine of faith alone or you can choose to just make up what you think it means and argue against the imaginary position that you've created.

First, Luther did not preach justification by faith-alone without works. Second, there have always been preachers of justification by faith-alone without works, since the time when James 2 first rebuked it.

Modern preachers of faith-alone justification without works may have twisted it from Luther, but he was not preaching faith alone without works:

"Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone." -Luther

We see that Luther was ensuring that faith 'alone' for justification, was not that faith, that is alone without works: "Faith alone, is not faith that is alone..."

So, you are trying to defend Luther's use of faith 'alone' for justification, without defending any justification by faith without works, that is alone...

But as I've said, it's an unnecessary use in the Scriptures, and also confusing with justification. Why Luther did, no doubt, is because his main calling was to combat the strong deceit at the time of Catholic works for salvation and penance: Faith in works alone. But he only do so with the specific rejection of such faith 'alone' justification being faith without works, that is alone.

Justification by faith-alone without works as preached today, is by faith that is alone. Which is specifically rejected by Luther as useless to salvation and justification with God.

James 2
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Justification is by faith, but not by faith that is alone is the gospel of Jesus Christ, where Paul begins with the first, and James finishes with the second.

Justification by faith that is not alone, is Luther's teaching, when he says that justification is by faith from beginning to end, which must have works to save:

James 2
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Luther did not preach the modern lie, that justification is by faith-alone without works from the beginning to end, which is always dead.

James{2:17}
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

No one can be alive, and have not works at any time, especially not from beginning to end...

 

[Soyeong]

True, but not arguing the challenge. No one alive can be void of works.

To say someone on earth is without works, is to say they're dead, not alive.

While I agree that on one alive can be void of any kind of works, the position of by faith through grace apart from works is not referring to any kind of works, but rather it is referring to a specific kind of works that everyone can be alive apart from.

True again, but still not arguing the challenge:

The thing that faith-alone without works is apart from, is from any works, not only specific works. That's the faith-alone that cannot justify anyone doing any works, which is dysfunctional since only the dead can do no works at all...

That is a straw man.

Problem is that the Scripture only uses 'alone' to condemn dead faith without works.

Again, that is speaking about a specific kind of works, not any kind.

Paul speaks of saving faith without past works, not being alone. James speaks of dead faith without present works, being alone.

And so, you'd also be adding that word 'alone' to Scripture, where it's not written, and does not at all belong. Expounding on Scripture is not a license to add or take away from Scripture.

It not that we have no works in our past but that we are not saved as the result of any of the works that we have done in the past, which is what it means to be saved by grace through faith alone. When one thing is apart from another thing, then that is what it means to be alone, so it is not adding anything to Scripture.

The question then becomes why use it at all? To be part of them that insist on it?

Because that is what it means for something to be alone.

The word 'alone' has become a calling card idol for those seeing justification apart from their present works. As witnessed by writing it as 'Faith Alone', 'Faith Alone', and even 'Faith Alone!' As though bold CAPS and exclamations alone gives them power to save...

I've only created the challenge to the dysfunction conclusion of justification by faith-alone without works, and no justification by faith with works. I only rebuke it.

If you think the doctrine isn't already created and trusted by many Christians, then tell that to those Christians who declare justification is only by FAITH ALONE!, and apart from any works they are doing...You tell them they're only justified by faith-alone apart from their past works, and not justified apart from their present works? You quickly become the enemy.

And so, pleasing them must be your goal. Otherwise, you wouldn't be trying to create a fault for rebuking that dysfunctional delusion.

Gal 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Luther said that an idle faith is not a justifying faith.

First, Luther did not preach justification by faith-alone without works. Second, there have always been preachers of justification by faith-alone without works, since the time when James 2 first rebuked it.

Please quote a single person who believes that we are justified by faith without the works that are require to be alive.

Modern preachers of faith-alone justification without works may have twisted it from Luther, but he was not preaching faith alone without works:

"Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone." -Luther

It is uncertain that he said that, but he did say:

"Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If faith lacks love it is not true faith. Thus the Apostle bars the way of hypocrites to the kingdom of Christ on all sides. He declares on the one hand, "In Christ Jesus circumcision availeth nothing," i.e., works avail nothing, but faith alone, and that without any merit whatever, avails before God. On the other hand, the Apostle declares that without fruits faith serves no purpose. To think, "If faith justifies without works, let us work nothing," is to despise the grace of God. Idle faith is not justifying faith. In this terse manner Paul presents the whole life of a Christian. Inwardly it consists in faith towards God, outwardly in love towards our fellow-men."

"The argument is sophistical and the refutation is resolved grammatically. In the major premise, "faith" ought to be placed with the word "justifies" and the portion of the sentence "without works justifies" is placed in a predicate periphrase and must refer to the word "justifies," not to "faith." In the minor premise, "without works" is truly in the subject periphrase and refers to faith. We say that justification is effective without works, not that faith is without works. For that faith which lacks fruit is not an efficacious but a reigned faith. "Without works" is ambiguous, then. For that reason this argument settles nothing. It is one thing that faith justifies without works; it is another thing that faith exists without works."

 

[JBTN]

How can any person have faith-alone without works, and also have their faith with works? How can any person be justified by faith-alone without works, and also by justified by their faith, with works?

Faith alone justification is logical and practical dysfunction. I.e. It can only justify a person by having faith-alone without works, then how can it work to justify anyone, that is practicing their faith.

Let's look at the logical and practical malfunction of justification by faith-alone without works: 1) It cannot be for people living their faith, since their faith is with works. 2) It be for anyone without works, since no living person can be without works.

1). Since faith-alone is only without works, then no person can have faith-alone with works.

And so, a person can only have faith-alone, when not practicing their faith. Else, their faith is with works, not alone without works.

Therefore, no living person can only be justified by faith-alone with works, and live by their faith. Else they are justified by their faith with works.

Either a person is justified by their faith-alone without works, or by their faith with works, not both: Else alone is no more alone, and works is no more works. As Scripture would say:

For if justification be by faith-alone, then is it no more with works: otherwise alone is no more alone. But if faith be with works, then is it no more justification by faith-alone: otherwise work is no more work.

And so, we conclude that justification by faith-alone without works, is not practical, because faith cannot be practiced, and also justify without works.

The only practical justification for the living, is by faith and with works. Else no living person can ever by justified by faith and live by their faith.

Hab 2:4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

2). No living person can have faith-alone without works, since no living person can be without works. The living that do no works at all, is doing an evil work, by not doing good:

Jas 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Only the dead can do no works at all, and so only the dead can have faith-alone without works.

Jas 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

And yet, the dead can have no faith at all, else faith is no more faith, and dead is no more dead.

Conclusion: Justification by faith-alone without works, is so dysfunctional, that not even the dead can practice it, much less the living...

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Romans 4:5 (ESV) - And to the one who does not work bu - Bible App

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness

bible.com

 

[GWH]

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Romans 4:5 (ESV) - And to the one who does not work bu - Bible App

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness

bible.com

Harmonization: The faith in Christ that God counts as righteousness when sinners are justified produces godly/loving works/fruit.
IOW, faith first, married to love, yields hope of heaven--and these remain until Judgment Day (1Cor. 13:13).

 

[Proximus]

Given that I initiated contact with you, you should reconsider that question.

With all due respect, I did. And I found that your previous post about "being off track" is not touching the point that we were discussing, namely the faith-alone, and how faith was not enough for salvation. Andso when I presented you with a number of quotations to the effect that the idea that faith can save without life according to the commandments (when the law is understood fallaciously as the spiritual-moral law) is not founded on the Word understood, and is then even contrary to the sound reason, so now it is up to you, whether to consider calmly and thoughtfully what I presented from the Word, or to disregard it under some unessential pretext.

 

[Proximus]

Harmonization: The faith in Christ that God counts as righteousness when sinners are justified produces godly/loving works/fruit.
IOW, faith first, married to love, yields hope of heaven--and these remain until Judgment Day (1Cor. 13:13).

The Lord, when He accomplished everything, became the very Justice or Righteousness even as to the ultimates. So, He is our Justice or Righteousness. A man is not righteous or just, but when he looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sins, then the Lord Himself can come to him and dwell with him. Thus, the Lord come to His with His Own Justice/Righteousness, which are Divine. But those with a man remain to be the Lord's. It is not like the Lord grants some merely external status of righteous/justified, etc. But it is the process of reformation/regeneration, due to which the old man is being put away, and the new one is being put on, that is, what is the same, that the Lord comes to a man, and dwells with him. So, that Justice/Righteousness is the Lord's with a man.

Now, it is the Lord who is the tree, and It is Him who produces a fruit, when a man, as if by his own powers, looks to the Lord and shun evils as sins, for in doing so, it is actually then the Lord who is doing this with a man. And so it is not simply the faith or simply the charity, but it is the Lord who is producing the fruit when a man looks to Him, and does His commandments.

Apart from following the Lord, there is no living fruit, no true justification, everything is either dead, or hypocriticaly, spurious, pharisaical.

 

[GWH]

The Lord, when He accomplished everything, became the very Justice or Righteousness even as to the ultimates. So, He is our Justice or Righteousness. A man is not righteous or just, but when he looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sins, then the Lord Himself can come to him and dwell with him. Thus, the Lord come to His with His Own Justice/Righteousness, which are Divine. But those with a man remain to be the Lord's. It is not like the Lord grants some merely external status of righteous/justified, etc. But it is the process of reformation/regeneration, due to which the old man is being put away, and the new one is being put on, that is, what is the same, that the Lord comes to a man, and dwells with him. So, that Justice/Righteousness is the Lord's with a man.

Now, it is the Lord who is the tree, and It is Him who produces a fruit, when a man, as if by his own powers, looks to the Lord and shun evils as sins, for in doing so, it is actually then the Lord who is doing this with a man. And so it is not simply the faith or simply the charity, but it is the Lord who is producing the fruit when a man looks to Him, and does His commandments.

Apart from following the Lord, there is no living fruit, no true justification, everything is either dead, or hypocriticaly, spurious, pharisaical.

Yes, cooperation is key.

 

[Proximus]

"Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If faith lacks love it is not true faith. Thus the Apostle bars the way of hypocrites to the kingdom of Christ on all sides. He declares on the one hand, "In Christ Jesus circumcision availeth nothing," i.e., works avail nothing, but faith alone, and that without any merit whatever, avails before God. On the other hand, the Apostle declares that without fruits faith serves no purpose. To think, "If faith justifies without works, let us work nothing," is to despise the grace of God. Idle faith is not justifying faith. In this terse manner Paul presents the whole life of a Christian. Inwardly it consists in faith towards God, outwardly in love towards our fellow-men."

The faith is of theory, the charity is of practice. When, however, one statement of Paul is taken out of context, and the law of circumcision/ceremonies is taken to be the spiritual-moral law of the commandments, in which Paul delighted, as he himself said, with this internal man, then the faith is believed to be able to save without life of commandments. I presented the passages above showing that such understanding is essentially contrary to the Scripture and to sound reason.

Then, when a man on the one hand believes that "faith-alone" saves, and then tries to adjoin some charity to that belief, they are not equal, the view is not sincere, the faith is not correct. Indeed, it is better than not to join it. But in terms of the correctness of the belief, the truth is still missing.

Now, the faith, is, on the other hand, is that God Himself came, out of love, and then glorified His Human, and so He is to be worshipped in His Divine Human, namely, our Lord and God Jesus Christ.

 

[ATG]

What a confused translation of Romans 11:6. Here is a simpler and better translation.

Romans 11:6​

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.​

​

How can 5 simple words become simpler by adding 3 more words? Which is in order to change the translation from grammatically literal, to personally interpretive and change the Scripture itself:


2Pe 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The new interpretation apparently being, that faith alone without works, is faith not based upon works, which are not the same faith.

Saving faith that is not based on works, is not faith alone without works. Saving faith has good works. Faith alone has no works.

Jas 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

The ongoing confusion is changing the Scriptural teaching on faith, in order to transplant James' dead faith alone, that has no works, into Paul's saving faith, that is not based on works.

 

[ATG]

What a confused translation of Romans 11:6.

Here is a simpler and better translation.

Romans 11:6​

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.​

Even with the mistranslation, the challenge remains the same and unanswered:

How can anyone have saving faith, that is not based on works, and yet have no works? Else his faith is dead, being alone without works. Or else, he is dead doing no works at all...

It's not possible for any person to have saving faith, that is alone without works, because it's not possible to be alive on earth without works, neither doing good nor evil:

Jas 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

3 John{1:11}
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that is doing good is of God: but he that is doing evil hath not seen God.

A living person can have dead faith alone without works of faith, but only the dead have no works at all...

Paul preaches faith, that is not based on works. James preaches saving faith not based on works, is not dead faith alone without works of faith:

James 2: 15
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

James{2:14}
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 

[ATG]

Going by a script to show love is different from going by scripture to display love. The former will seem scripted, as coming from an actor, but the latter is impromptu, as coming from the Spirit that prompts you.

This is an excellent point, and well said: It's the difference between doing works to be seen of men, vs to be justified by God.

I've heard many people trying to separate their works from their saving faith, so that their deeds have no part in justifying them:

1. They say that their works are a show of fruit to others, as proof of faith: A fruit show before men.

2. Their works in James 2 are only to justify them with other believers, and not with God.

Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

Gal 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

If works are apart from saving faith, and have nothing to do with being justified by God, then all their works must only be done for a show before men: Doing religious works to show others how religious they are, rather than to be seen and honored by God alone.

Mat 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

This is how false teachers lead only into deeper ditches: The digging begins with faith alone justification without works, and becomes men alone justification by works...

 

[ATG]

Going by a script to show love is different from going by scripture to display love. The former will seem scripted, as coming from an actor, but the latter is impromptu, as coming from the Spirit that prompts you.

This challenges another false practice of faith alone justification by God, but not by works:

Some faith alone justifiers say, that the faith in James 2 is not for salvation, and the works are not to be justified with God, but only with men:

If our works are not done to be justified with God, but only to be approved of men, how then can our works receive any honor from God, and not from men alone:

Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

Gal 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Mat 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

 

[Watchman22]

The faith is of theory, the charity is of practice. When, however, one statement of Paul is taken out of context, and the law of circumcision/ceremonies is taken to be the spiritual-moral law of the commandments, in which Paul delighted, as he himself said, with this internal man, then the faith is believed to be able to save without life of commandments. I presented the passages above showing that such understanding is essentially contrary to the Scripture and to sound reason.

Then, when a man on the one hand believes that "faith-alone" saves, and then tries to adjoin some charity to that belief, they are not equal, the view is not sincere, the faith is not correct. Indeed, it is better than not to join it. But in terms of the correctness of the belief, the truth is still missing.

Now, the faith, is, on the other hand, is that God Himself came, out of love, and then glorified His Human, and so He is to be worshipped in His Divine Human, namely, our Lord and God Jesus Christ.

Welcome Proximus,

Could i ask you what your understanding of Faith is, specifically the act of faith that saves?

What is it that you understand we do to fulfill the act of faith that saves?

jay

 

[ATG]

I agree. God's character traits are the fruits of the Spirit and the Law of God was given to describe the behavior of someone who has God's character traits as it describers the behavior of the Son, is the the radiance of God's glory and the exact likeness of His character (Hebrews 1:3), which is why the Spirit has the role of leading us to obey the Law of God (Ezekiel 36:26-27). The only way to attain a character trait in general is through faith alone apart from works done to earn it as the result, but what it means to have a character trait is to be a doer of works that embody that trait.

The vanity of faith alone apart from works, as we see here, is all about attaining and leading to, but not doing. Faith alone justification attaining and leading to apart from works.

Rom 16:18
And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

They can now 'describe the behavior' of the Son, in great Scripture speak, but not preach being like Him by doing His glorious will:

James{1:22}
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1Jo 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

It's not pagan philosophers, but teachers within the churches of Christ, that cause between them that talk great about attaining and leading to the will of God by faith-alone, vs them that are doing it by faith:

Rom 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf:

We see that it's not talk of attaining and leading to, but obedience that is heard and known by all.

 

[ATG]

The only way to attain a character trait in general is through faith alone apart from works done to earn it as the result, but what it means to have a character trait is to be a doer of works that embody that trait.

Attaining is by faith alone apart from works, but having is with works. Faith alone can only attain, but not have. Else faith alone is apart from works and with works.

And so, once again, the unanswerable dysfunction and confusion of justification by faith alone apart from works, and not by faith with works: You can only be justified apart from works, and not be justified with works.

Rom 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf:

Faith alone apart from works is all about attaining, but never having...Except attaining is doing the work by faith, not by faith that is alone. Except alone is with works, not apart from works.

 

[Soyeong]

Attaining is by faith alone apart from works, but having is with works. Faith alone can only attain, but not have. Else faith alone is apart from works and with works.

And so, once again, the unanswerable dysfunction and confusion of justification by faith alone apart from works, and not by faith with works: You can only be justified apart from works, and not be justified with works.

Rom 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf:

Faith alone apart from works is all about attaining, but never having...Except attaining is doing the work by faith, not by faith that is alone. Except alone is with works, not apart from works.

We can do works for a variety of reasons, such as in order to earn a wage, in order to embody our faith, in order to embody our love, in order to look good in the eyes of others, in order to build a relationship, in order to restore the world, and so forth. So we can do works for one specific reason alone apart from doing works for one or more other reasons. Faith alone is about having.

 

[Mem]

This challenges another false practice of faith alone justification by God, but not by works:

Some faith alone justifiers say, that the faith in James 2 is not for salvation, and the works are not to be justified with God, but only with men:

If our works are not done to be justified with God, but only to be approved of men, how then can our works receive any honor from God, and not from men alone:

Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

Gal 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Mat 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Heb 11:8 By faith, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, so nobody else could see where he was going either.
Heb 11:9 By faith, he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were fellow heirs with him of the same promise. So, nobody else could see their 'faith' in that promise.
Heb 11:10 Abraham looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. So, nobody could see that city either.
Heb 11:11-12 from a barren womb and Abraham, one man as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Who could have known that this couple was at any time barren?
Heb 11: 13 (All) These, along with the preceding examples of faith, died in faith not having received what they were promised but seeing and welcoming them from afar off, acknowledging they were strangers and exiles on the either. Who else saw that?

Heb 11:17-19 When tested, by faith Abraham offered up his (uniquely) begotten son on the altar reasoning that God could raise the dead. As far as Abraham could see, if he obeyed God, and he had every intention to, his miraculous son was dead. He did not see the resurrection but saw it afar off in the form of a ram, whose horns were caught in the thicket (even that is a message if you consider the horns representation of power and the ram representative of the means of the way to resurrection).
But everyone else probably just saw it as some mundane, though happy, coincidence.