Justification

The only way you can reconcile OSAS with the parable of the sower is to think the first 2 examples are for unbelievers. That is not true, they are believers, but with shallow commitments, and so loose whatever belief they had.

I believe that being saved is a long process that one establishes over a long period of time. I do not believe that one is saved and then is forever saved by Jesus even if they finally reject his name and do all that they can to disavow him. IOW, the race is not won at the beginning, it is won at the end of the race by being true to your commitments and promises the entire way, and have finally reached and broken through the tape in victory.

Justification is by faith alone or faith plus works?

Neither:

If salvation is by "faith alone" give a verse that says so . . . (try James 2:24 . . .)

Salvation is by grace through faith and then we become God's workmanship (Eph. 2:8-10) .

We are saved by the grace of God through our response in faith. And we stay saved by the grace of God through our response in faith. It is all of God, not of the works of man.

The person who does not have the grace of God working in their life by the power of the Holy Spirit and is not believing by faith in the atonement of Jesus death and resurrection is not saved.

Why are you sticking "our response" in that passage?

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We are saved by the grace of God through our response in faith. And we stay saved by the grace of God through our response in faith. It is all of God, not of the works of man.

This is how some people sneak in works thru the back door, the Saving faith = Salvation + works equation

Sorry, I have no idea what you are trying to say or what you are hinting at . . . ??????????????????

For myself, I love doing works; they are not a bother, but a blessing. I am not sure why some make so much fuss about being sure not to even mention anything about works.

Sorry, I have no idea what you are trying to say or what you are hinting at . . . ??????????????????

For myself, I love doing works; they are not a bother, but a blessing. I am not sure why some make so much fuss about being sure not to even mention anything about works.

Did you do perfect works that GOD looks favorably on before you got saved or after you got saved?

If you are doing good works you are doing well but all we are saying Is give JESUS all the credit first,HE Is the VINE and we are the branches In the body of CHRIST receiving sustenance from the VINE.

JAMES 2:21.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

2:24.
You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

2:25.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers,
and had sent them out another way?

GA:. 2:17.
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners,
is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

ROM. 8:30.
Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified:
and whom He justified, them hHe also glorified.

5:1.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

5:7.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.