I think we are getting off topic regarding faith and good deeds and there need for salvation ...
What do you think about imputed vs. infused righteousness ?
I believe that both are present in God's plan of salvation.
God imputes the righteousness of Christ (as the atoning sacrifice) ... to our account to justify us ...
... and God embarks to perform a transforming work in our hearts to infuse His righteousness into our being.
His promise is that He will complete this work.
Are deeds (my definition) needed to enter heaven?
Faith is the declared requirement for entry into the kingdom of heaven.
In fact ... I would contend that those with faith in Jesus Christ have already entered into the kingdom of heaven (i.e. abiding under the reign of God).1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:And ... those with faith in Jesus Christ will perform such good works as are consistent with their faith.
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Such works are the natural result of the spiritual nature which God revives within us.
BTW ... I would say that God not only inspires and enables good works in His children, ... but that He also presses upon us and chastens us ... to bring such good works to pass.Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:It is worth noting that Paul says that ... though we have received this revived spiritual life, ... that we must still contend with our old earthy (fallen) life, ... which is in the process of dying away.
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
To the extent that we yield to the Spirit in our lives ... we hasten the dying of the fallen earthly man.
Thus we are exhorted ... and thus we are to exhort one another.Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
you responded :I believe that both are present in God's plan of salvation.
It sounds like you are saying that we are imputed Christ's work to our "credit" ledger, (Prot. justification) and then we are transformed as part of Prot. sanctification. We see infused righteousness as a righteousness that comes from God, but which God gives not as ONLY a mere "credit", but as an infusion of actual righteous quality INTO a person. Rather than being a "credit entry", we are seen as "credit worthy". To my understanding, Protestant imputed righteousness is not your own, but Christ's. Is that correct? We believe we really are made righteous by God as a result of the Atonement of Christ. To those who avail themselves to the gift given, we are now under the system of Grace - where absolute perfection is not required. Christ's perfect righteousness satisfied the Father's wrath, turning aside the system of the Law and its absolute requirement of perfection and opened the way for a gracious familial relationship between God and man. As a father does not expect absolute perfection of his children, neither does God.
Thus, while there is a legal aspect of justification, it is secondary - and simultaneous - to an infused and ontological righteousness that God gives to us.
Faith is the declared requirement for entry into the kingdom of heaven.
In fact ... I would contend that those with faith in Jesus Christ have already entered into the kingdom of heaven (i.e. abiding under the reign of God).
True, faith is necessary to enter heaven. Also, those with faith are already "entering" the kingdom of heaven. The Gospels seem to have a "there", but "not yet" aspect to the Kingdom. In one sense, it is entrance into the church (by baptism). In another sense, it is an ongoing process - as Jesus instructs the Rich Young Man - "you are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven", or the Scribe who agreed with Jesus regarding the most important Commandment. But we also understand that we must persevere - so it is a "not yet". It seems that the Scriptures often times make the presumption that the Christian will persevere - and makes eternal salvation as already achieved. But in many other places, it also warns Christians that turning back to the "flesh" will disinherit the Kingdom.
And ... those with faith in Jesus Christ will perform such good works as are consistent with their faith.
Such works are the natural result of the spiritual nature which God revives within us.
Generally speaking - we are presuming that this works will follow faith. But neither is from ourselves. Since God gives us both faith and deeds as a gift which we are called to respond to, it does not follow that deeds will follow faith - works can be refused, just as faith can be refused. They are all separate gifts from God, and can be rejected separately. But one cannot have deeds without faith. And faith without deeds is dead. I agree with your statement that God "begs" us to obey Him through our good deeds. God desires that we be saved and enter into union with Him - so we must naturally please Him with our faith and deeds.
It is worth noting that Paul says that ... though we have received this revived spiritual life, ... that we must still contend with our old earthy (fallen) life, ... which is in the process of dying away.
To the extent that we yield to the Spirit in our lives ... we hasten the dying of the fallen earthly man.
Agree. We are continuously seen as righteous or unrighteous in God's eyes, depending on our current response to His gifts. It is a slow battle, the sanctification of our souls. I beleive, though, with our continued positive acceptance of His gifts, we continue to grow in holiness and strengthen ourselves against future temptations of the flesh. Persevere to the end, Paul and Jesus tell us. We KNOW the Spirit is within us if we obey the Commandments (Acts 5:32).
Brother in Christ