You can repeat it all you want, but as this thread proves, even half your fellow protestants don't buy that anymore. Including many "evangelicals". Interesting you don't see the reverse -- lifelong Catholics accepting "Christ alone will save you without you doing ANY good works" theology.
'I can do nothing but evil acts my whole life, but that's OK as long as I declare that I "accept Jesus", and then I get an instant ticket to heaven' doesn't hold water.
And the GOOD Thief probably realized that, too.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Peace be with you.
Actually salvation by effectual obedient faith is Scriptural and classic Prot. theology. Luther himself formally taught: faith is a living and an essential thing, which makes a new creature of man, changes his spirit... Faith cannot help doing good works constantly... if faith be true, it will break forth and bear fruit... where there is no faith there also can be no good works; and conversely, that there is no faith.. where there are no good works. Therefore faith and good works should be so closely joined together that the essence of the entire Christian life consists in both. if obedience and God's commandments do not dominate you, then the work is not right, but damnable, surely the devil's own doings, although it were even so great a work as to raise the dead... if you continue in pride and lewdness, in greed and anger, and yet talk much of faith, St. Paul will come and say, 1 Cor. 4:20, look here my dear Sir, "the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." It requires life and action, and is not brought about by mere talk. Works are necessary for salvation, but they do not cause salvation... faith casts itself on God, and breaks forth and becomes certain through its works... faith must be exercised, worked and polished; be purified by fire... it is impossible for him who believes in Christ, as a just Savior, not to love and to do good. If, however, he does not do good nor love, it is sure that faith is not present... where the works are absent, there is also no Christ... References and more by God's grace. http://peacebyjesus.net/Reformation_faith_works.html
'I can do nothing but evil acts my whole life, but that's OK as long as I declare that I "accept Jesus", and then I get an instant ticket to heaven' doesn't hold water. And the GOOD Thief probably realized that, too.
No, the so-called GOOD Thief was not good (nor necessarily a thief), and is proof that one can live contrary to Christ but be saved at the last by penitent faith in the Lord Jesus. However, what is not Scriptural is that of salvific faith which does not fundamentally change the person, effecting the "obedience of faith."
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalms 34:18)
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:17-18)
Bill; you are sounding like a disgruntled vineyard worker that signed on early in the morning.