I wish the reader to understand that as often as we mention Faith alone in this question, we are not thinking of a dead faith, which worketh not by love, but holding faith to be the only cause of justification. (Galatians 5:6; Romans 3:22.) It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone: just as it is the heat alone of the sun which warms the earth, and yet in the sun it is not alone, because it is constantly conjoined with light. Wherefore we do not separate the whole grace of regeneration from faith, but claim the power and faculty of justifying entirely for faith, as we ought.
Calvin contradicts James who said “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
Obedient works in doing God’s will is what justifies. This means a NT faith includes obedience and is dead apart from obedience.
Calvin: “ It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone: “
A very contradicting, illogical statement. Something as faith cannot be both “alone” and “not alone” at the same time.
Luther nor Calvin could ever show one example where a disobedient person who was rebellious to doing God’s will was unconditionally justified by God anyway.
One must FIRST meet the condition by being obedient THEN one receives the free gift.
So “faith without works is dead”. Obedience is what gives life to faith, without those works ‘faith alone’ remains dead, useless.
“Faith” justifies Rom 5:1
“Faith alone” does not justify James 2:24
This means “faith” and “faith alone” cannot be same thing. “Faith” includes obedient works while “faith alone” is void of obedient works.