Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 5973

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5973. FAITH AND LOVE. A conversation took place with certain spirits, about faith; and they were told, that faith and life make one, consequently that, as the life is, such is the faith. They were also told that they may believe that faith justifies if they wish, if by a justified man is also meant one who is in life; since they say that good works are the fruits of faith, and that with him who is justified there is a tendency to good, or that faith confers life. But granting this for the sake of the argument: can they then believe that there is faith when there is not life? or that there is faith apart from its fruit? Wherefore, fruits and faith make one. What is faith without fruit, except like a tree having leaves only. The Lord compares it to a fig tree in a vineyard, which makes the land unproductive, and must be cut down, also here and there, in other places. Wherefore life, which is the fruit, must accompany faith, in order that it may be faith; otherwise, it is not a saving faith. There is, also, no justification by faith before it is also accompanied by life. Be it so, then. Let them say either that faith or that life saves, or let them put either this one or that one in the first place but let them know, from the foregoing considerations, that one cannot exist apart from the other. They wished to defend faith separated, saying that along with faith there is given a tendency to do good, and that thus faith works; to which the reply was given that this tendency, according to their doctrine, is one effect of justification, or the third act [and the question asked], What is to be thought of those who have not yet arrived at that degree? Some said that they are condemned; others, that still they are saved, out of mercy.


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