...but if you don't repent you're going to hell (works)
So many pastors and teachers and laity church members admit to the core doctrine of justification by faith "alone", but then immediately whip around and plug in "...but repentance is required or else you won't be justified by faith alone".
Is this not a contradiction? Why would we need to do anything if we are justified by Faith alone? If we need to do anything else, then we are not in fact justified by faith alone, but by Faith + repentance.
This is what some people call backloading vs front loading works
Front-Loading works into the Gospel would like something this:
“For you to be saved you have to be willing to give up your life first”
“You need to stop sinning and live holy, or else you cannot be saved”
“In order for you to be saved, you need to be baptized in water, keep the sacraments, do penance, and join our church to be saved.”
And usually this happens when Salvation and Discipleship are Combined together. For example, When a preacher says to a sinner:
“Before you can be saved, you have to be willing to follow Christ Jesus for the rest of your life.”
What that preacher just did is combine Salvation with Discipleship. And the two are different. Salvation is not discipleship. And Discipleship is not Salvation. Salvation is a one time event, where as Discipleship is a life long process.
Another example of combining Salvation and Discipleship together would be a preacher saying something like this:
“If you want to be saved, you have to be willing to forsake all, give up your life, even hate your own life and be willing to deny yourself and follow Christ. In order for you to be truly saved, you must do these things.”
This again is a prime example of mixing Salvation with Discipleship. Hence, what you have here is works based salvation. Where one is Front-Loading works into the Gospel. But Salvation is not of works, but it is only by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the Gift of God. Not of Works, Lest any man should Boast. (Eph. 2:8-9).
Now those examples I just gave you deal with someone who, once again, is front-loading works into the Gospel. But what does it look like when someone is back-loading works into the Gospel?
Front-loading works into the Gospel is actually rather obvious. Since they are actually telling you up front that you must do those works in order to be saved. But when someone is back-loading works into the Gospel, it isn’t that clear, since it is more subtil. But here are a few examples of back-loading works into the Gospel:
“Well, while we are saved by grace through Faith without works. Still though, true saving faith Will produce good works.”
“We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, BUT true saving grace will change you, and you will bring forth fruit and good works, if you have been truly saved.”
“We are not preaching works based salvation, BUT we are preaching Salvation-Works.”
“We are saved by grace through faith that Works.”
“We are not saved by works, BUT true salvation and true faith will have works.”
“We are saved by grace through Faith, BUT true saving faith will have the good works. Good works will accompany saving faith.”
Now those are some examples of a person who is back-loading works into the Gospel.
Telling a sinner when they get saved, that they Will do good works. And that those good works are proof that they have been truly saved.
