Justification by grace alone through faith alone

It is fashionable in a number of contemporary protestant evangelical circles to denigrate the reformational doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone. One way of diminishing the doctrine is to frame it as an aspect of the so-called bad impulse to see a legal and penal dimension in the atonement.

We will have to save the nature of the atonement for another day.

But regarding the reformational doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone -- the one held by Anglican/Reformed/Wesleyan/Lutheran traditions -- the fundamental issue is merit. What this doctrine is trying to get away from is any notion than one can stand before God and claim God owes one salvation whether as a result of works or as a result of my faith.

I think there is room for fresh formulations. But, methinks, the essential reason for the reformational doctrine is really, really, really important. One reason is that the freedom one is given from trying to merit a right-standing with God releases one to actually love God and grow in holiness.

I could say more -- and probably will. That's enough for now.