Schreiner's Faith Formata

 When you read Schreiner say, "This is a good reminder to us that sola fide can't be sustained, nor should it be defended, if we understand it simplistically. Formulas and slogans are often misleading and distorting, and occasionally Protestants have thrown about the slogan sola fide as a mantra, as if the slogan itself captures the truth of the gospel. As we saw when we unpacked the meaning of faith in the letter of James, there is a sense in which sola fide, understood unbiblically, is dramatically wrong, for it is flatly contradicted by the words of Scripture itself." - Faith Alone, Page 231

You would think that this came from a Catholic who was studying his documents trying to get a degree. But no, this comes from Schreiner who holds a doctors degree, teaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who claims to be Reformed. He has said earlier that slogans are not the thing itself (Page 17).

For Schreiner, Faith is formata when it is connected with our love, our commitment, our doing. This is why he believes that Paul and James does not contradict. Again, Schreiner understands he is not perfect, which makes him an antinomian. He weakens the curse of the law or of the commands of Scripture to suit his imperfections. However, Scripture contradicts Schreiner's view of both Paula and James, and of his view of Faith.

When believers say simultaneously just and sinner, or God is one and three, or Christ for us vs Christ in us, they speak in different senses.

Paul says we are justified by faith alone. He is talking about our justification before God, who knows all things apart from the senses. But when James says a man is justified by faith and works, he is referring to our justification or vindication before others. Again, Luther says, it is not God who needs our good works, it is our neighbors. Scripture contradicts Schreiner's and Piper's view of justification.