We need to know the dominant form of Western Christianity that was influenced by Augustine and Luther. But we also need to point out the problems with these Christian theologians. The diverse aspects of faith in the New Testament do not support these thinkers. Their understanding of faith and salvation may be summarized as follows:
1) Individual salvation or justification: imparted or imputed righteousness (forensic salvation);
2) Introspective, inner faith out of guilt rather than public faith;
3) Invading, exclusive gospel: colonialism and exclusivism.
But the prevailing aspects of Christian faith have to do with “participatory faith,” as in the four Gospels and Paul’s 7 undisputed letters. There are also other minor aspects of faith: faith as knowledge, faith as works, and faith as a conviction.