Can God justify a person in His sight when that person is NOT actually righteous? There are two, and ONLY two schools of thought in the Christian world.
And, there is Sola Fide, by faith alone that a man is justified. This is the view of Luther and the Reformers. Justification is forensic. We are declared righteous through the imputation of the "alien" righteousness of Christ to us.
I am in Christ Jesus who became for me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and REDEMPTION.
I have coram deo (righteousness before God). God justifies the ungodly.
I have coram hominibus (righteousness before man). This is by works of faith. As James said, "I'll show you my faith...."
It is faith alone which saves, but this faith is never alone. Faith without works is dead.
Rome is wrong. Let her repent of her vain attempts to become righteous and her blasphemies against Christ. Let her discard her filthy rags and embrace the righteousness from God. Let her take up the message of outreach: God sees men righteous solely because of the blood of Christ. Simul Iustus et Peccator. Your contribution to your salvation: your sin. God's contribution to your salvation: the grace of God which was shed. God justifies the ungodly. This is the message of salvation. This is the message of the Reformers.
Let Rome repent and her sisters with her. Let her take up the battle cries of the Reformation and be reformed by the Word of God....
Sola Scriptura
Sola Gratia
Sola Fide
Solo Christo
Soli Deo Gloria
[Righteousness] shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. ~ Gospel truth.
Sola Fide!!!
There is the view of the Catholic Church, a view espoused more and more by Protestants: Justification is making a man righteous in his own person. It is by faith and works that a man is transformed in the righteous person that is justified before God.
And, there is Sola Fide, by faith alone that a man is justified. This is the view of Luther and the Reformers. Justification is forensic. We are declared righteous through the imputation of the "alien" righteousness of Christ to us.
AMEN!
Rome is wrong. Let her repent of her vain attempts to become righteous and her blasphemies against Christ. Let her discard her filthy rags and embrace the righteousness from God. Let her take up the message of outreach: God sees men righteous solely because of the blood of Christ. Simul Iustus et Peccator. Your contribution to your salvation: your sin. God's contribution to your salvation: the grace of God which was shed. God justifies the ungodly. This is the message of salvation. This is the message of the Reformers.
Preach it, brother!!!
***There is the view of the Catholic Church, a view espoused more and more by Protestants: Justification is making a man righteous in his own person. It is by faith and works that a man is transformed in the righteous person that is justified before God. ***
Have a little more out of that bottle. This is untrue and was expressly denied by the Catholic Church many long centuries before Martin Luther and Jean Calvin were puling infants.
The rest of your post, which builds upon this falsehood, is wrong, wrong, and more wrong. Try actually finding out what the true Church is all about before you post ludicrous posts building an easily refutable strawman.
How about heading over to New Advent and finding out what they ACTUALLY say about the Grace of God. You might advance your Christianity to the point where you repudiate some of your former beliefs.