Posted on 11/30/2010 5:36:59 AM PST by kindred
This paper is written in two parts. The first explains and documents the Roman Catholic Church's position on justification. The second part presents the true gospel in contrast to the Catholic Church's position. If you want to go straight to the gospel presentation for Catholics, simply scroll down the page.
Because of the great emphasis on Sacred Tradition within the Catholic Church and because so many Roman Catholics appeal to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, the Word of God is often placed after the Catholic Church itself in relation to authority. Because of this, many Catholics appeal to their works, in combination with the sacrifice of Christ as a means of being justified before God. The Council of Trent expresses this plainly:
"If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14). Justification is the legal declaration by God upon the sinner where God declares the sinner righteous in His sight. This justification is based completely and solely on the work of Christ on the cross. We cannot earn justification or merit justification in any way. If we could, then Christ died needlessly. "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly," (Gal. 2:21). Because righteousness cannot come through the Law (through our efforts of merit), the Bible declares that we are justified before God by faith:
•"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," (Rom. 3:28). •"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3). •"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," (Rom. 4:5). •"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1). •"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8). However, in Roman Catholicism, justification by faith is denied.
"If any one shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified ... let him be accursed," (Canon 12, Council of Trent). Which are we to believe? The Roman Catholic Church or God's word? Furthermore, the RCC states that justification is received not by faith, but by baptism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in paragraph, 1992, that "...justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith." This means that faith is not the instrument of obtaining justification; instead, it is an ordinance performed by a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
Furthermore, baptism is only the initial grace along the road of justification. The Roman Catholic is to then maintain his position before God by his efforts.
"No one can MERIT the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can MERIT for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods," (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), par. 2027). The problem here is that the RCC is teaching us to "merit for ourselves and for others all the graces need to attain eternal life." You cannot merit grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Merit is, according to the CCC, par. 2006, "...the recompense owed by a community or a society for the action of one of its members, experienced either as beneficial or harmful, deserving reward or punishment..." CCC 2006. This means that merit is something owed. By contrast, grace is something not owed. Therefore, the RCC is teaching contrary to God's word regarding grace and justification.
The sad result is that in Roman Catholicism, justification before God is a process that is maintained by the effort and works of the Roman Catholic. This is a very unfortunate teaching since it puts the unbearable burden of works righteousness upon the shoulders of the sinner. By contrast, the Bible teaches that justification/salvation is by faith.
•"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," (Rom. 4:5). •"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1). •"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8). The Gospel for Roman Catholics The Gospel for Roman Catholics is the same as for anyone else and it is obtained by grace through faith in believing and trusting in Jesus alone, who is God in flesh, for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is not found in a true church. Salvation is not found in being good. Salvation is not found in good works. Salvation is not found in a sincere heart. Salvation is not found in making up for past sins by efforts of restoration, or penance, or indulgences. You can never do enough to please God.
Because God is so infinitely holy and righteous, and because we are sinners, we are incapable of pleasing God by anything that we do. In fact, our righteous deeds are considered filthy rags before God (Isa. 64:6). You can do nothing to earn forgiveness or keep forgiveness. Salvation before God is not administered to us through an earthly priest in the Catholic church by the sprinkling of water, or giving of penance, or recitation of formula prayers. Salvation for the Christian is not kept through the effort of the person who hopes and tries and worries about being good enough to stay saved.
Such error can only lead to despair and hopelessness and a desperate and unwarranted dependence on the Roman Catholic Church as the only means by which salvation can be distributed and maintained. In this error, people far too often seek to work their way to heaven by being good, by doing what the Catholic church teaches them to do, by prayers to Mary, by indulgences, by the Rosary, and by a host of other man-made works. Remember, in the RCC, salvation is through the Church and its sacraments, not through Jesus alone, by faith alone. This is exactly how the cults of Mormonism and the Jehovah's Witnesses work who both teach that true salvation is found only in their church membership and in following the revelation and authority of their church teachers and traditions.
Are you tired of the works requirement? In great contrast to the position of the Roman Catholic Church, if you want to be forgiven of your sins, once and for all, then you need to come to Christ (Matt. 11:28). You need to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Rom. 10:13). You need to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (John 14:14), and trust in Him alone and in nothing that you can do. Remember, your good deeds have no merit before God (Isa. 64:6). Furthermore, if you have faith, it is because that faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29). If you believe, it is because God has granted that you believe (Phil. 1:29). It is not because you were baptized, or have been good, or have been sincere. It is all of God. The Lord must receive all the glory for salvation because it completely and totally rests in Him. Salvation rests in Christ alone and it is received by faith apart from works.
Please read the following scriptures carefully.
1."for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23). 2."For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Rom. 6:23). 3."and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed," (1 Pet. 2:24). 4."He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," (2 Cor. 5:21). 5."If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it," (John 14:14). 6."Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls," (Matt. 11:28-29). 7."But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12). 8."I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly," (Gal. 2:21). 9."Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," (Rom. 3:28). 10."For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3). 11."But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," (Rom. 4:5). 12."These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life," (1 John 5:13). A suggested prayer This suggested prayer is not a formula, but a representation of biblical principles by which you might better understand the true gospel and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is not a formula derived from Sacred Tradition or Stamped with the seal of the Roman Catholic Church's approval. Its principles are derived from scripture: we are sinners; God is Holy; we cannot earn salvation; salvation is a free gift; prayer to Christ; Jesus is the only way; receiving Christ; faith; etc.
"Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and that I have offended you by breaking your Holy Law. I confess my sins to you Lord and ask forgiveness from you and do not ask anyone else to be forgiven of my sins against you. I acknowledge who you are, God in flesh, creator, humble Lord, who bore my sins in Your body on the cross and I come to you alone and trust you alone, by faith, that you will forgive me completely of my sins so that I will have eternal life. I ask you Lord to come into my heart, to be my Lord, to forgive me of my sins. Lord I trust in you alone, in the work of the cross alone and not in any church, not in any saint, not in Mary, not in any priest, but in you alone. Lord, Jesus, I receive you, and come to you, and ask you to forgive me and justify me by faith as I trust in you alone. Thank you. If you are a Roman Catholic and have trusted in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, then welcome to the body of Christ. Welcome to salvation and the free gift of forgiveness in Jesus.
Next, I strongly recommend that you read the Bible regularly, talk to Jesus daily in prayer, and seek to find a church that teaches and focuses on Jesus as Lord, Jesus as Savior, and sticks to the Bible alone.
Don't think there's so many. Now...if you're talking Paul's teachings...yes there are plenty of mainline Protestants who deny those. But plenty of Catholics do too.
Well said and quoted! Thank you!
Catholics read from the Old Testament, the Gospels and the epistles at EVERY MASS, traditional Anglicans and Lutherans typically do the same; however, the Bible Christians™ just let their preacher pick something to read and talk about and more often then not this is from Saint Paul and not the Gospels.
I suppose you can pick a few from the minority any time and say "I've been told". Kinda how we see Pelosi & Co. say abortion is OK but we know they are not necessarily representative of the majority of Catholics. The vast majority of Protestants do not believe that Paul's writings are uninspired.
more often then not this is from Saint Paul and not the Gospels.
Nonsense. Your experience is very narrow. The Gospels are read from all the time in Protestant services.
And as I said, the proof that someone is a Christian is that they start to do good. But it is not necessary. The Bible has to be interpreted as a whole, and the more specific verses determine the meaining of the less specific verses.
Otherwise, the interppretation resembles that of US judges who use the commerce clause to overrule every clause limited the federal goverminment.
I consider that the verses specifically stating that we are saved by faith, not works to be the more specific. Perhaps I am wrong and will have to answer to God one day. But perhaps you should consider if you are wrong, and have to do the same.
I'm not talking about the vast majority of Protestants, I'm talking about the YOPIOS crowd.
Nonsense. Your experience is very narrow. The Gospels are read from all the time in Protestant services.
In mainline Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches they are, everywhere else is a free-for-all.
Nonsense, our Lord made it very clear that it is absolutely necessary. In fact, NOWHERE in the Bible does it suggest that it is not necessary. The words "justified" and "saved" ARE NOT synonymous.
The Bible has to be interpreted as a whole, and the more specific verses determine the meaining of the less specific verses.
Yes, and that is why our Lord left His Church to interpret the Bible.
Otherwise, the interppretation resembles that of US judges who use the commerce clause to overrule every clause limited the federal goverminment.
You mean like the fact that the heresy known as "sola scriptura" has been causing groups to splinter almost from day one?
I consider that the verses specifically stating that we are saved by faith, not works to be the more specific.
It's faith AND works, not one or the other.
But perhaps you should consider if you are wrong, and have to do the same.
Thankfully, I have the Church and not my own fallible interpretations.
Your point that EVERYWHERE ELSE is simply a free-for-all is simplistic and quite untrue.
Non-mainline Protestant churches teach from the Gospels all the time.
Again, your experience seems remarkably narrow.
- Certainly scripture can and should speak personally to each believer.
- The Divine, and religion in general, transcends reason, so a "reasoned interpretation" is not necessarily the mark to strive for. Without some mystery or transcendent truths, you have a philosophy not a religion.
- Must each Christian re-create their own theology and Christian religion?
- Does anyone truly arrive at their interpretation of scripture entirely on their own? Or does everyone rely on some authority or what someone else has taught them.
- Would you rather trust your own reasoned interpretation of medicine and disease rather than a doctor whose knowledge, experience, wisdom and calling you trust?
Very good point which I have thought of often. No doubt the response would be, "God is God so he could form a sinless Mary in her sinful mother's womb." But when it comes to Christ somehow God is unable.
Weird.
No. It is fitting that Mary be sinless to bear a Divine Son, the Son of the Most High God, Himself God. No one ever claimed divinity for Mary. "Sinless" means "without sin" -- not "Divine."
If she, Mary, was sinless as you are describing, wouldn’t she need a sinless womb herself. Lets not even delve into the sin state of her father for the moment.
If a sinless womb is needed, then there would need to be a chain of sinless wombs dating back to creation.
If she did not need a sinless womb to be sinless herself, why would you argue that Jesus, the very son of God, needed a sinless womb?
No.
It was precisely the Divine nature of Jesus which demanded a sinless Virgin. His Divinity is all holy and the source of all holiness. This Divine holiness can not, by its very nature, be countenanced by sin.
Mary was not Divine. She was human. The Church teaches that "through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception." Mary's humanity required that she too, be redeemed.
Incidentally, in light of what I've said here and up-thread, I think it's worth pointing out how the Catholic teaching on the Immaculate Conception of Mary, (contrary to what Protestants usually say) actually exalts the person of Jesus because it emphasizes His purity, holiness and Divinity. Contrast this with the Protestant idea that "any womb would do". Tsk tsk!
Ironic, no? In fretting about Mary's singular privilege and worrying that it may be taking something away from Jesus, you actually diminish Jesus by insisting that any "house of sin" or womb could have nurtured him for nine months.
Really, when was the last time you heard of a YOPIOS church reading this passage?:
[22] The next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was no other ship there but one, and that Jesus had not entered into the ship with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone. [23] But other ships came in from Tiberias; nigh unto the place where they had eaten the bread, the Lord giving thanks. [24] When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping, and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus. [25] And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?[26] Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. [27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed. [28] They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent. [30] They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
[31] Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. [32] Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. [34] They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. [35] And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
[36] But I said unto you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not. [37] All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. [38] Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. [39] Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day. [40] And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.
[41] The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. [42] And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven? [43] Jesus therefore answered, and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves. [44] No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day. [45] It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me.
[46] Not that any man hath seen the Father; but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father. [47] Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. [50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die.
[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven. [52] If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. [53] The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? [54] Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. [55] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
[56] For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. [57] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. [58] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. [59] This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever. [60] These things he said, teaching in the synagogue, in Capharnaum.
[61] Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it? [62] But Jesus, knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you? [63] If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [64] It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life. [65] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that did not believe, and who he was, that would betray him.
[66] And he said: Therefore did I say to you, that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father. [67] After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him. [68] Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away? [69] And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. [70] And we have believed and have known, that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
-- John 6:22-70
Again, your experience seems remarkably narrow.
Then give me the names of the non-mainline churches that read from the Gospel each week.
I can tell you that I have NEVER seen a Protestant who is not an Anglican or Lutheran adhere to this prophecy:
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:48)
As I pointed out earlier, the "any womb would do" approach collapses when you consider how exacting God's requirements were for the first two Arks.
True. But the fact that you believe there is a God to be understood, insofar as we are able, puts you a long way down that road.
Must each Christian re-create their own theology and Christian religion?
Why, no. We have our own "Church Fathers", so to speak. I am pretty much a Calvinist, myself, although I disagree about predestination/
Does anyone truly arrive at their interpretation of scripture entirely on their own? Or does everyone rely on some authority or what someone else has taught them
Of course no one starts from scratch, anymore than they do in physics or medicine. But, and it is a big "but", IMO, they have to study differing theologies to determine the one that they think, with guidance from the Holy Spirit one would hope, is correct as best they can determine.
In my own case, it is not the overall doctrine of the Catholic Church, although I have no difficulty with the concepts that some Catholics are saved, and some are not. Just as some of my own group, the Baptists, are saved, and some are not. Church ritual does not save you, again IMO.
Would you rather trust your own reasoned interpretation of medicine and disease rather than a doctor whose knowledge, experience, wisdom and calling you trust? Doctors, lawyers, engineers. All are educated and trained in complex disciplines. Naturally, if I needed one, I would consider his advice carefully. And then I would compare it to what I actually wanted to accomplish. Professionals are like beans; you buy 'em and sell 'em as needed.
Salvation, though is a much simpler matter. Accept Christ and get it; reject Him and be damned. It requires no more to be saved.
But if you are saved, why then your behavior will improve. You'll try to live a life free of sin. You won't make it, but you'll try. You'll help the unfortunate yourself, not steal from others so that you can feel you are a more moral human being.
You'll know that you are a sinner still, if still a saved one. Look. Mafia dons get baptized and go to Mass. You think they are going to make it? Well, maybe some, if they come to a sincere repentance. Hitler could have been saved. I doubt that he was, especially with the suicide thing (and no, I don't think of it as a "mortal sin"). But it is evidence to my mind that he wasn't repetant. Rejecting Christ is the only truly mortal sin. ufortunately, it is the default position.
The scriptural EVIDENCE is contained in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 1 verse 28. The angel addresses Mary as "full of grace". Grace is the key word. A sinful person is not full of "grace". The term grace here refers to a person being full of God.
Note: the angel's greeting occurs prior to Mary conceiving Jesus.
As far as how she was created without sin, well, God is not limited by time. Jesus did in fact "save" Mary, and His salavtion victory on the cross was applied to Mary at the moment she was conceived. All this to acheive God's design of the perfect Ark to contain the Word of God.
Praise be to God
Who said they read from them "each week"? I said they don't neglect them. The Gospels are four out of 66 books. There's no requirement a church MUST read or expound upon a Gospel each week.
The Gospels are referred to often, read from, studied and considered inspired as God's Word and loved as much as any other book of the Bible in the vast majority of Protestant churchs.
Every redeemed person is "full of grace". And without the fullness of grace none of us will see Heaven.
Colossians refers to believers (not just Mary) as possessing God's "fullness" quite a few times. When a person is saved (as Mary realized she was in the Luke passage) he/she has come into God's fullness.
As far as your ark discussion, that is allegory and is a nice picture but I don't see anything close to such a comparison in the Scriture for Mary. I've heard a few Catholics say such but I think they're relying on something that's not even implied anywhere in Scripture.
Okay, let's look at this a minute. Within Christianity I would say their are five primary theologies:
1. Catholic/Orthodox
2. Lutheran
3. Calvinist
4. Anglican
5. Arminian/Baptist
Now, I know we could argue about this list and I am certainly open to different categorizations, but I think most of us can agree that there are a few distinct and conflicting theologies within Christianity. So, the question becomes, since the Holy Spirit CANNOT LIE, which ones are wrong?
Rejecting Christ is the only truly mortal sin.
Actually, Christ said that the ONLY sin that could not be forgiven is blasphemy of the Spirit. But what does that actually mean? I think a case could be made that saying a theology comes from the Holy Spirit when in fact it was just made up could fall into the category of speaking against the Holy Spirit.
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