Posted on 09/29/2021 4:36:43 PM PDT by ebb tide
At the general audience, Francis said: "What is hidden behind the word 'justification', which is so decisive for faith? It is not easy to arrive at an exhaustive definition, but in the whole of St Paul's thought it can be said simply that justification is the consequence of 'the mercy of God who offers forgiveness' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1990). This is our God, who is good and continually forgives".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - We are sinners, but "holy" in that Jesus Christ has "justified" us. This means that "we have our sins, but before God we are just". The theme of justification - an issue that historically divides Jews and Christians and, among them, Catholics and Protestants - was addressed today by Pope Francis in the light of the Letter to the Galatians, to which he is dedicating his catechesis for the general audience.
In our journey to better understand the teaching of St Paul," he told the 8,000 people present in the Paul VI Hall, "oday we will encounter a difficult but important topic: justification. What is justification? We, who were sinners, have become just. Who justified us? This process of change is justification. We, before God, are just. It is true, we have our personal sins. But fundamentally, we are just. This is justification. There has been a lot of discussion on this topic, to find the interpretation that best corresponds to the Apostle’s thought and, as often happens, these discussions even ended up in contradicting positions. In the Letter to the Galatians, just as in the Letter to the Romans, Paul insists on the fact that justification comes through faith in Christ".
"What is hidden behind the word “justification” that is so decisive for the faith? It is not easy to arrive at an exhaustive definition, but taking Paul’s thought as a whole, it can be simply said that justification is the consequence of “God’s merciful initiative of offering forgiveness” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1990). And this is our God, so very good, merciful, patient, full of mercy, who continually grants pardon, continually."
"The justification wrought by God," he reiterated, "therefore, allows us to recuperate the innocence lost through sin. How does justification happen?", "we are holy, at the base". " But, Father, I am just because I keep all the commandments!” Yes, but justification does not come from that. Someone justified you, someone made you just before God. “Yes, but I am a sinner!” Yes, you justified, but a sinner. But fundamentally, you are just. Who justified you? Jesus Christ. This is justification." "For God, through the death of Jesus, has destroyed sin and given us forgiveness and salvation in a definitive way. Thus justified, sinners are welcomed by God and reconciled with him. It is like a return to the original relationship between the Creator and the creature, before the disobedience of sin intervened".
Before meeting Jesus, " Paul had been a proud, religious and zealous man, convinced that justification consisted in the scrupulous observance of the precepts of the law. Now, however, he has been conquered by Christ, and faith in Him has completely transformed him, allowing him to discover a truth that had been hidden: we do not become just through our own effort, no, it is not us, but it is Christ, with his grace, who makes us just."
" Justification through faith underlines the priority of the grace that God offers without distinction to those who believe in his Son.
We must not, however, conclude that the Mosaic Law, for Paul, had lost its value; rather, it remains an irrevocable gift from God. It is, the Apostle writes, “holy” (Rm 7:12). Even for our spiritual life, observing the commandments is essential – we have already said this many times. But even here, we cannot count on our efforts: the grace of God that we receive in Christ is fundamental. That grace that comes from being the justification given us by Christ who already paid for us. From Him, we receive that gratuitous love that allows us, in our turn, to love in concrete ways."
"In this context, it is also good to recall the teaching that comes from the Apostle James, who writes: 'Man is justified by works and not by faith alone. [... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead" (Jas 2:24, 26). Justification, if it does not flourish with our works, is dead. Thus the words of James complement the teaching of Paul. For both, therefore, the response of faith requires us to be active in love of God and love of neighbour. Justification inserts us in the long history of salvation, which shows the justice of God: faced with our continual falls and inadequacies, he did not resign himself, but wanted to make us righteous and did so by grace, through the gift of Jesus Christ, of his death and resurrection. God's style is closeness, compassion and tenderness".
" Only through grace: we are justified because of pure grace. “But I can’t I, can’t a person, go to the judge and pay so that he can justify me?” No. You cannot pay for this. Someone paid for all of us: Christ. And from Christ, who died for us, comes that grace that the Father gives to everyone: Justification comes through grace."
"Thus, the light of faith allows us to recognize how infinite God’s mercy is, his grace that works for our good. But that same light also makes us see the responsibility that has been entrusted to us to collaborate with God in his work of salvation. The power of grace needs to be coupled with our works of mercy which we are called to live to bear witness to how tremendous is God’s love. Let us move ahead with this trust: we have all been justified; we are just in Christ. We must effect that justice with our works."
Addressing the French faithful, the Pope said: "On this day when we celebrate the feast of the Holy Archangels, I ask St Michael, protector of France, to watch over your nation, to protect it in fidelity to its roots, and to lead your people along the paths of ever greater unity and solidarity".
Bergoglio has never been too keen on keeping the Ten Commandments. From his heretical Amoris Laetitia:
AL 303: ‘Conscience can do more than recognize that a given situation does not correspond objectively to the overall demands of the Gospel. It can also recognize with sincerity and honesty what for now is the most generous response which can be given to God, and come to see with a certain moral security that it is what God himself is asking amid the concrete complexity of one’s limits, while yet not fully the objective ideal.’
But fundamentally, you are just.
Are the unbaptized "fundamentally just"? What does Bergoglio tell his muslim illegals? Does he even acknowledge the stain of original sin that all men are born with?
Ping
Not exactly, but at least he mentioned Jesus.
Wow. A blind squirrel does find an acorn once in a while.
That’s because of his target audience.
He doesn’t mention Jesus when he’s addressing Jews or Muslims. He only mentions “God”.
He’s a Peronist: different addresses to different audiences in order to gain adulation from all.
With a caveat: we are not just and holy until after the resurrection. For now, we are in God’s court in a state of repentance.
Re #6:
Sounds like Mitt Romney.
As a Catholic, I’d just like to say, “F*** off and die already, you Marxist p.o.s.“
” But, Father, I am just because I keep all the commandments!” Yes, but justification does not come from that. Someone justified you, someone made you just before God.”
I dunno... sounds too much like “Y’all didn’t build that”
Actually the more I think about it the more I think he’s intentionally spinning the meaning.
Jesus doesn’t JUSTIFY you. Nomoreso than your animal offerings to God under the old testament JUSTIFIED you.
Jesus cleansed the world of the stain of sin. That means your sins are forgiven - but that doesn’t make you “just” nor does that make you a “just” person (anymoreso than a gangster who goes to confession and continues to murder is “just”)
The Pope is speaking in direct contradiction of Jesus’ teaching, specifically the parable of the Publican and the sinner. The Publican justifies himself. The sinner acknowledges his sin and pleads for mercy. Which is what the Pope OUGHT to be teaching: repent and beg for mercy and reform our lives. As is his usual practice, the Pope totally mashes scripture.
Kind of like the difference between, “Peace! Good will towards men.” And, “Peace to men of good will!”
Wow. A blind squirrel does find an acorn once in a while.
True, but while closer than some days, this still smells like a snow pile of dung to me.
YeH dont give him too much credit
The blind squirrel needs that acorn to keep lving
Commie Father has an army of people tending to his every fart
“Are the unbaptized “fundamentally just”?”
In certain situations, yes the are, Luke 23:43.
“Jesus doesn’t JUSTIFY you.”
Are you making fun of your pope or do you mean what you say?
Do you understand your Bible or do you just mockingjay the words to make you feel smart?
Without repentance and confession are we justified?
As lost as Bergoglio is, neglect of the law of God is not what he was teaching, but that justification is not on the basis of perfect obedience, but by penitent faith which produces obedience (by the Spirit). "Justification, if it does not flourish with our works, is dead." "the response of faith requires us to be active in love of God and love of neighbour" as Bergoglio later labors to explain, though he is in disobedience to Christ. For all come short in of God's standard, thus it is those who humble themselves as sinners and cast all thief faith in the mercy of God in Christ that are counted as righteous.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in [obedient] faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:20-22)
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ..And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9,11)
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)
Therefore wherever Scripture clearly speak of the next conscious reality for believers then it is with the Lord, (Lk. 23:43 [cf. 2Cor. 12:4; Rv. 2:7]; Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) Note in the latter case all believers were assured that if the Lord returned, which they expected in their lifetime, so would they “ever be with the Lord,” though they were still undergoing growth in grace, as was Paul. (Phil. 3:7f)
And such true believers overall characteristically live in practice accordingly what they are in position (and thus repent when convicted of not doing so). If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) And such obedience by the Spirit (Rm. 8:16) and fruit of character (Galatians 5:22-25) justifies one as being a believer.
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:9-10)
That man is not justified by the law, but by faith which worketh righteousness, is fundamental NT teaching:
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Galatians 3:10-11)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-4)
And yet then Pope Francis AKA Bergoglio proceeds to pray, "On this day when we celebrate the feast of the Holy Archangels, I ask St Michael, protector of France, to watch over your nation," even though in over 200 prayers in the Scriptures there not one single prayer by believers to anyone else but the Lord, except by pagans. And salvation by effectual faith cannot be reconciled with the Catholic gospel of final salvation thru postmortem atonement and perfection of character.
The error of Francis here is not that of teaching that effectual faith being what justifies, but that he is both quite a liberal and also holds to distinctive Catholic teachings that are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels).
No, as his prayer to an angel shows, but you are confusing sola scriptura with sola fide, which teaches that salvific justification is by effectual faith alone, yet with works justifying/vindicating one as being a believer, versus as a result of works themselves or any merit save that of Christ. Which is not Catholic teaching, which with its imagined baptism effect (by the act itself: ex opere operato) and RC Purgatory is effectively that of salvation thru works of faith "by grace."
You may be protesting against impenitent faith yet your statements are erroneous. Yes, God/Christ does justify as I explained in my previous post you were pinged to, by penitent effectual faith being counted for righteousness, for "the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit," (Psalms 34:18) which faith is in the mercy of God in Christ which OT true believers looked to and thus were saved, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56) "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:2-3) "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8)
And which effects obedience by the Spirit in word and deed, testifying to one being a believer, "according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak," (2 Corinthians 4:13) "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:" (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6)
But no, Jesus atonement did not cleanse the world of the stain of sin and mean your sins are forgiven, unless you are of the above in faith. Nor is salvation merely that of being forgiven, for it encompasses regeneration, the "washing of regeneration" which occurs in true conversion and thus results in profound basic changes in heart and life (for me as a 25 year-old Catholic was like even nature seemed new to me).
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:43-44) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)
May God peradventure grant you "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." (2 Timothy 2:25)
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