We should take note of some words from apostle Paul on this subject;
Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. -- 1 timothy 6 :2c--5
This scripture tells us to basically hold fast to the doctrine of Christ which are in accord to Godliness. and not some ungodly teachings which have no truth in them, they are in other words doctrine made up by man and not God himself. So what do we know from biblical studies in regards to the system of the roman catholic church.
Firstly, the bible tells that all doctrine we are to hold fast onto have to be biblically focused, and attested. and Secondly, we can not redefine any teaching to suit mans thoughts, nor are we to add or subtract from the biblical foundations.
There is a long list of different doctrine to which we could tackle. but here I wish to only focus on 3 areas of contention, which one must attend to before we can know if this movement is Christian. In accordance to the biblical stand point.
Therefore, some attention are as follows; Justification : in light of the Catholic understanding, and the protestant understaning in light of the God breathed scriptures
JUSTIFICATIONI N ROME'S VEIW
In catholic theology their doctrine of justification is a work structured teaching, not that they teach that man has to merit justification in the initial process. They believe that their standing with God is upon the grace in Christ. however, they believe that this justification can be lost due to one kind of sin.
we should note the two kinds of sin. the first kind being venial sin (the lesser kind). and the second kind is mortal sin. this what one catholic theologian says on these issues;
Venial sin
an offense against God which does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace. it is called venial (from venia, pardon) because the soul still has the vital principal that allow the cure from within, similar to healing a sick or diseased body who source of animation (the soul) is still present to restore the ailing bodily function to health (1)
Mortal sin
an actual sin that destroys sanctifying grace and causes the super-natural death of the soul. mortal sin is the turning way from God because of a serious inordinate adherence to creatures that causes grave injury to the persons rational nature and to the social order, and deprives the sinner the right to heaven. (2)
These basic descriptions of the distinction which this ideological system has set up has no biblical support what so ever. and even more strange is a person has no real insight or understanding on what side of the coin a sin land. is it venial or mortal. are they to pray for themselves for a sin which could be one that needs no such measure, they are at a lost here as to how they define sin.therefore, this helpful distinction is nothing more than a smoke screen as it does not give man enough information.
The council of Trent has the following to offer on this subject, which is vital to consider;
Finally, as regards satisfaction,---- the holy Synod declares, that it is wholly false, and alien from the word of God, that the guilt is never forgiven by the Lord, without the whole punishment also being therewith pardoned....... And it beseems the divine clemency, that sins be not in such wise pardoned us without any satisfaction ..... Neither indeed was there ever in the Church of God any way accounted surer to turn aside the impending chastisement of the Lord, than that men should, with true sorrow of mind, practice these works of penitence. Add to these things, that, whilst we thus, by making satisfaction, suffer for our sins, we are made conformable to Jesus Christ, who satisfied for our sins, from whom all our sufficiency is .... But neither is this satisfaction, which we discharge for our sins, so our own, as not to be through Jesus Christ. For we who can do nothing of ourselves, as of ourselves, can do all things, He cooperating, who strengthens us...... even as no Catholic ever thought, by this kind of satisfactions on our parts, the efficacy of the merit and of the satisfaction of our Lord Jesus Christ is either obscured or in any way lessened. (3)
At this point is is important for us to note that if justification or sanctifying grace can be lost by our own acts of sin as these statement make reference too, then we are not dealing with the truth that scripture teaches. But are in fact speaking of something which is best described as being a false teaching since there is no scriptural support for "losing justification." the only basis one can assume this position is to teach a mixed co-operation in salvation, Christ made it possible and man completes the process. which means the catholic teaching lies in man's own contribution.
further more, this is the only way justification can be lost if it was something man had some input in to begin with.the bible is clear that this is not the case, that our standing with the father of the lord has its basis in the divine will. Christ himself is our justification and he loses none of those given.
Notice what else is said on justication in the catholic system;faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God, and to come unto the fellowship of His sons: but we are therefore said to be justified freely, because that none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification. For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace. As regards those who, by sin, have fallen from the received grace of Justification, they may be again justified, when, God exciting them, through the sacrament of Penance they shall have attained to the recovery, by the merit of Christ, of the grace lost. (4)
Apart from the misrepresentation of the biblical order of salvation in that they believe faith is the beginning of something. Which raises an interesting point is faith a human act if it is the first step in this system, the bible has a different order of event which of course is both different and true, meaning this one from the catholic point of is false.
But the point here is that Justification in Rome is a completely different beast, one that does not find its origin in Christ alone, but lend its origin to man. also what needs to be brought out is that justification and grace are infused together, which leads off of the sacraments such as baptism. and other works follow on its heel.
pay close attention to the following statement from tent,
If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema. (5)
This statement straight up condemns the protestant understanding of what the atonement does for a sinner. in fact, it goes against the new testament truth on this matter, then calls down the high term of damnation "anathama." as we shall soon see that Catholicism in this front is proving itself to be against God and his word. it is this basis of justification being something can be lost due to a serious sin, that leads to the idea of purgatory. a unfounded assumption upon the bible too
JUSTIFICATION IN PROTESTANTISM
Now with laying out the catholic doctrine of justification. I will seek to give the biblical case for this truth. James R White states this on page 143 of the roman catholic controversy;
"Justification is said to be an act of God as judge wherein he declares the believer righteous. it is, therefore, a legal, forensic declaration on the part of God concerning the believer. ..... firstly, Justification is an act undertaken by God and is not based on anything done in us or by us as believers . it is an act of sovereign grace because it is something that God does, not some thing we do. this veiw point is God centered and not man centered secondly, we touch upon the very heart of the gospel. and in so doing, we touch upon the very heart of God Justification is based solely and completelt on the merits of another-- Jesus Christ." (6)
Based upon this above statement which is just how any true Christian would express this truth. in that our justification has its basis in the person and the saving work of Christ, the faith of a true believer is one of a divine origin and is a justifying act which we are united to Christ by his atoning work upon the cross. and the regeneration of the spirit is how this act is accomplished in a believers life. we as believers do not bring anything to the table, we can not aid or merit true peace with God.
Let us consider the biblical evidence to this truth;
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3 :22-26)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5 :17 -21
These above passages both have a great truth in them, they both shed light on the doctrine of double imputation. This is the teaching of the fact that Christ death was meritorious for the believer in dual manner ... the elects sin is imputed to Christ and is crucified under Gods wrath, and Christ righteousness is imputed to my account. thereby, the elect individual is seen in light of Christs work and is given freedom. Note, this truth is also known under the tite of penal substitutionary atonement. a grand biblical truth.
This leads to the next point that needs to realized in this discussion. how is this peace given to a believer;
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5 :1-5)
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 7 -10)
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3 :4-7)
In the above passages we are told by the apostle paul by the inspiration of the spirit that salvation is a gift of God, something which has no origin in human will nor any kind of works whether it is of the law or righteousness. salvation is something God distributes kindly as he desires, it is not to be earned. and the instrument for this gift to be given is through sovereign regeneration and divine faith. having said this, works are not the root of salvation but are fruit of salvation, there origin is in the redeemed life... a true saving faith result in evidence of its existence. my exegesis on James 2 :14 -26 is available on here which shows that he was not decreeing faith alone, but a faith which does not produces works as it evidence for its truth.
We must also make a point of what Paul states in galations about the addition of something to true divine saving faith, notice his words;
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.....
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (galatians 2 :15-16,20-21)
This whole book was written to refute and combat an early pollution of the gospel by the Judizers, who seeked to add one ceremony from the law to the work of Christ, which Paul said nullified the atonement in this passage, as well as Romans 11 :6, but this passage is very important to consider, when one says well he was speaking against the works of the law. and not something done by righteousness. this reasoning is bogus. as they do it with the intent of getting something in return as the above official statements made plain. therefore it is only logical that it is nothing more than a work of the law and is condemned by Gods word itself.
What the Catholic apologists states on the biblical evidence for the protestant teaching.
In this section my focus is to give good sound biblical answers to some common objections raised against the protestant doctrine of Justification. based on the fact that the two concepts are so radically different and yet only the protestant view is the only one that upholds all the biblical passages on the subject, we must be honoring to God and his revealed word on all matters.
And with this passion for God truth I must seek to show my self approved.
A prominent catholic apologist, named Robert singenis states;
"The word faith is never used with the word alone in proportion to his writing. Paul used alone more than any other new testament writer. some usages of the word alone are in the very same contexts, in which Paul is speaking on justification. In Romans 3 :29, for example. he says "Is God the God of the Jews alone." ..... we know that Paul would have used alone if it necessary since the same holy spirit who inspired Paul also inspired James to negate the concept of faith alone by preceding it with "not by." The only time the phrase faith alone in scripture is when it is negated in James 2 :24" (6)
Here is another Catholic priest, a man named Mitchell pacwa who states;
Catholicism teaches : before the person can even think of being saved, God has to initiate salvation. Again it is in Christ and by grace (a preveniant grace), into the soul of the person before they can even start to think about salvation, his called by God. then the human can of his own "free will" choose to accept or reject the call. and this is the real issue with the protestants. ...... both Luther and Calvin taught your will is incapable of making a decision freely to accept Gods grace. the understanding of this is that human is so perverted and corrupt even to choose to accept Gods grace unless God's grace makes them to accept it. (7)
Not only are these kinds of argument against the biblical understanding of who God is but it also shows a lack of wanting to actually know what the opposite side teaches in regard to Justification. Firstly, any interaction on the topic of justification first and foremost has to be centered on the biblical doctrine laid out in scripture. and not what men taught even if what they taught is biblically sound. second, the theory of "free" will is a pagan philosophy which the Catholic accepts like a tradition, as this man may accept molinism, yet neither have any biblical foundation.
Now let's comment on a few points for clarification as they were dropped with no support whatsoever,
The issue of "prevenient grace" or enabling grace which is not saving grace is yet again unbiblical and no one can produce scripture that even tells us what it is. Is it such a thing as common grace which is biblical. if it is, then we have a problem this is not salvific grace but something God gives freely to all. does he believe that this prevenient grace ideal once it is given, if they reject the salvation. that the person is no longer a sinner by nature And yet he is under no obligation to do this or even saves every person, he has purposed that only those who fore-loved would be saved in Christ.
The next issue is this, "Luther teaching that man kind being so corrupt that they cannot accept grace." while it is true that they focused on the issue of man being corrupt and not having the ability to come to Christ, before God had opened them to the truth of the gospel. they both demonstrate this from scriptures, like all reformed believers declare. And the scriptural witness to this fact is foundational to the teachings ..
Such passage from the lips of our lord will suffice to make the point, John 8 31-34 states man is a slave to sin till Jesus set us free, and if your a slave you can not do what you desire. You only do the intentions of one's own heart, and the heart is wicked therefore it breads wickedness (Matthew 15 :18 -20, as well as genesis 6 and 8, and Jeremiah 17 :9) and it is God who brings us to Christ and justifies us in Christ , upon Christ work, john 6 :37-40,44,65. Matthew 11 and 13
It is clearly taught in the scripture that we are not able to come to Christ, nor please God by our own efforts, note what pauls states;
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Notice that Paul uses the terms "cannot" in the Greek it is actually telling us that man in his natural state. is not able to please God not even by following the law, we should pay attention to the fact that the Greek speaks to the negation of an ability. unless God courses him walk in (Jeremiah 32 , Ezekiel 11 and 36 ) this is the basis of the doctrine of regeneration unto divine faith and repentance. which is how one is justified in Christ.
It is therefore a completed action of God, we are justified through regeneration unto divine faith in its object that being Christ, and this is a past act.
Finally, the issue of the terms "faith alone" not being in the bible is a complete rouse. the Christian does not operate on such methods like a term as to be in the bible. In order for him to believe in its truth being present in content.The issue at this point is what does the bible actually teach in regards to Justification by faith and on this point we may only need to consider one passage;
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
In this passage we learn that our Justification is a free gift of grace based upon Jesus work upon the cross, and not based on our own merit whether it is of law or righteous. And when we consider passages like Romans 11:6, Ephesian 2 :7-10, Titus 3 :4-7 this point is firmly established for us to fully recognize So the proper understand is that our standing with God the father is seen in the work of Christ who made us righteous and justified us. It is a past act completed as Romans 5 :1-2 declares, even in reference to this passage it is described as one.. and something which we cannot lose.
Notes
1.... John hardon, pocket catholic dictionary, page 449.
2 .... Ibid, page 271.
3 .... council of Trent, season 14, 8.
4 .... Ibid, session 8
5 .... Ibid, . canon 32
6 .... The Roman Catholic Controversy page 143, The God who Justifies, pages 93 -110
7 .... Justification debate, James White vs Robert Singenesis
8 .... A discussion on Justification, father mitchell pacwa vs dr walter martin
on the John Ankerberg show.
