JUSTIFICATION: Catholic Vs. Protestant, Part #3

[Robert Pate]

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1.

We have peace with God because this is God's way of justification. The Catholic church teaches that it is faith plus works and not by faith alone. They don't say what or how much work it takes or what kind of works are required. Perhaps it has to do with keeping the commandments. Council of Trent, Canon #18 says, "If anyone says that the commandments of God are, even for one that is justified and constituted in grace, impossible to observe, let him be anathema". If justification is by keeping the law or the commandments then Paul made a mistake when he said, "The law works wrath: for where there is no law, there is no transgression" Romans 4:15. If you want to make God angry (wrath) try being justified by the law.

Christians that have been justified by faith alone are no longer under the law or subject to it. "For you are not under the law, but under grace" Romans 6:14. Worse yet, if you are trying to be justified by the law; you are fallen from grace, Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace means that you are lost and under the judgment of God. What is the law? Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law.

THE BENEFITS OF BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE.

Those that are justified by faith alone are under God's grace. In Jesus Christ they have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and now stand in God's Holy Court as perfect and complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. God sees them as members of his new humanity, 2 Corinthians 5:17. They have entered into HIS rest. "For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works (religion) as God did from his" Hebrews 4:10. No works? I don't think that this would be good for Catholics. What are they resting in? They are resting in the righteousness of Christ and his atonement for their sins. Those that have not entered into this rest are under God's wrath, Hebrews 4:3.

 

[Robert Pate]

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1.

We have peace with God because this is God's way of justification. The Catholic church teaches that it is faith plus works and not by faith alone. They don't say what or how much work it takes or what kind of works are required. Perhaps it has to do with keeping the commandments. Council of Trent, Canon #18 says, "If anyone says that the commandments of God are, even for one that is justified and constituted in grace, impossible to observe, let him be anathema". If justification is by keeping the law or the commandments then Paul made a mistake when he said, "The law works wrath: for where there is no law, there is no transgression" Romans 4:15. If you want to make God angry (wrath) try being justified by the law.

Christians that have been justified by faith alone are no longer under the law or subject to it. "For you are not under the law, but under grace" Romans 6:14. Worse yet, if you are trying to be justified by the law; you are fallen from grace, Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace means that you are lost and under the judgment of God. What is the law? Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law.

THE BENEFITS OF BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE.

Those that are justified by faith alone are under God's grace. In Jesus Christ they have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and now stand in God's Holy Court as perfect and complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. God sees them as members of his new humanity, 2 Corinthians 5:17. They have entered into HIS rest. "For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works (religion) as God did from his" Hebrews 4:10. No works? I don't think that this would be good for Catholics. What are they resting in? They are resting in the righteousness of Christ and his atonement for their sins. Those that have not entered into this rest are under God's wrath, Hebrews 4:3.

Religion, especially the Catholic religion is an indication of the absence of faith. The Catholic church does not have a Gospel, nor do they believe Paul's Gospel. This is very serious because no one will be saved or justified without faith in Christ and his Gospel.

 

[Webers_Home]

.
Former US President Gerald Ford pardoned former US President Richard
Nixon back in 1974 relative to the Watergate scandal. Ford's pardon in no
way exonerated Nixon, it only allowed him to avoid punishment. In other
words: Mr. Nixon will always and forever be on the books of world history as
a crook.

Criminal circumstances similar to Mr. Nixon's would befall every Christian
had not Jesus' crucified dead body been restored to life.

● Rom 4:25 . . He was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised
to life for our justification.

The first half of that verse testifies that Christ's crucifixion completed the
atonement process per Isaiah 53:6 and 1John 2:2.

However, atonements are limited. They don't have what it takes to protect
people from ultimately facing justice. For that, people need their personnel
files wiped.

The second half of Romans 4:25 testifies that Christ's resurrection gains
people what his cross alone could not obtain for them.

The Greek word for "justification" is dikaiosis (dik-ah'-yo-sis) which means
acquittal; defined as an adjudication of innocence.

People merely forgiven and/or pardoned still carry a load of guilt; viz: they
have a record, i.e. a criminal history. Christ's resurrection makes is possible
for God to delete that history so that on the books, it's as though they've
never been anything but 100% innocent.

Without Christ's crucified dead body restored to life, everyone would remain
on track for the sum of all fears even though he fully atoned for their sins on
the cross because when the books are opened, per Rev 20:11-15, their sins
would still be on file as offenses not yet fully addressed.

● 1Cor 15:17 . . Further, if Christ has not been raised up, your faith is
useless; you are yet in your sins.

FAQ: So? What does all this have to do with Rome's followers?

REPLY: Fully catechized Catholics have been instructed that if perchance
they should leave this life with just one mortal sin on the books-- just one -
they will go directly to Hell with no stopover in a purgatory. Well; Jesus'
resurrection insures that will never happen no his followers no matter how
many mortal sins they accumulate in this life because his resurrection makes
it possible for God to stop recording their sins as criminal matters and to
begin addressing their conduct as family matters.

● 2Cor 5:19 . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them

The Greek word translated "counting" is logizomai (log-id'-zom-ahee) which
means to take an inventory; i.e. an indictment.

Now supposing a lapsed believer neglects to confess their sins in a timely
manner as per 1John 1:8-10. Are they in danger of Hell's fire? No, not in the
slightest, because Christ's resurrection granted them an exoneration the
very day they became one of his believing followers, and from that day
forward, they will never again be in danger of eternal suffering.

● John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who listen to my message, and believe in
God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

FAQ: How would an interested party go about obtaining this blanket
acquittal about which you speak?

REPLY: Well; they could begin with an RSVP, in other words: speak up for
themselves and tell God they are concerned that they have a lot to answer
for; and would like to take advantage of His son's resurrection.
_

 

[Robert Pate]

.
Former US President Gerald Ford pardoned former US President Richard
Nixon back in 1974 relative to the Watergate scandal. Ford's pardon in no
way exonerated Nixon, it only allowed him to avoid punishment. In other
words: Mr. Nixon will always and forever be on the books of world history as
a crook.

Criminal circumstances similar to Mr. Nixon's would befall every Christian
had not Jesus' crucified dead body been restored to life.

● Rom 4:25 . . He was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised
to life for our justification.

The first half of that verse testifies that Christ's crucifixion completed the
atonement process per Isaiah 53:6 and 1John 2:2.

However, atonements are limited. They don't have what it takes to protect
people from ultimately facing justice. For that, people need their personnel
files wiped.

The second half of Romans 4:25 testifies that Christ's resurrection gains
people what his cross alone could not obtain for them.

The Greek word for "justification" is dikaiosis (dik-ah'-yo-sis) which means
acquittal; defined as an adjudication of innocence.

People merely forgiven and/or pardoned still carry a load of guilt; viz: they
have a record, i.e. a criminal history. Christ's resurrection makes is possible
for God to delete that history so that on the books, it's as though they've
never been anything but 100% innocent.

Without Christ's crucified dead body restored to life, everyone would remain
on track for the sum of all fears even though he fully atoned for their sins on
the cross because when the books are opened, per Rev 20:11-15, their sins
would still be on file as offenses not yet fully addressed.

● 1Cor 15:17 . . Further, if Christ has not been raised up, your faith is
useless; you are yet in your sins.

FAQ: So? What does all this have to do with Rome's followers?

REPLY: Fully catechized Catholics have been instructed that if perchance
they should leave this life with just one mortal sin on the books-- just one -
they will go directly to Hell with no stopover in a purgatory. Well; Jesus'
resurrection insures that will never happen no his followers no matter how
many mortal sins they accumulate in this life because his resurrection makes
it possible for God to stop recording their sins as criminal matters and to
begin addressing their conduct as family matters.

● 2Cor 5:19 . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them

The Greek word translated "counting" is logizomai (log-id'-zom-ahee) which
means to take an inventory; i.e. an indictment.

Now supposing a lapsed believer neglects to confess their sins in a timely
manner as per 1John 1:8-10. Are they in danger of Hell's fire? No, not in the
slightest, because Christ's resurrection granted them an exoneration the
very day they became one of his believing followers, and from that day
forward, they will never again be in danger of eternal suffering.

● John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who listen to my message, and believe in
God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

FAQ: How would an interested party go about obtaining this blanket
acquittal about which you speak?

REPLY: Well; they could begin with an RSVP, in other words: speak up for
themselves and tell God they are concerned that they have a lot to answer
for; and would like to take advantage of His son's resurrection.
_

As far as God is concerned Jesus is the savior of the whole world, John 1:17. God sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus now sits in heaven as the "King of Kings and the Lord of Lords" Revelation 19:16. Victorious over sin, death and the devil.

Many do not believe this. They are not of the faith and are under the judgment of God. Religion is not an indication of faith, religion is an indication of the absence of faith. Those that believe the Gospel are justified by faith alone, it is by faith alone because it is by Christ alone.
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