All religions have one thing in common, they are about us who are sinners. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about us, it is about Jesus Christ. We are the beneficiaries of the Gospel, not the instigators. The Gospel took place over 2,000 years ago before we were born.
Paul said, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Does that sound like we had something to do with our salvation? We had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with our salvation. Our salvation took place totally and completely outside of ourselves. "God was in Christ reconciling us and the world unto God" 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Were you there when that happened? Of course not. Jesus reconciled us and the world unto God by doing for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus is God's new Adam and our representative, Romans 5:18-19. The work of salvation has ALREADY been done. This is why Paul said, "You are complete in him" Colossians 2:10.
Christian justification is a declaration by God that his Son Jesus Christ has victoriously met every demand of God's Holy Law. He did this in our name and on our behalf, Romans 3:26. This justification is ours by simple child like faith in Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Plus nothing. The reason that justification is by faith alone is because justification is by Christ alone. Sinners (Those born after Adam) cannot justify themselves. This is where Catholics and Protestants part company. Catholic justification is very subjective. Catholics believe that "Man is justified by an intrinsic righteousness which God puts within man". If this were true, which it is not, then there was no need for the incarnation. God could have sent his Spirit into the world and infused it into believers, and this would have made them holy. This doctrine is anti-Gospel and anti-Christ and is under the judgment of God.
In the Gospel, "Christ is the end of the law (religion) for righteousness" Romans 10:4. In the Gospel all sin has been atoned for, 1 John 2:2. This was an objective event (outside of us). Where there is no law there is no sin, Romans 4:15. Where there is a full atonement for sin, there is no condemnation, Romans 8:1. It appears to me that Catholics and others are in complete denial of the Gospel and justification by faith without the works of the law. Since salvation is by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8, without works, laws or religion what does this mean for those that have rejected God's great free gift of salvation and are trying to save themselves through works, laws and religion?
Paul said, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Does that sound like we had something to do with our salvation? We had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with our salvation. Our salvation took place totally and completely outside of ourselves. "God was in Christ reconciling us and the world unto God" 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Were you there when that happened? Of course not. Jesus reconciled us and the world unto God by doing for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus is God's new Adam and our representative, Romans 5:18-19. The work of salvation has ALREADY been done. This is why Paul said, "You are complete in him" Colossians 2:10.
Christian justification is a declaration by God that his Son Jesus Christ has victoriously met every demand of God's Holy Law. He did this in our name and on our behalf, Romans 3:26. This justification is ours by simple child like faith in Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Plus nothing. The reason that justification is by faith alone is because justification is by Christ alone. Sinners (Those born after Adam) cannot justify themselves. This is where Catholics and Protestants part company. Catholic justification is very subjective. Catholics believe that "Man is justified by an intrinsic righteousness which God puts within man". If this were true, which it is not, then there was no need for the incarnation. God could have sent his Spirit into the world and infused it into believers, and this would have made them holy. This doctrine is anti-Gospel and anti-Christ and is under the judgment of God.
In the Gospel, "Christ is the end of the law (religion) for righteousness" Romans 10:4. In the Gospel all sin has been atoned for, 1 John 2:2. This was an objective event (outside of us). Where there is no law there is no sin, Romans 4:15. Where there is a full atonement for sin, there is no condemnation, Romans 8:1. It appears to me that Catholics and others are in complete denial of the Gospel and justification by faith without the works of the law. Since salvation is by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8, without works, laws or religion what does this mean for those that have rejected God's great free gift of salvation and are trying to save themselves through works, laws and religion?