Katholikos:
Only once does the Bible mention faith alone – James 2:24: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
True, however, if you would honestly examine ALL Pauline soteriology, one must conclude salvation by grace through faith alone. In fact, Paul get extremely specific in respect to salvation and justification:
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness a part from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered” (Rom. 2:4-7; cf. 3:19-31).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Eph. 2:8) You know the rest! Paul goes on to say that the saved are “created in Christ Jesus FOR good works” (Eph. 2:10). And this is what James is reflecting on as well. Rome’s refuses to acknowledge Paul’s abundant teaching on these doctrines and makes its appeal to James’ few words to “justify” their own doctrinal stance. But, the fact is, unlike Rome, James does not abandon the fundamental, divine principle of justification through faith, as presented by Paul. But his argument is developed on the preface,
“SHOW me your faith without the works, and I will SHOW you my faith by my works” (Ja. 2:18). He concludes that
“faith” is perfected by works, he does not conclude that justification is perfected by works (vs. 22). Which is the teaching that comes out of Rome, albeit, contrary to Biblical revelation.
This deadly doctrine was certainly taught to me when I was a non-Catholic!
But you were NEVER taught that after being saved you can now live your life any ole sinful way you desire. That’s what you accused “Protestants” of teaching, and for that you need to make tracks to the confession booth and confess you lied. A truly saved person has no desire to live a life of constant sin anyway. He is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, made alive to the things of God, and desires to serve the Lord and be pleasing to Him. Out fear of “Purgatory” or Hell? No, but because he has been created new in Christ. The sheer joy of it. You quote Luther:
It suffices that through God’s glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day.
Do you know what the word “hyperbole” means? It’s an extravagant exaggeration in order to make a point. RC apologists love to disingenuously quote Luther’s hyperbolic statement. And you follow their bad example. How close are you right now to a confession booth?
The NT must be read holistically and within the context of the living, organic, teaching Church that wrote it.
Like I said, the “Church” didn’t write the Scriptures. God Himself, the Holy Spirit, chose certain men through whom He would “breathe” [theopneustos) out His written Word. If you’re going to explain things in that manner, then did the Roman “Church” deny Christ three times when Peter denied Him the night of His betrayal? Pax says that Judas was actually saved, so did the Roman “Church” betray Christ? When Paul rebuked Peter, was it actually the Roman “Church” that rebuked their own Pope? Or, was it the Roman “Church” rebuking itself? You see the derisory logic of that kind of misguided teaching? The Scriptures are of divine origin, not ecclesiastical.
