Jesus tells us, "
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments". The Protestants hate this answer. They think St. Paul teaches works are out and now “Faith alone” is in. How can Jesus be wrong?
The misunderstanding is that St. Paul is debating the law of circumcision and not the Law of God’s commandments. St. Peter warns us to be very careful when reading St. Paul’s writings. Martin Luther and the Protestants stumble right past St. Peter’s warnings to base the foundation of the Protestant faith on their misunderstandings of St. Paul’s writings.
St. Paul says,
Galatians 2:16
…who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Jesus says,
NAB MAT 19:16
“Teacher,
what good must I do to possess everlasting life?” He answered, “Why do you question me about what is good? There is One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied “You shall not kill”; ‘You shall not commit adultery’; ‘You shall not steal’; ‘You shall not bear false witness’; ‘Honor your father and mother’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
St. Paul’s writings were debating the law of circumcision and the Pharisee created Church laws and not God’s Law of the commandments.
NAB ACT 15:1
Some men came down to Antioch from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” This created dissension and much controversy between them and Paul and Barnabas.
NAB ACT 21:20
“You see, brother, how many thousands of
Jews have come to believe, all of them staunch defenders of the law. Yet they have been informed that you teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to
abandon Moses, to give up the circumcision of their children, and to renounce their customs.”
NAB PHI 3:5
(St. Paul)
I was circumcised on the eighth day, being of the stock of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew origins;
in legal observance I was a Pharisee, and so zealous that
I persecuted the church. I was above reproach when it came to justice based on the law. (GAL 6:13)
NAB 1CO 7:19
(St. Paul)
Circumcision counts for nothing, and its lack makes no difference either. **What matters is keeping God’s commandments.**
NAB ROM 2:13
(St. Paul)
For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; it is those who keep it who will be declared just.
NAB 2PE 3:14 Preparation for the Coming.
Consider that our Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation. Paul, our beloved brother, wrote you this in the spirit of wisdom that is his, dealing with these matters as he does in all his letters. There are certain passages in them hard to understand. The ignorant and the unstable distort them (just as they do the rest of Scripture) to their own ruin. You are forewarned, beloved brothers. Be on your guard lest you be led astray by the error of the wicked, and forfeit the security you enjoy.
Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
