2nd Adam: I really do not see your logic in proving that Protestantism is older than Catholicism. We, as Protestants, share a common history with Catholics up to the point of the Protestant Reformation. I’m not denying God’s eternal plan for salvation and reconciliation.
Regarding your reference to redemption by the grace of God alone or salvation by faith alone; what Scriptures are you using to support this belief?
In Christ,
Anna
. . . . .I think the best Scripture to support grace alone through the instrument of faith by the person and work of Christ alone would be the entire books of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, John, etc.
. Those united to Christ worship the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, right?
2nd Adam: Your answer is somewhat evasive. You failed to consider Scriptures in Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, and 1 John.
It is very clear that we are not saved by faith/grace alone. Works must accompany faith. That does not mean that we are able to “earn our salvation”; but we must consider the N.T. as a whole–actually the Bible as a whole.
The N.T. tells us that Abraham was justified by works. See **James 2:21-22 (ESV): **21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
John 5:25-29 (NASB):
25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29 and will come forth;
those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV):
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,
6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 12:14-16 (NIV):
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
James 2:14-18(ESV):
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”
Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Footnotes: a. James 2:16 Or benefit
**James 2:21-26 (ESV):
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
**
2 Peter 3:16-18 (NIV):
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
1 John 2:4-6 (NIV):
4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I am a Protestant Christian, too. It’s just that we have to move beyond the Sunday Sermons and Lessons that cite only selected Scripture.
I would urge you to prayerfully read the Bible cover-to-cover, and also study Church history. Be brave enough to read books by authors outside your Denomination.
In Christ,
Anna
. Therefore, the OT is about Jesus Christ. Protestantism is older because a historic Protestant knows that redemptive history began before the foundation of the world which by the grace of God alone, he becomes part of God’s story of redemption upon faith in Christ.