A Place for Truth
Studies

Early Church	- Augustinianism Semi-Pelagianism
The Reformation:	- Calvinism Arminianism
Modern Church:	- Reformed (Calvinistic) Evangelicalism (Arminian)

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

What is the definition of "Catholic"? Catholic means "universal" therefore, "Roman Catholicism" as a name or term is a contradiction. Roman Catholicism as we know it, came into existence at the Council of Trent: 1564. They condemned Justification by Faith Alone and ceased to be a Christian Church. .

Council of Trent, Chapters 7-8, Canon 9: "If anyone says that a sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification...let him be anathema." Canon 11: "If anyone says that men are justified either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and remains in them, or also that the grace by which we are justified is only the good will of God, let him be anathema." Canon 24: "If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of the increase, let him be anathema."

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE

MARTIN LUTHER: "Justification by Faith Alone is the doctrine on which the Church or individual stands or falls." JOHN CALVIN: "Justification by Faith Alone is the hinge of the Reformation."

The Roman Catholic Church denied this essential doctrine and fell ecclesiastically at the Council of Trent (1564) (see Calvin the Man Outline Notes).

REFORMED TEACHING: (Not meritorious, but working) Faith => Justification + Works

True faith is in Christ, gaining His merits (John 15:5).

ROMAN CATHOLIC TEACHING: Faith + Works => Justification

Faith plus meritorious works justify a person.

ANTINOMIAN TEACHING: Faith => Justification - Works

Works are recommended but not necessary in the Christian life.

Contrast Roman Catholic teaching of Semper Idem: "Always the same," "irreformable," or "infallible" with Reformed teaching of Semper Reformanda: "Reformed and always Reforming."

BIBLICAL ORDO SALUTIS (ORDER OF SALVATION):

ELECTION - REGENERATION - FAITH - JUSTIFICATION

Election precedes Regeneration; Regeneration (new birth) precedes faith. When God regenerates you, faith is born in your soul. You are enabled to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you are justified (declared righteous forensically based on the merits of Christ on your behalf). (Eph. 1:4-13; Gal. 3:24; Romans 4; John 3:3-8; John 10; John 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

SYNOD OF DORT- 1618-1619: Calvinistic Response to the teachings of a Dutch teacher named James Arminius. The doctrines that were exegeted as Biblical were (in the order of grace): Total Depravity, Irresistible Grace, Unconditional Election, Limited (Definite) Atonement, and Perseverance (Preservation) of the Saints.

The Bible teaches that the Father elects from eternity to save some. The Son gives himself to redeem His people and the Spirit regenerates and indwells the believers, sanctifying them and conforming them to the image of the Son.

CHOSEN IN CHRIST- Ephesians 1:11-14: In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory.

HE IS OUR HOLINESS- I Corinthians 1:30: It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. / All the benefits of Christ's perfect life: living 33 years in perfect conformity to God's Law, loving God with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength are given to the believer. All the benefits of Christ's perfect death: dying on behalf of sinners as a ransom, taking the wrath of God as punishment. God credits this "active" and "passive" obedience of Christ to his Elect.

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IMPUTED- Iustia Alienum Romans 4:5-8: However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." / Justification is forensic. We are declared, counted or reckoned to be righteous when God imputes the righteousness of Christ (an "alien righteousness") to our account.

SOLA FIDE- &QUOTBY FAITH ALONE&QUOT (not "because of" faith)- Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. / Faith is the instrumental cause of justification in that faith is the means by which the merits of Christ are appropriated to us.

"THEOLOGICAL ARTICLE UPON WHICH THE CHURCH OR INDIVIDUAL STANDS OR FALLS": "ARTICULUS STANTIS ET CADENTIS ECCLESIAE" - MARTIN LUTHER- Galatians 1:6-12: "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through revelation of Jesus Christ.

"SIMUL IUSTUS ET PECCATOR"- &QUOTJUSTIFIED, AND AT THE SAME TIME SINFUL- MARTIN LUTHER / Eternal life is Christ dwelling in his righteousness in the soul of the justified person. So eternal life is union with Jesus Christ. And the word for that union with him is faith. The sinners comes to him, rests in him, trusts in him, is one with him, abides with him; and this is life because it never ends. The united soul abides in the Vine eternally. Weakness, sin, proneness to sin never brings separation, but only the Father's pruning, which cements the union even and ever tighter.

Next class: Roman Catholicism: Infused righteousness-Justification by Faith or works?

Read: The Book of Galatians, Chapters 1-3

For Further reading: ; Roman Catholicism- ed. John Armstrong / Justification by Faith Alone- John Gerstner, R.C. Sproul, Joel Beeke, John Armstrong / Faith Alone- R.C. Sproul