Thursday, May 20, 2010

A Reformation Refresher

From Street Fishing


The differences between Protestants and Catholics demonstrated by the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation:

by Rick Appleton (Braniac)


Sola Scriptura

Scripture Alone, knowledge of salvation comes from the Bible alone; it teaches all that is necessary for salvation and holy living. Scripture is the final authority on all matters of doctrine and practice. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view of Papal or Magisterial infallibility. This doctrine is violated when any authority is placed alongside or over the Scriptures.


Sola Fide

Faith Alone, salvation is through faith alone. Faith is the only instrument through which the benefits of Christ’s atonement are applied. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view of faith and good works. This doctrine is violated when any other instrument becomes necessary for salvation.


Sola Gratia

Grace Alone, salvation is by grace alone. Salvation is entirely gracious. Sinners are saved without any merit in themselves. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view of cooperation and merit. This doctrine is violated when anything is added to or taken away from the unmerited favor of salvation.


Solus Christus

Christ Alone, salvation is in Christ alone. Christ is the exclusive author and mediator of salvation. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view of the intercession of saints and mediation of priests. This doctrine is violated when any man or institution is made necessary for salvation.


Soli Deo Gloria

To God Alone Be the Glory, salvation is to the glory of God alone. Salvation, from beginning to end is exclusively the work of God. Therefore, the credit and glory belong to God alone. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view that God and man cooperate in salvation, thus giving credit or glory to both God and man. This doctrine is violated when any merit, value, effort, credit or glory is ascribed to any other but God.

13 comments:

Nick said...

Scripture Alone, knowledge of salvation comes from the Bible alone; it teaches all that is necessary for salvation and holy living. Scripture is the final authority on all matters of doctrine and practice. This is contrasted with the Roman Catholic view of Papal or Magisterial infallibility. This doctrine is violated when any authority is placed alongside or over the Scriptures.

While this is one major pillar that divides, the real question is: Is what you just said Biblical? Does the Bible claim the role/authority you just described? Catholics say 'no'.
http://catholicnick.blogspot.com/2010/04/sola-scriptura-is-unscriptural.html

Steve Martin said...

Catholics had better get busy then.

The threshold is pretty high for those that need to add to the work of the cross.

Nick said...

What does adding to the work of the cross have to do here?

Dawg said...

Nick -

Steve is saying if the finished work of the cross is not good enough for the Catholic, then you have a never achievable plane you must overcome for your salvation; perfection.

No matter how hard you try, no matter how hard you work, you will never be able to add to the magnificent price that Christ paid at Calvary.


You can never be Sincere enough for the forgiveness of your sins.

You cannot be saved through membership in the Catholic church.

Praying to Mary will never get your sins forgiven.

John 1:12
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 4:5
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.


Quit trusting in your own works Nick and put your faith in Christ alone to save you.

Nick said...

I was focused on the issue of Sola Scriptura, that's why I didn't know why other issues were being tossed against me.

That said, I don't believe Catholics add to Christ's finished work.

Steve Martin said...

Then you don't know Catholicism.

The council of Trent states that any Christian who belives that they are saved by grace alone will be damned to hell.

So if it's not grace alone, then you'd better have some good works to add to it.

That is Roman Catholicism. I was raised a Catholic and went through CCD (Catechism) there. That is exactly what I was taught.

Ike said...

Acts 17:10-12.

All of "us" should be more like the noble Boreans, who eagerly "examined" the Scriptures....comparing Paul's words with the Word of God. If only "we" would search the Scriptures for ourselves instead of allowing ourselves to be spoon-fed by this pastor or that Christian author....or even a blogger:-)

Nick said...

WHERE does the Council of Trent say "if you believe in salvation by grace alone" you're damned?

That's a serious charge to accuse someone of; and it's slander if it's not true.

Dawg said...

I found these Canons from the C of Trent....and the following Scriptures that teaches otherwise.

CANON 9: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin," (Rom. 3:20).

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 3:24).

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," (Rom. 3:28).

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3).

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," (Titus 3:5).

CANON 12: "If any one shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified ... let him be accursed"

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name," (John 1:12).

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," (Rom. 3:28).

'For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3).

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself," (Heb. 7:25-27).

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," (2 Tim. 1:12).

Canon 14: "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema."

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," (Rom. 4:3).

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).

Dawg said...

Canon 23: "lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified; or, on the other hand, that he is able, during his whole life, to avoid all sins, even those that are venial,- except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard of the Blessed Virgin; let him be anathema."

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," (John 3:36).

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day," (John 6:40).

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand," (John 10:28).

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord," (Rom. 5:21).

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us," (1 John 2:19).

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God," (1 John 5:13).

Canon 24: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema."

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:1-3).

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law," (Gal. 5:1-3).

Canon 30: "If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema."

A."Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).

B."And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross," (Col. 2:13-14).

Canon 33: "If any one saith, that, by the Catholic doctrine touching Justification, by this holy Synod inset forth in this present decree, the glory of God, or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ are in any way derogated from, and not rather that the truth of our faith, and the glory in fine of God and of Jesus Christ are rendered (more) illustrious; let him be anathema.

This council declares that if anyone disagrees with it, they are damned.

Thanks to Carm.org

Ike said...

http://www.the-highway.com/Sola_Scriptura_Godfrey.html

Steve Martin said...

Well...I think the case has been made pretty well that the Catholics believe (in writing) that those who believe in God's grace, alone...are destined to hell.

Does that mean that every single Catholic believes that way?

Of course not, but the Catholic Church has never expunged those declarations in the Council of Trent.

Nick said...

Ok, if I'm reading you right, you're going to take a bunch of quotes and equate them to "if you believe in salvation by grace alone you're damned."

Canon 9 is speaking of those who deny free will, such that the Christian is entirely passive (i.e. he just sits there), including the act of believing through justification. This has nothing to do with faith versus works, so I don't know why you quoted this with those Scripture texts.

Canon 12 and 14 are speaking of those who would say that just by thinking themselves saved they are saved, which is perfectly logical. You certainly wouldn't say just because someone thinks they are saved doesn't mean they really are.

Canon 23 is speaking against those who say salvation cannot be lost, yet Protestantism is *largely* divided on this issue and cannot agree whether salvation can be lost or not (Lutherans, Arminians, many Anglicans, Methodists, etc say it can be lost).

Canon 24 is about growing as an adopted (justified) child of God. It is not speaking of attaining the original justification one receives when they come to faith.

Canon 30 is speaking about purgatory, which Protestants reject, but even purgatory isn't our own work but wholly Gods, and it doesn't affect whether one is justified or not.