The Roman Catholic Controversy Part 14

Well good morning beloved.

Let's open in a word of prayer, jump into our study.

Father we do come before you thankful for the teaching of thy word

which informs us of our justification by faith in Jesus Christ.

Lord we thank you we approach you this morning knowing God that there's nothing that we can do nor add to thy

perfect work of redemption which you've accomplished in Jesus Christ through his perfect obedience,

through his sufferings, through his death on the cross, by his glorious resurrection from the

dead, and also Lord through his intercession work as our mediator and high priest in heaven even

now.

We thank you Lord that we can add nothing to that perfected once and for all work through the shed blood

of your son Jesus Christ.

We pray God that you would help us to continue to marvel in the majesty of thy grace,

marvel in the majesty of the good work of salvation that you've accomplished in the hearts of your people.

We pray God that you would help us to come to a greater depth of understanding and of appreciation of this

marvelous doctrine of justification as we continue to examine it under the light of scripture and also in light of the Roman

Catholic controversy.

We ask these things in amen.

Well beloved we want you to come to a deeper appreciation for this glorious doctrine of

justification.

We've been going through this and this this doctrine it kind of comes up almost on a weekly

basis when we're talking about Roman Catholicism because it really is at the basis of our of our major

distinction between Protestant and Catholic theology is the basis of our justification

whether it be by works faith or a combination of such.

We want to help you continue to develop this idea this notion of of justification so we're going to stay on chapter

10 this week and continue going through

this teaching and I want you to turn to page about 148.

Before we even go into it is there any items or anything that you found of interest or benefit in this chapter

you'd like to share and we're in chapter 10 of the Roman Catholic controversy

talking about justification.

That's

how humans would assume that salvation was because we want to say that it can't be

that easy right or that we could you know maybe do it or it's just it's so against

human beings it says it is contrary to the natural religious impulses of all human beings to

be so bereft of reasons for boasting you know and it just doesn't make sense to you that's

right so divine and orange that's right.

You know I always talk I think I've mentioned this before but I was talking to a Roman Catholic several weeks ago now back in July and he's a

friend actually I went to his I think maybe it's his niece's quinceanera yesterday

and very very nice guy oh man just such a sweet guy

Roman grew up Roman Catholic but I actually think he's an atheist

he and I only know this because someone else who's close to him told me hey

he's actually an atheist he's he just does the church stuff because he thinks it's good and he thinks like it's helpful but he doesn't really

believe in God and and what's interesting of this individual is that

he talking about faith and works and stuff and he really relies on his works for

everything and he'll bring up instances where he'll ask me the question well which one

is more just the person who at his who's lived a terrible life and has bedside you know

makes a you know deathbed confession and then goes to heaven

or the person who lived a good moral life his whole life and then ends up in hell like how how could that be

just right.

And what an appropriate discussion when we're talking about justification.

Okay which is just and I try to tell him well you know the Bible says and

as soon as I say that he's no no no what do you say.

I said well I'm going to say what the Bible says and again and it becomes a question of authority.

Okay.

Well what's your what authority you're appealing to because our experiences are subjective.

Right.

If you're going to ask me what I think well again I base what I think on God's word the Bible that's the

basis of my authority.

Where do you get your authority from.

And again everyone has an intrinsic sense of right and wrong.

Everyone has an intrinsic sense of authority within oneself which is the error and sin of Israel in the Old

Testament.

You remember the times of judges before before you know the kings

what was the sin of Israel was that everyone began to do what was right in their own eyes.

Okay that was their sin.

Everyone began to do what was right in their own eyes and God's law was put to the wayside.

And so this is the world that we're living in today.

Everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Another another word for it more modern term for it would be modern post

-modernism or moral relativism.

Okay where everyone does what's right in their own eyes that's literally moral relativism or post

-modernism in which we are unfortunately in right now.

And so when it comes to the issue of justification so many individuals want to

feel and feel that they have to contribute in some way shape or form

because it is intrinsic in man to work.

And that's a good thing.

Actually in the garden God created Adam and Eve and he put an intrinsic desire for

work.

If you've ever been unemployed uh you kind of you kind of know that feeling where at first first week is great because you get

to sleep in second week you get a little antsy.

You start worrying more and more and you get this overwhelming feeling of you need to do something and and

and it becomes overwhelming you.

You have an intrinsic desire and and you are created for work.

It's it's good it's part of the created order.

Now we're we're good.

Where work becomes bad is when we think that we can work for

God's approval or we can work for God's blessing.

Where we can work for salvation.

And why why why that shift.

Why is it why.

Why are works good in one sense but then bad once it gets on that end of the spectrum.

Why.

Why does it become bad.

Because work is good according to creation.

Right.

The creation mandate.

That's a huge one.

Right.

Because when you work for something what do you feel.

You feel like proud.

I mean i did this i accomplished this.

Right.

And there are a few things in which we cannot take ownership or pride over one is creation itself.

We can only take pride in so much as we contain it not so much as we have added to it.

We didn't create.

God created all things which is why ultimately he gets all the glory as the creator.

And and the Lord also gets all the glory in all things of life but in particular in

creation and in salvation.

Because these are things that he has exclusively done.

You know God is so jealous over his works that he says in isaiah 44 verse 24 he says

i'm Yahweh that is my name and i created the heavens the earth i stretched them out with my own hands.

And he asked the question who was with me.

Okay.

And so he say i'm the creator.

And this is in contrast to the false gods that the israelites were flirting with at the time.

And he says i made the heavens here.

If i stretch out the earth in the heavens i did it by myself who was with me.

You know he says elsewhere in isaiah 42a he says i am Jehovah that is my name.

And i will not give my glory.

I will not share my glory of another nor my praise with graven images.

It's just how jealous God is over creation the fact that he made everything.

But he's also jealous over salvation because he alone accomplishes it.

He alone doesn't.

No one else can add contribute to those things.

And so God is jealous over these things.

And this is a godly jealousy.

You know we tend to think as jealous especially in especially in today's world.

We think of jealousy as something that's bad.

Right.

So if you're jealous you're toxic.

Right.

Don't you want your husband or wife to be jealous over you.

It means that they care that they love you they desire you that they want an exclusivity with you.

And God is jealous in that same way.

God desires exclusivity in his devotion in his worship and his praise.

And and so this is a good thing.

So God is jealous over creation.

He's jealous over his name.

He's jealous over salvation because he alone accomplishes it.

And he alone is exclusive and being able to do it and accomplish it.

So it is a good thing that God is jealous over these things in the same way.

Then we have to understand that when we talk about justification and and works

God gets all the glory because he alone accomplishes it.

You have nothing to add to it other than being a grateful recipient.

Just like you are a grateful recipient of creation.

God puts you on this beautiful earth and he's giving you now a creation mandate.

So also when we are born again we receive this spiritual new life.

And now there's a spiritual mandate to a life of gospel obedience.

But it's not the root of salvation.

So you didn't you didn't you didn't earn it.

But by God's grace you can continue to receive the the blessings and

benefits of it.

Any questions so far.

Any thoughts or comments.

That's right.

That's right.

All right.

Let's look at the again page 148 in the roman uh roman catholic controversy in this subheading of

works and faith it quotes galatians 2 16.

I want to read that verse.

It says.

Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through

faith in christ jesus.

Even we have uh even we have believed in christ jesus so that we may be justified by

faith in christ and not by works of the law.

Since by the works of the law no flesh will be justified.

And so here you have a clear contrast clear statement between justification by

works and justification by faith.

Now what are some of the things that maybe roman catholics mormons and jehovah's witnesses would say in rebuttal to this

this text of scripture.

Correct.

So they say that's absolutely right.

So a jehovah's witness a catholic a mormon would say well that's talking exclusively

about the mosaic law.

No quote.

They'll look at a scripture maybe like in galatians this is galatians chapter 2.

They'll probably look at galatians chapter 6 and there's there's a statement there about the law of christ.

And so say well the mosaic law is what's being tossed out but in it.

But we still have to follow the law of christ in order to have a share of that justification.

And then they'll likely point to another scripture.

You know what scripture they'll likely point to.

Come on guys it's an easy one.

James what.

James chapter 2.

Let's go there for a moment.

Now let's do some apologetics here

starting verse 22.

Actually let's start in verse 21

james chapter 2.

Verse 21 was not abraham our father justified by works

when he offered up his son isaac on the altar.

You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his

works 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.

This is almost in clear contrast to what paul says in romans chapter 4.

Where in romans chapter 4 paul's making the other side of the argument quoting the same text of scripture uh in regard to

abraham where abraham believed and it was counted him as righteousness.

And paul's argument paul's saying no it was by faith by which he was counted as righteous.

James is saying well no it was faith along with works.

Which almost seems to be contradictory so much so that as you probably know famously you know martin luther you know wanted to throw out the

book of james because it seemed to contradict the doctrine of justification by faith.

So where's where's the harmony here between what paul says

and what james is saying.

Is there a clear contradiction.

Let's read a little bit more verse.

Uh verse 24 of james 2 you see that a person is justified by works

and not by faith alone.

Wait a second.

Wait a second.

Don't we believe you know faith alone.

Isn't that one of the the mantras of uh of our of our faith by by faith alone.

And james here saying not by faithful.

It's a pretty scary statement.

It seems flat out contradictory to what our creed is.

And so okay verse 25 in the same way was not also rahab the president

justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way.

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead so also faith apart from works is dead.

How do we harmonize these two things.

Oh man this is a silent bunch of baptists right now trying to figure this out.

Let's let's let's let's just stop for a real quick second let's acknowledge that this is kind of hard.

It's not so easy.

I mean you've got some statements here that that really uh need some uh some

exegesis and really need some some harmonization here.

So all right brother give it your shot.

Yeah

you

know

what's interesting is that james and paul are probably writing around the same

time.

People don't realize this.

They're writing like they are writing probably exactly the same time.

So galatians written around 49 a .d.

Uh this was written probably around that same time.

And so this conversation was very fluid in the early life of the church.

But a little difference is that that is that james is is is more of a pastor than

paul.

Paul's more of a missionary church planner.

He's going all over the place.

Uh james was more so in the local church in jerusalem.

And there's a difference between someone who's a missionary and someone who's a pastor and one of let me just give you some

insight as a pastor.

Uh like james is like one of the best pastoral books because it expresses the heart of every pastor

for his congregation.

And it starts really in chapter one.

I want you to look at verse 22 in chapter one.

And this is really the heart of every pastor for his congregation.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only.

So now we begin to see the heartbeat uh of what he's going to be later saying in chapter two.

Okay so he says don't just be hearers of the word.

Church is filled with hearers people the whole structure the way we we even do church is

conducive for hearing not always doing.

And so we have a building we have pews.

You sit down and you listen.

Okay that's good.

We need to listen for instruction.

But church is not always conducive for doing because you hear.

But are you actually doing right.

And and james gets this.

And james is talking to an audience of hearers who people who he knows are hearing god's word.

But they're not always doing it right.

So he says be hearers of the word and not uh and be doers of the word not only hearers

deceiving yourselves.

So if you only hear the word but you don't do the word you're actually deceiving yourself.

Man that that that like pastors like we love this text because it expresses the truth and

the reality of preaching.

Preaching isn't only just for your edification.

So you feel good.

You walk out the doors but so that you put it into practice.

And that's what james is saying here you have to not just hear god's word.

You have to put it into practice.

And so that's that's that's the heart behind chapter two.

Okay so i want you to keep this in mind.

This is the heartbeat uh behind this chapter two.

Then he goes off to to to list the sin of partiality.

He says listen.

Some of you guys are not getting what church is about.

Some of you guys are acting towards favoritism towards the rich.

Uh you know you're you're putting aside the poor.

You don't.

Really you're not really getting what it means to be christian not really getting what it means to follow christ.

And then he begins to say listen in verse 14 of chapter 2 what good is it my brothers.

If someone says he has faith but does not have works can that faith save him.

Then he begins to give us a kind of a laundry list of examples of of where

i think he's literally saying where the church is falling short.

So he's talking about his particular church in general here if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and

one of you says to them go in peace be warm and filled without giving them the things needed

for the body.

What good is that.

So again james is like a he's a he's a good pastor.

Like he gets it's like listen there's there's needs in the church there's needs among god's people.

And you're not fulfilling those obligations.

Like what good is it to say that person hey be warm be filled you know hope you have a great day.

And then you don't help them in their daily needs in their daily walk.

Like you're missing the point of christianity here it's not just about saying it's not just hearing.

It's also about doing okay.

So at the heart of what james is getting at is saying listen ultimately don't just be hearers.

But you have to be doers.

Because by being a doer you're demonstrating that that faith is authentic.

You're demonstrating that that faith is real.

You're demonstrating that you're actually one who is justified by faith.

And this is where we begin.

Okay having the discussion of faith and works.

What paul is not saying i mean what what what uh james is not saying is that he

he's not pitting faith and works uh you know

against each other in this way theologically.

Which we would we would we would think of it today as we look at theological debates between catholics and

protestants or jehovah's witnesses mormons and and protestants.

Uh he's he's really coming at it from a pastoral perspective.

He's looking at real life issues in the church.

And he's saying what good is it if you say you have faith but you're not doing what faith

requires.

Right.

So ultimately what he's pointing to is the authenticity of faith.

How do we know that faith is authentic.

Because anyone can say they have faith.

Which is what he goes on to say even the demons believe the demons believe.

Okay they have a level of faith yet they're hell bound yet they are

they are they are bound to destruction.

What sets apart true saving faith is a life of doing

the word not just hearing it.

That's what sets a person apart is someone who has a life of of obedience.

Not that that obedience wins them salvation but rather it's it is it's a which is why

he would go on to say um in verse 24 or

in verse 22 see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his

work.

Which is to say that the faith that that the works were was a demonstration of that person's authentic faith.

Okay you know what good is it to say you know uh you know to your to your partner i love you.

But then you do things contrary to such.

Right.

Are you demonstrating love.

You can say you love the person.

But are you demonstrating love for that person.

Uh in the same way that we would in the church today if you if someone has a a real need you know what good

is to say okay be blessed be well but then if there's something that i can do to help you uh and i don't do that

that i'm failing in my walk i'm demonstrating that maybe i don't actually care for you the way that i my words just

communicated.

Right.

And so this is at the heart of what james is getting at.

He says your talk and your walk should match.

Let's simply put this is simply what this is pointing to.

Okay uh you know i i think we maybe over theolog uh over analyze this

theologically and we are making it bigger than it needs to be in that sense this is really

a pastor's heart towards his people.

And so and as a pastor i read this and i totally get it like i don't i don't see the conflict whatsoever like i totally get it.

Um and so hopefully now you begin to see that as well.

Does that kind of satisfy some of the tension here again.

So a christian you know uh a duck naturally quacks a dog naturally barks.

A christian naturally does good works.

It's the overflow of his salvation and his justifications.

That's right.

Absolutely

yeah that's right.

You know i i think about this often i'm i'm always trying to rehearse what am i going to say when i'm when i meet when i meet

jehovah you know when i stand before that great and terrible throne and uh

and really is as nothing to the altar i bring only to the cross i cling.

You know i i bring nothing.

I'm destitute i'm a sinner i'm naked before you you see me for all that i am and all that i've done.

And yet the only thing that i can cling to on that great day is the cross of jesus.

Right.

That's the that's my only that's my only crying plea is the blood of jesus.

And so man that's deep stuff when you think about it any

thoughts or questions so far on this.

Yes that's right.

Correct.

There's actually like four meanings to the word justified.

But yeah yeah

can someone are you asking for can someone explain it.

Okay.

So so there's actually about four ways we can understand justification according to the original greek word.

And so justification is is primarily a legal term right.

So it's primarily uh connotates you know kind of uh you're in a

court you've been justified which means that you've been proven in a court of law to

uh to have not committed a crime or to be right in right standing with the court right.

So there's there's that just straight legal definition.

There's also a uh a more

colloquial term that's that it could be understood as uh more so as as works

you know i i am i and we use it today as well right.

So uh um you hear a police officer maybe he has to

uh pull trigger on someone he'll say i was justified by in my

actions because i was in danger i was justified means i was i was proven correct

in taking the action that i did taking doing the work that i did right.

Uh so that's one way of understanding it is is is taking you know kind of personal accountability

uh and in the greek there's two there's two other ways you kind of understand justification as well.

I think those are the two primary ones.

Um and so when we look at what how james is using this i i'm i'm almost certain that he's using it in terms of

saying uh this is this is a demonstration of my of my faith and so

i i'm justified not by faith alone.

I'm justified in in in my actions demonstrating my faith right.

Yeah.

Well are you asking how does a roman catholic view this term

is to demonstrate

and and and so and i think that's how it's being used here.

Is that this is a demonstration you had your hand up.

Yes yeah

demonstration it's it's like okay i mean he he used the term here in the greek actually

uh let's see where

i'm not sure where i have to bring up my my poor emmanuel's not here so i can't ask

him to pull up his greek lexicon.

Correct.

Right.

You know the words show that this person is righteous.

Correct.

That's right.

No it would be the same.

It's the same word.

It's the same word uh but uh you know there there i

and i'm pretty sure somewhere in here i think the greek term it's not it's not reflective here in the english translation but

it's i think one of the one of the phrases here is prove to be righteous or demonstrate to be righteous.

And so uh by by works.

And so there again it's it's a it's it's a demonstration.

So my works are a demonstration of the declarative act of god upon my life of

being made righteous.

Right.

And so um yeah that that that that would help with that is that is that gonna

get to the heart of your question.

Or or or where.

Okay.

Anyone else have any thoughts or questions.

And so this is pretty important stuff here as we look at it.

Um and again we're kind of examining um uh works

in faith here i want to if you can't turn to page 149 in your book if you have it.

And he quotes from from romans chapter 3 at the bottom and i'm going to read that text for us and it says.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of god has been manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Even the righteousness of god through faith in jesus christ for all those who believe.

For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of god being justified as a gift

by his grace through the redemption that is in christ jesus whom god displayed publicly as a

propitiation his blood through faith.

This was to demonstrate his righteousness because in the forbearance of god he passed over the sins

previously committed.

So here paul asserts that we are justified freely by grace.

Here in romans chapter 3 and again in titus 3 is paul contradicting himself by saying

that we were justified by grace.

And uh that we were justified by grace and that we were justified by faith.

Is there a contradiction there.

Because he says in one breath is where we are say we are justified by grace.

And another one we're justified by faith.

So which one is it correct.

And this is this is where the heart of it is right.

So we believe that faith is not a possession of all men according to the scriptures faith is also a gift that is imparted

upon the elect person.

Right.

So faith is not a possession of every person.

Okay.

And romans chapter 3 makes that pretty clear.

Right.

There is none righteous.

No not even one.

There's no one who seeks for god.

You know the world's belief is that well people are all seekers.

We're all seeking.

Uh no the bible does not teach that.

The bible does not teach that men are seekers.

Rather we are seekers.

But we're seekers for our own pleasure.

We're seekers of our own of our own gods made in our own images.

But we're not seekers of the one true god yahweh.

Uh rather uh you know as uh you know theologians have long put it you know our

we long after the idols of our hearts.

That's what.

That's what.

That's what we long for.

That's what we we seek after.

Um but that is true faith.

And and grace are our gifts imparted to the elect.

Does that make sense.

So um now what's what's what's interesting is is

that uh he'll go on to um he in the in the paragraph here in page

150 he says for salvation to be of grace it cannot possibly be of works.

Can't possibly.

So here here we have to a strong um we have to make some strong definitions here.

Because as paul says in romans 11 6 anyone know what romans 11 6 says.

If you're if you're reformed and if you believed you know in the doctrines of grace you have to memorize

this text.

And it's a really short text.

Let's go there.

Romans 11

this is probably one of the best verses you can use roman catholics or with jehovah's witnesses or mormons.

Uh this is this is probably like this is man this is like the

the sniper shot to the heart in terms of this issue.

And it's so short and it's so sweet.

Romans 11 6.

But if it is by grace and this is actually in the context of election and salvation

if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works.

Otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Okay so here we have some strong definitions.

Okay grace undeserved unmerited favor.

If it's if if you can merit it in any way shape or form it cancels it out.

It's no longer grace.

It's something else.

Right.

So when the scripture says the justification the act of being declared righteous

is by faith and grace then it can't possibly be of anything else.

Because then it would cancel it out if it's by works.

So again if it is by grace it's no longer in the basis of works.

There's no basis of works that by which you can be justified otherwise grace will no longer be grace.

Always.

That's literally the definition.

Right.

So it's kind of like how uh you know in our church how we view baptism.

So you have the word and the word has a definition.

So words have definitions.

Therefore words matter.

Okay so anything that has a definition matters.

So if if baptism is defined literally as you know baptism being dunked then

anything that isn't that isn't baptism.

Okay.

In the same way that if it's anything that is merited

versus unmerited then it's something different.

Right.

Grace is unmerited favor.

If you can merit it by some way shape or form then it's no longer grace.

We're talking about something totally different now right.

So you can't divorce the meaning of the word from the theological uh importance that is displayed

in scripture and that's simply that's just simply put and you haven't anyone have any thoughts or questions so.

Far.

Yes

sir.

Yeah

that's

right you know.

And

i again when we when we understand that james.

Is a contemporary of paul and that paul and james probably wrote galatians

and james around the same time.

Ephesians comes after uh galatians.

Galatians probably like the first uh letter by paul.

Um and and and ephesians comes after the fact.

And i think uh paul probably knowing some of the controversy between uh

uh james statement i think he then comes up with with his famous text of scripture in ephesians chapter 2 verse 8

through 10 which says for by grace you've been saved through faith.

And that is not of yourselves it is the gift of god as a result of works so that no one may boast.

For we are his worksmanship created in christ jesus for good works.

That's the key.

Right.

And this is how james and and paul don't contradict each other.

Okay they are and they are adding to one another he says we are saved for good works

not by good works.

Very important distinction which god prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.

Okay.

Uh so we are saved for good works not by good works.

Big difference.

Right.

And that's exactly what james is saying is that you are saved for good works.

So if you say you have faith but you don't demonstrate it.

Are you actually saved.

Right.

Are you actually justified.

Have you been declared righteous by the creator.

Okay.

And so i again there's no contradiction between paul and james.

Uh this is uh just again part of the the marvelous outworking of salvation and the consistency of

scripture is is clearly shown here.

And and when you kind of know these little smaller details about like the timeline of the writing of these letters it becomes

all the more clear.

So any questions on that so far.

So it's clear you know salvation is a gift of god not just the uh bear plan god or

even just the bare grace of god that promises to move toward god.

Uh but all the salvations of god.

It's like the roman catholic would say well this is just the initial phase.

And um and i don't disagree that there's phases to salvation.

So the roman catholic will will really hone in on that concept and they'll say that salvation is a

process.

And i don't disagree with that whatsoever.

I just disagree with them what the process is.

Right.

And so the the christian understanding of the process of salvation is is really it's it's quite simple.

Uh you know it starts with justification sanctification future glorification.

Right.

That's that's what the scripture gives us as as the process of salvation.

Which is why paul can write to the corinthians saying you are saved and being saved.

Right.

So there's a process you are saved you've been declared righteous.

Now there's the outworking of that uh of that salvation that christ is accomplishing in you.

That's leading you to a perfect image of christ where you ultimately receive that perfect

image completely uh at uh at your glorification where you where it says

uh for we shall be like him.

Right.

So we shall see him as he is and we shall be like him.

Yeah um but it's a one -time event.

Or is that justification.

Well so so again it's both you are you are saving one point in time matter of fact.

Actually you know so we all have a birthday we all have a spiritual birthday.

Um but where where where does where does salvation actually start.

That's right in eternity past ephesians 1 he chose us before the foundation of the

world that we should be blameless and walk uh blamelessly in his sight.

So that's that starts in eternity past.

So in eternity past god had already chosen his elect chosen his people for salvation had appointed

christ as the redeemer of the world the heir of all things.

And then the outworking of that is what we see in history in biblical history.

And then what we see is of course uh that personally applied to us in real time and space when we experience it ourselves.

And so we were saved in eternity past.

Really okay that's where that's where it starts.

It's obviously then happens in real space and time in the redemptive work of christ and then

also when it's personally applied to us upon a belief and so you are saved and

you're being saved.

So that's that's the biblical uh you know word on that you were saved in one point in time really

started in the eternity past.

But then you you experienced it at a moment in time and it will carry you into

eternity uh when you will uh eventually be glorified and raised from the dead and be like him.

So pretty cool stuff.

Yeah salvation is is eschatological you know it starts in the past.

There's a present aspect to it and there's a future aspect to it.

And that's and that's the uh and that's the beauty of it all.

Any other thoughts or questions so far.

Good stuff.

Good stuff here i want to also point out to the uh the fact that uh

this issue is sola fide.

Right.

So sola fide you know we we we believe in.

You know what does that mean.

Sola fide.

What's that faith alone.

Right.

Solo fide.

Very simple concept.

And again uh we looked at james where it says not by solo fide.

So it's like oh man how do we harmonize that.

So i think we we've done a good job harmonizing that and looking at what the scripture says you know not pitting james against paul

but looking at james as the pastor that he is and looking at the issues at hand which led him to make that statement in

the first place uh and then harm and then seeing how how paul comes into the picture and says okay now let me make a

declarative theological statement we're not saved by works.

We're saved by grace through faith uh but we're saved for good works.

Right.

So it's showing what we're saved for onto not by.

We're saved by faith and grace in jesus christ.

And so justification again is by faith alone so that it can be uh so that it can uh be by

grace alone.

That's the gospel.

So this is really again this comes to the heart of the gospel and uh and it comes to to the heart of

of this issue and so what's the basis for our justification.

Like what's the basis of it all every every you know.

So if you're in a court and the judge is looking at the evidence what would be the basis for

making you justified or for or sending you to to hell.

Yes

sir

now look at what the statement here in page 152 says.

It says one of the fundamental differences between the roman catholic doctrine the protestant doctrine is simply this the

righteousness by which we stand before god according to the protestant is the righteousness of jesus christ

alone.

Okay.

That's important alone even within roman catholicism and just faith and practice.

Uh do you appeal to jesus christ alone.

No.

What do you appeal to.

Appeal to priests saints

mary angels.

You go to a bodega in the hood and uh yeah

you go to a bodega in the hood and there's a little section there of candles and it's all these catholic saints

angels saint michael you know saint jude they got all these and they got prayers in the back and and all these

different prayers.

Right.

And it's because they appeal to them for mercy for grace for power for help

for justification for right standing all these others that they add.

But for the christian it's jesus.

It's jesus

alone.

Yes

sir

that's

the

yeah i that's a great question.

I've never been here.

I'm not i i did chaplaincy work in a hospital in dirt county and uh and so you have the you

know you have the roman catholic chaplain and then you've got like kind of a protestant chaplain you have like a universalist chaplain.

That's for like everything for all the pagans.

Uh but the uh you know you're actually like not allowed in

when he's performing that because it's like a you have to be like a member of the church and so i've never

observed a last right like i've never been there and so i don't know exactly what they say or appeal to that.

That's a that's a great question.

I'm gonna have to look.

I want to look into that.

Yeah certainly.

I mean you know just by virtue of that ceremony they're playing to an authority

other than christ.

Right.

Because it's not uh that's not mandated by christ.

There's there's no there's no mandate to do such thing.

And uh and it's usually i'm pretty sure the impartation of the elements of communion is usually given.

Um and so uh again they want that person to uh

very clearly very plainly what they're playing to is works.

Right.

Let me get this last right let me get this last act of obedience in you know it's very similar to the jehovah's witnesses.

Uh you know jehovah's witnesses are notorious for um um refusing blood transfusions.

Right.

So my little my older brother when he was born uh shortly after his birth he

had a brain aneurysm and uh and this is back in the 80s and he

required a blood transfusion to save his life.

My parents being jehovah's witnesses said no we won't we won't do that medical procedure.

The state of connecticut actually took away custody of my brother uh from my parents in order to force

that procedure on on the newborn uh my brother so that he could live.

Uh had the state not done that my brother would have died and the reason for his death would have been because of this

doctrine of not refusing blood transfusions.

Now the way jehovah's witnesses views this is this isn't this is likely a end of life.

You know or you know it's life or death.

And if i can demonstrate obedience at this last stage at this end

point i'm almost all but guaranteed paradise.

And so they see this almost as a as a ticket to paradise.

Uh and so if i just if i even if i was a bad jehovah's witness if i'm obedient in this aspect and i give my life

for the cause i'm all but guaranteed paradise.

And it's very and it's every workspace religion has a version of this and so

this the roman catholic version would be like the last rites you know this is my last act of obedience.

This is going to guarantee me a spot in heaven.

And it's all works.

It's all works.

So anyone's got a question.

Oh there it is

also

yeah i mean um you know again like i'm not the biggest fan of the sinner's prayer but i think there is a fundamental difference

between one who confesses

what seems to be a genuine devout confession of faith versus someone

who's who who is just merely you know.

Yeah.

So for instance can't can't can that be like an act of works.

Absolutely.

You know if the pastor says hey just raise your hand.

If you just raise your hand this this will get you like who wouldn't do it.

Right.

Who wouldn't just raise their hand.

Who wouldn't just walk down.

It was that easy man it would do it that everyone would do it you know.

Which is why probably billy graham had so much success as he did.

It's because you know he made it really easy.

It's really the beginning of easy believism.

Um but it's all about how the invitation is made because i i i really believe there needs that the preacher has

an obligation to to push to a point of decision.

Right.

So so here's the information.

Here's what god's word says.

What are you gonna do with it.

Right.

Um so it certainly can be that.

But i don't think it necessarily has to be that.

I don't i don't see it completely as equals if that makes sense.

Okay so all.

Right we're almost done here with this chapter guys.

Uh the basis for justification as uh brother kairi said earlier it's jesus.

It's jesus.

Jesus is the one who uh according to second corinthians chapter five it says.

He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of

god in him.

Right.

So the basis of our righteousness of our justification is jesus he who knew no sin

which means that he never committed sin.

He was righteous in every way yet on our behalf as our substitutionary atonement.

As the one who paid the propitiation of our sins by by taking upon himself the wrath of god

he became sin on our behalf substitutionary atonement.

Right.

Here substitutionary atonement so that we might become the righteousness of god.

So what happens in the doctrine of substitutionary atonement.

Is this my sin our sin the collective sin of the elect

placed upon the shoulders of christ.

And christ fully takes upon himself the burden and the consequence of that sin

through his sufferings on the cross and through his alienation with the uh with the father.

This now this alienation of the father isn't quite as extreme as some other groups would put it.

But that's a whole nother discussion for another day uh.

But rather uh in christ there is there is a true payment for that sin for the

consequences of our sin.

And then what happens is that what's applied to us is the perfect work and obedience of christ.

It's a perfect switch and transfer.

It's a legal transfer which is why god is able to declare us righteous.

Not because we are righteous intrinsically but rather we've now received the righteousness the merit of another.

It's been perfectly transferred.

It is literally like almost like a blood transfusion right.

And so in order for your life to be sustained you must take the you must take the life.

Now the bible says in leviticus 17 10 that the life is in the blood which is why jehovah's witnesses opposed to blood transfusions

because they don't believe it to be right to be sustained upon uh the blood of another.

Yet that's kind of the story of the gospel is that you will literally be sustained saved by the blood of another and jesus

is the ultimate blood donor in that sense.

And so you are literally being sustained spiritually uh through the life

blood of jesus.

Uh.

And so it is that perfect transfer.

And that's the doctrine substitute substitutionary atonement.

And so that can't be divorced from our concept of justification.

Those things come hand in hand they're intrinsically intertwined.

And so catholics would deny uh the full breath and power of substitutionary atonement

uh which is again work where all the works and rites and rituals come in because they have to add

to that work.

So that on the cross jesus didn't really mean it when he says it is finished.

Uh because what do they do every sunday in the eucharist

all right.

They bring jesus up to the altar and they're hoisting him up in the elements.

And they're saying you know we're crucifying him all over again.

And now let's partake of his blood let's partake of his body.

Uh and so the once and for all finished work of christ is just constantly denied every single

sunday every lord's day in this mockery of the eucharist and this mockery of of the rituals

and rites of rome.

And this is why and honestly guys like you have to understand this it's an offense to god.

Rome is truly an offense to god.

This is not just mere theological quarrels between between equals between you know brothers in

christ we're talking about a religious establishment that is offending god in every corner.

So this is not just a uh you know a mere small differences between quarreling

denominations this is this is fundamentally something else roman catholicism is is

fundamentally something other than authentic genuine christianity.

So uh especially today where we just want to make it all nice and we're all kind of equals.

No this is truly one of the reasons why we're going through this book is to highlight that you know what rome

is teaching is damnable heresy and it's an affront an offense to the true god and to the true gospel.

And so we need to make sure that's clear.

Oh yeah i had to look more into that

because i'm like what's going on in that video i know that video that he's talking about it's kind of gone viral.

There's this there's a it's probably like in south america or in europe somewhere and

this they're having this huge ritual and they have like the statue of mary and everything is so adorned and you have this guy

randomly like just running full speed to the altar with his kid on his on his on his shoulder and

he played like lunges the kid on top of the of the idol on top of the statue and he just walks away.

And i was like what is going on here uh and and actually i what i found out as i dug a little deeper is that

it's it's very customary because of the false doctrines of rome for when these rites and

rituals are being done uh for for you to bring small children uh uh to touch the

altar touch the idol because then the superstition is that that that person that saint will now

be with that child for the whole life for the rest of their life.

And so you can see how the superstitious false doctrines of rome lead to some really weird things and and

really just damnable beliefs and so um yeah pretty pretty wild stuff.

Let's quickly go through one last thing here and it's

what does impute or reckon mean.

What were the differences between impute or reckon that was highlighted here in

uh in this chapter of the book.

And that's right.

Yeah let's look at how scripture uses this term a couple of different ways.

Like leviticus 17 4 it says that the blood guiltiness is to be reckoned to that man and he

says here surely this guilt is not infused into the man but he is legally declared guilty

of blood.

So it's not infused in that it's now part of his being rather than this is a legal term to to

impute or or to reckon as a legal term which is that you're now being held responsible with the effect

of that.

Right.

Sure it's a it's it's an effect it's an outward thing and so are are you

imputed or reckoned the righteousness of christ.

Is it.

So here's where it gets interesting.

Right.

We have some of these uh of these scriptures that listed here and and what.

And what comes to mind is that it's very similar.

There's a there's certainly a connection you are imputed and reckoned but there's a difference in that

one is more in line with kind of an kind of an like almost like a

uh there's a difference between the outside and the inside.

If someone if you went for a flu shot and and they just squirted you with the with the

antidote it's a little bit different.

You're covered in it but it didn't really go inside you it's not having a it's true effect versus

if it it's injected in you it's it's infused versus just reckoned there

isn't.

There is a difference.

One is more outward one is more intrinsically inward.

Uh there there is a little bit of a difference.

No infused and and and reckoned are too different.

That's kind of what he's he's bringing out here in this or impute

impute and reckon are different impute and and reckon are a bit different.

Um but again it's it's so correlated it's so connected again.

We're running out of time folks.

I'm sorry if i can't get to all this real quick.

I just want to make sure we get to the end of this chapter so that we could move on to chapter 11 next week uh which

is really interesting.

It's gonna be on the mass.

Uh what what was luther's dunghill.

Luther is just a funny guy.

What was the dunghill.

It was no longer seen.

But is there still dung underneath the snow.

Yeah and so you know you can you can wrap it up as nicely as you want as pretty as you can

but you know dung is still done and uh and uh man

he's just a funny guy when you read some of the things that he says he's kind of vulgar as well like he's he's just an old school

you know uh you can tell he was a german priest.

Uh i once went i once spoke to a uh actually i spoke to a german priest once that

was a german priest uh who was over the church in weathersfield connecticut

and me and my friends went out there to his church to kind of evangelize the roman catholics there and

uh and they had just done a class on um on uh what's what's the

classes that they do again for catechism.

Yeah they have like a catechism class and uh and i and i kid you not we were trying to have

honest discussions with the priest and with other people there and he was just incredulous like he just couldn't believe people

were like that we were doing what we were doing.

He's like listen i'm not gonna i'll for the sake of the children i won't say exactly what he says but he says you can't bs a

bser and i just didn't know what to say to that.

I'm like what are you like what mission are you making here.

Like like man this is kind of wild uh but uh man it was just interesting but you know but

you know these are kind of vile people and and and and luther was kind of vile himself in a

lot of ways when you read some of the things that he said he's just he's you know he he's just kind of wild it's almost like a

like like a like you might be like a a drunken german who's just ranting sometimes but

he sure is entertaining and i think he has obviously the right heart uh in these matters.

And so yeah luther's dunghill is is of is of great uh great interest here

and so at the end of it let's just ask this final question.

Does it really matter these distinctions between justification by works and the roman catholic

concept and the protestant uh concept of justification by faith you know does it

actually matter why.

What's at stake here.

That's right.

That's right.

John

there's three there's four g's i want you to keep in mind that are at stake here.

Gospel grace god and his glory

those are the things that are at stake here.

Can it get more all -encompassing than that.

No i mean that's that's what it comes down to is everything it really comes down to that uh and so

there there are no higher biblical concepts in the four that i just laid out.

So that's that's what's at stake here.

It's it's god's gospel it's god's glory it's god's grace and it's god's person.

That's what's at stake here.

And so that's the difference.

And so this is of utmost theological importance and difference and distinction

that we should all consider and remember to hold on to.

And so uh if if such things are at are at uh are at playing at risk here

then we need to do the best that we can to be well equipped to refute those

um gently who hold to such views and point them to the true gospel of grace of

god and his glory.

So with that said let me pray father in heaven we thank you that you are

a good god.

We thank you lord that your grace has been displayed to us through the once and for all sacrifice of your son jesus by

which now we can be declared righteous justified by faith in great by grace in in in

in this uh in this world that is so broken and fallen father help us to realize that there is

nothing that we can add nothing that we can bring.

We are but naked uh sinful creatures before thy sight.

Uh and lord we cling only to the cross of christ.

And so lord i pray that you would help us destitute naked sinners uh marvel in this

glorious mystery of justification how we were now declared righteous.

Not by anything that we've done but all that he has done all that god has done and accomplished in jesus

christ.

So father help us to continue to marvel in this truth to love it to observe it and lord to teach it to others

so they too may come to know that salvation is of the lord.

And we pray this in jesus name amen.