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Justification Differences between Catholics and Protestants

The American Dream

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Site Supporter
The Roman catholic view of Justification and the Protestant view is a strong dividing line between being Roman Catholic and being Protestant.

“Justification is a judicial act of God, in which He declares, on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, that all the claims of the law are satisfied with respect to the sinner. It is unique in the application of the work of redemption in that it is a judicial act of God, a declaration respecting the sinner, and not an act or process of renewal, such as regeneration, conversion, and sanctification. While it has respect to the sinner, it does not change his inner life. It does not affect his condition, but his state, and in that respect differs from all the other principal parts of the order of salvation. It involves the forgiveness of sins, and restoration to divine favor.” Louis Berkhof

Justification is by faith alone.

"The Roman Catholic view of justification [is that] God declares a person to be just when justice (or righteousness) inheres in the person. The person, under divine analysis or scrutiny, is found to be just. God justifies the just. ...By stark and radical contrast the Reformation view of justification is that God declares a person just based upon something [external to them], something not inherent in the person: the imputed righteousness of Christ."

R. C. Sproul

Justification is the process of transforming us from what we were: dead in sin, to what we will be: Like Christ. Justification does not make us good; it imparts Christ’s goodness to us.

I now believe that the Protestant doctrine of Justification which is that we are eternally secure in Christ because we have contributed nothing towards our redemption is biblically sound and correct. The beauty and awesomeness of this doctrine is that we are secured and saved by our faith alone. We do good works because we are in Christ but we can not save ourselves through works as Roman Catholicism teaches.

II Cor. 5: 21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God counts the people He has called as righteous by means of their faith and not their works. This does not mean the elect are counted righteous on the basis of their faith. Since faith is itself a gift from God, no one can boast of this as if he has done anything to merit it.

Eph. 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Christians are counted righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness which has been applied to us through the vehicle of faith.

Rom. 3: 21-24 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all] who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul uses a legal term to explain how and why the elect are justified. The Greek word to justify is diakioun. Whenever a Greek verb ends in –oun, it means to treat someone as something. It never means to make someone something. When we stand before God, as we all will some day, we need to recognize that in us, there is nothing which makes us worthy of God’s grace; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God treats us as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.

Heb. 9: 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

When we stand before God, as we all will some day, we need to recognize that in us, there is nothing which makes us worthy of God’s grace; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God treats us as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.

The beauty and awesomeness of the Protestant doctrine of Justification is that we are eternally secure in Christ because we have contributed nothing towards our redemption.

I am a Protestant today because I believe completely in the Protestant teaching of Justification.

God counts the people He has called as righteous by means of their faith and not their works. This does not mean the elect are counted righteous on the basis of their faith. Since faith is itself a gift from God, no one can boast of this as if he has done anything to merit it.

Eph. 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Credit to Dudley Davis


`
 

Rebel

Active Member
The Roman catholic view of Justification and the Protestant view is a strong dividing line between being Roman Catholic and being Protestant.

“Justification is a judicial act of God, in which He declares, on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, that all the claims of the law are satisfied with respect to the sinner. It is unique in the application of the work of redemption in that it is a judicial act of God, a declaration respecting the sinner, and not an act or process of renewal, such as regeneration, conversion, and sanctification. While it has respect to the sinner, it does not change his inner life. It does not affect his condition, but his state, and in that respect differs from all the other principal parts of the order of salvation. It involves the forgiveness of sins, and restoration to divine favor.” Louis Berkhof

Justification is by faith alone.

"The Roman Catholic view of justification [is that] God declares a person to be just when justice (or righteousness) inheres in the person. The person, under divine analysis or scrutiny, is found to be just. God justifies the just. ...By stark and radical contrast the Reformation view of justification is that God declares a person just based upon something [external to them], something not inherent in the person: the imputed righteousness of Christ."

R. C. Sproul

Justification is the process of transforming us from what we were: dead in sin, to what we will be: Like Christ. Justification does not make us good; it imparts Christ’s goodness to us.

I now believe that the Protestant doctrine of Justification which is that we are eternally secure in Christ because we have contributed nothing towards our redemption is biblically sound and correct. The beauty and awesomeness of this doctrine is that we are secured and saved by our faith alone. We do good works because we are in Christ but we can not save ourselves through works as Roman Catholicism teaches.

II Cor. 5: 21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God counts the people He has called as righteous by means of their faith and not their works. This does not mean the elect are counted righteous on the basis of their faith. Since faith is itself a gift from God, no one can boast of this as if he has done anything to merit it.

Eph. 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Christians are counted righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness which has been applied to us through the vehicle of faith.

Rom. 3: 21-24 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all] who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul uses a legal term to explain how and why the elect are justified. The Greek word to justify is diakioun. Whenever a Greek verb ends in –oun, it means to treat someone as something. It never means to make someone something. When we stand before God, as we all will some day, we need to recognize that in us, there is nothing which makes us worthy of God’s grace; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God treats us as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.

Heb. 9: 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

When we stand before God, as we all will some day, we need to recognize that in us, there is nothing which makes us worthy of God’s grace; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God treats us as righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross.

The beauty and awesomeness of the Protestant doctrine of Justification is that we are eternally secure in Christ because we have contributed nothing towards our redemption.

I am a Protestant today because I believe completely in the Protestant teaching of Justification.

God counts the people He has called as righteous by means of their faith and not their works. This does not mean the elect are counted righteous on the basis of their faith. Since faith is itself a gift from God, no one can boast of this as if he has done anything to merit it.

Eph. 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Credit to Dudley Davis


`

I don't hold to either the Protestant view or the RCC view.
 

Rebel

Active Member
Rebel,

I'm curious. How do you believe we are justified?

I believe we are justified by faith, but my views are closer to the Anabaptists/Mennonites. I don't believe in forensic justification or imputed righteousness. As some other Reformation doctrines, this is based in legal thought patterns.
 
I believe we are justified by faith, but my views are closer to the Anabaptists/Mennonites. I don't believe in forensic justification or imputed righteousness. As some other Reformation doctrines, this is based in legal thought patterns.

You don't believe in the imputation of righteousness via Jesus Christ???
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The Roman catholic view of Justification and the Protestant view is a strong dividing line between being Roman Catholic and being Protestant.

Catholics see it as that a sinner MUST co operate with Gof by the means of the Sacraments of Grace, and as such, they will actually be right enough to merit God saving them...

They simple refuse to allow for someone still in sin to ne able to also be saved thru faith alone, as that person must somehow 'earn it"

That totally undercuts the Cross, and negates true Gospel...
 

Gerhard Ebersoehn

Active Member
Site Supporter
The beauty and awesomeness of the Protestant doctrine of Justification is that we are eternally secure in Christ because we have contributed nothing towards our redemption.

I am a Protestant today because I believe completely in the Protestant teaching of Justification.


If this is the 'American dream', then mine also is the American dream.

America, be warned, It's not Islam or Russia you should be weary of but them RCs from south, west and east of you!

... and o yes, FROM AMONG YOU!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

The American Dream

Member
Site Supporter

If this is the 'American dream', then mine also is the American dream.

America, be warned, It's not Islam or Russia you should be weary of but them RCs from south, west and east of you!

... and o yes, FROM AMONG YOU!


Just to be clear that quote of yours is from the article I posted, not my words but I agree with it.
 

The American Dream

Member
Site Supporter
Tony Palmer, the Pope and Kenneth Copeland claim that the "protestant reformation" is dead - since some Lutherans agree with the RCC now on the subject of justification and the words "by faith alone"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtXiOzp43Yw

Kind of a paradox. Not only do they say by faith alone, they believe that faith is internal to each man or woman, and that the faith that brings about justification is within us. Justification is an external act of God through Jesus Christ. Faith, if it was part of justification (it is part of salvation) is also a gift of God.
 

OldRegular

Well-Known Member
I believe we are justified by faith, but my views are closer to the Anabaptists/Mennonites. I don't believe in forensic justification or imputed righteousness. As some other Reformation doctrines, this is based in legal thought patterns.

Then you are denying Scripture:

Romans 4:1-6
1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,


****************************************************************************************************************************************
 

Rebel

Active Member
Then you are denying Scripture:

Romans 4:1-6
1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,


****************************************************************************************************************************************

No, I am denying your and others' interpretation of it according to medieval and legal standards.
 

OldRegular

Well-Known Member
No, I am denying your and others' interpretation of it according to medieval and legal standards.

The Scripture I presented is very clear in its teaching. You are simply denying Scripture. You make a lot of foolish assertions but present no Scripture to support those assertions. No one has appointed you judge and jury of what Scripture teaches.

I would remind you of another lesson from Scripture which applies very well to you.

Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

******************************************************
 

Rebel

Active Member
The Scripture I presented is very clear in its teaching. You are simply denying Scripture. You make a lot of foolish assertions but present no Scripture to support those assertions. No one has appointed you judge and jury of what Scripture teaches.

I would remind you of another lesson from Scripture which applies very well to you.

Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

******************************************************[/QUOTE

Maybe you ought to look up the meaning of the words "impute", "account", and "reckon" and see if you can discern a difference. I know what the scripture says and teaches. I have never pretended to be judge and jury of that. It appears however, that you and some others here are so sure of your beliefs that you have ascended to the position of judge and jury.

I suggest you reflect on the difference between God's declaring someone righteous by means of a legal fiction and faith being counted or reckoned as righteous. One is scriptural and the other is not. Maybe you can figure out which is which.

That lesson from scripture that you wanted to remind me of? I think it applies to you.
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The Scripture I presented is very clear in its teaching. You are simply denying Scripture. You make a lot of foolish assertions but present no Scripture to support those assertions. No one has appointed you judge and jury of what Scripture teaches.

I would remind you of another lesson from Scripture which applies very well to you.

Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

******************************************************[/QUOTE

Maybe you ought to look up the meaning of the words "impute", "account", and "reckon" and see if you can discern a difference. I know what the scripture says and teaches. I have never pretended to be judge and jury of that. It appears however, that you and some others here are so sure of your beliefs that you have ascended to the position of judge and jury.

I suggest you reflect on the difference between God's declaring someone righteous by means of a legal fiction and faith being counted or reckoned as righteous. One is scriptural and the other is not. Maybe you can figure out which is which.

That lesson from scripture that you wanted to remind me of? I think it applies to you.

NONE of us though will EVER get right enough before God in order to merit Him being able to say that we are now saved and right with him, as that would require a state of sinless perfection...

Either we received from God that stae by being in jesus own rightiousness, or that we can obtain such a state by ourselves...

Have you reached that state yet then?
 

Rebel

Active Member
NONE of us though will EVER get right enough before God in order to merit Him being able to say that we are now saved and right with him, as that would require a state of sinless perfection...

Either we received from God that stae by being in jesus own rightiousness, or that we can obtain such a state by ourselves...

Have you reached that state yet then?

You misunderstand my position, or have not grasped it. No disrespect intended.
 
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