Faith alone? Don't read out of context...

 Faith alone? Don't read out of context...

Many of you remember that I used to be a Baptist, and most Baptists, especially the Southern Baptists, believe that the Catholic Church is one big Cult. They love “saving Catholics” by explaining that it is by “faith alone” that we are saved. I used to believe this myself and went evangelizing with my church members every Thursday night. The Catholics were the only folks that would let us in, or at least when I was with them, and they were so easy to lead down the "Roman Road".

I have a lot of scripture here, and I have underlined or italicized some verses for emphasizing the point. 
All scripture here is from the New American Bible and I have included the Links to it via the USCCB website. 

The cry of Martin Luther when he led his rebellion against the Catholic Church was “sola fide”, faith alone! He was using his incorrect translation into his native German language, of Romans 3:28. He was saying that we do not need to do anything else to insure we go to Heaven, saying that the “good works” prescribed for us to live by is not necessary that all we need is to believe in Jesus. No more confession, no more doing charitable works, etc. He even went so far as to say “if one commits adultery while in faith, it is not a sin”. This of course called for clarification and a correction by the Church at the Counsel of Trent.

Romans 3:28

For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from “works of the law”.

This verse is talking about the actual book called “the Works of the Law” which the Jews lived by and were taught and judged by. It was based on the Levitical Laws and the “Laws of men” that were added by the Ancient Judges for when specific decisions had to be made to resolve issues that came up with the people.

This book was not actually known to exist until a copy was found in one of the caves at Qumran, one of the” Dead sea scrolls”, in 1947. This book, literally titled “works of the Law” or “precepts of the works of the law”, set the Theological world and Protestant worlds into a spin, as it changed many of their interpretations of these words in scripture.

In that Paul was actually talking about a specific thing, the Laws of the Jews regarding how many sheep they can sacrifice, how long they may keep a slave before releasing them, not admitting the blind and lame into the Temple, no dogs in the city of Jerusalem etc.

Dr. John Bergsma on the Dead Sea Scrolls

So he was telling them that obeying the “works of the law” will not save (justify) them, but by faith in Jesus the Christ will they be saved. He later goes on to explain further in much more detail (and repetition) that we are saved by faith and that grace, that comes with the faith, will naturally lead us to obey the laws or commandments of God and Jesus Christ. The scriptures and notes below will show you that Martin Luther’s claim of “faith alone” was not accurate.

Romans 3:19-20, 21-31

19 Now we know that what the law* says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God,

20 since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.

*Here Paul uses the term “Law” to mean all of the scriptures, Law of Moses.

Justification apart from the Law.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets,

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction;

23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.

24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,

26 through the forbearance of God—to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith.

28  For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from “works of the law”.

29 Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles,

30 for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law.

Clearly here, if you follow the context, Paul is talking about the Jews “works of the Law” and whether it is to be forced on the Gentiles, or if not to the Gentiles, does that mean the Jews should ignore the Law? Looking back at Romans Chapter 2, this is an important guide for this reading:

12 All who sin outside the law will also perish without reference to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance with it.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law,

  they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law.

15 They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience

  also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them

16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s hidden works through Christ Jesus.

This conversation and Paul’s explanation continues in Chapter 4 and into Chapter 5. He is explaining how all those that came after Abraham and before the “Law of Moses” were justified in their faith in God’s promise. Then, when the Law came in, the Law made sin and the Law increased sin because of its existence, because if there were no law to tell them that something was a sin, then sin would not exist. But the Law still has its validity for the Jews, but for the gentiles, it is their faith that brings law into their hearts. 

Romans Chapter 5:17-21 

17 For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ.

18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all.

19 For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous.

20 The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,

21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So it is through “grace” that we are justified, and that “grace” comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. After Faith, comes Baptism, and then Obedience to God.
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has volumes recorded on this topic, like:

1257    The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.⁶⁰ He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.⁶¹ Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.⁶² The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” 

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Romans Chapter 6: 1-4, 12-17

Freedom from Sin; Life in God.

1 What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not!

2 How can we who died to sin yet live in it?

3 Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

12 Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires.

13 And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness.

14 For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.

Here Paul is telling us that just because we have been justified by faith and not the Law, we should not continue to sin. So don't think that you can say you love Jesus today, and tomorrow go rob a bank and not have to pay for it.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not!

16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

17 But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.

Paul again says that since we no longer are slaves to the sin we had before Christ, in our hearts, we have become obedient to what we have been taught.

We are saved by the faith we have in Jesus as our Christ and Savior, and if He is truly in our hearts, we will obey his commandments by the grace that comes with our Baptism into his death. Because the commandments are in our hearts, we will obey Jesus and God and live according to Christ’s example.

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CCC:

1276    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

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Another example that Baptists and other Protestants like to use is the example of the sinner on the cross with Jesus. They say his faith saved him; he didn’t have time to do any “good works”.

But thanks to Dr. Scott Hahn and the Lighthouse Catholic Media CD, “The Seven Last Sayings of Christ” I am better able to explain what really happened in this short discussion with Christ and the other sinner on the third cross.

Luke 23:39-43

39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.”

40 The other, however, * rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?

(* The sinner rebukes the other criminal.)

41 And indeed,* we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”

(*The sinner accepts responsibility for his own sins, confessed his guilt)

42 Then he said, “*Jesus, remember me when you come into** your kingdom.”

(*The sinner confesses that Jesus is the King, and ** asks Jesus for forgiveness and shows his faith in asking for Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom.)

43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

I cheated and added notes between the scriptures, but let’s look at this as if you had never read them.

Look at what the sinner did in verse 40, he rebukes the other guy, saying Have you no fear of God? Have you rebuked anyone, for taking the Lord’s name in vain, lately? Then in verse 41, he accepts responsibility for his crimes, “we have been condemned justly”, and he is confessing that he is guilty in front of the soldiers and all the others within earshot.

Then he turns to Jesus and does two things, 1) He professes that Jesus is the King and has a Kingdom, and 2) he asks for Jesus to remember him, to forgive him, when He comes into His Kingdom.

So in this short exchange, the sinner does all this:

1)    Publicly rebukes another sinner

2)    Confesses his sins

3)    Professes his faith in Jesus

4)    Asks Jesus for forgiveness

Here are “good works” in the most unlikely of places, while hanging on a cross! Here is an outline for us, a simplified example, of what we need for salvation; have faith and believe in Jesus Christ, profess your faith to others, and defend the helpless and innocent, confess your sins and mistakes, and ask for forgiveness.
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CCC:

1270    “Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church” and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God.⁸⁰

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In conclusion, here is the answer to why we teach people to have faith in God first, and to follow his teachings. You can not buy your way into Heaven by acting like a Christian one day and behaving like a heathen the next day, no, only if you have Christ in your heart and be Baptized in the faith, and receive the Holy Spirit will you be justified with God.

 In Jesus' own words:

Matthew 6:24

24 “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (wealth)

Matthew 7:21-23

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’

23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

Thank you for reading! If you like what you see here, please share it with your friends and in social media. I’m happy to say that since October, over seven hundred folks in seven countries have read my blog! God Bless you! To God be all the Glory!

Blessings,

The Catholic Lady©