I may have posted on this passage before; if so it would not be the first nor the last time that I will be redumbdant. Sorry, dear reader!
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Heb. 5:8-9)
This is yet another example from Scripture where a Protestant distinctive implodes. Sola fide is nowhere to be found: Christ is here called the source of salvation to all who obey Him, not all who have faith in Him. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we are saved by works—as I have often said. But this passage fits within the Catholic view of salvation by grace alone in a way that is flatly impossible for sola fide. And it has an even worse effect upon the Reformed idea of total depravity, according to which no one obeys God. What then? Is no one saved at all? Obviously not! But the typical Reformed view of total depravity cannot be sustained here, because they claim that there is no one who does good. But if no one does good, then no one obeys God. But if no one obeys God then according to Hebrews 5 above Christ saves no one. But this is impossible. Therefore the Reformed notion of total depravity cannot stand.
Aquinas, Etc. 
Leave a Reply