Today we will be considering Catechism sections 1992-1995, which further describe and define justification. Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God,…
In today’s episode we come to a part of the Catechism that teaches us about the effects of justification in our lives. Not only are we reconciled to God but when He receives us He gives us gifts, not unlike…
In this episode of our continuing series on justification as explained in the CCC we come to §1989: The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning…
In our first foray into what the CCC teaches us about justification, it gave us the bird’s-eye, wide-angle-lens view of the doctrine. We learned that justification is the work of the Holy Spirit, a work of free grace; we observed…
I have spent quite some time reviewing passages of Scripture that present problems for the Protestant doctrine of sola fide. More recently we took a look at what the Council of Trent had to say about the Catholic formulation of…
Catholic Sola Fide Throughout my series of posts laying out scriptural difficulties with sola fide, I have tried to be careful to frame it as the Protestant view of sola fide. There are two reasons for this. First, it is…
Come Judgment Day we will be judged according to what we have done. This is perfectly in keeping with Jesus’s declaration, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing in…
Here is what Jesus says. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew…
Martin Luther famously had doubts about the canonicity of the epistle of St. James. This is because St. James rather clearly affirms that faith without works is dead faith, so that Luther’s notion of sola fide can only be maintained…
If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1Co 13:2) Faith without love is nothing. Maybe this is obvious. After all, St. James wrote, “Even the demons believe—and shudder” (2:19). Clearly…
