As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Ironically, the intellectual heft of historic Catholicism and its enviable aesthetic achievements seem to be the very things that the pope regards with indifference. And both of these seem to connect to that telltale sign that always presages trouble in Christian circles: a loss of the transcendent in favor of the immanent.” - Carl Trueman
How is a person justified before God? That was the question that ignited the Reformation. Beyond that foundational question, theologians have debated additional questions, such as “What is the importance of justification in relation to the other benefits of salvation?” and “Where does justification fit logically in relation to saving faith?”
To answer these questions about justification, we must first explore the exact nature of justification. Theologians have held two main positions: infusion and imputation.
At the time of the Reformation, Catholics and Protestants differed greatly in their understanding of justification and grace. The Catholic position defined justification to include all of the benefits of salvation, making it a process. Grace was understood as a God-given ability to do good works which was infused into the person. This Catholic view is sometimes described by the words, “Christ IN us.”
“Once criticized by Catholic conservatives and the Vatican, Gutiérrez and his emphasis on caring for the poor were rehabilitated by Pope Francis.” - RNS
“50,000 Catholics gathered for the National Eucharistic Congress…. Catholic bishops and other worshippers in the stands, hands raised in worship like Pentecostals, singing ‘How Great Is Our God,’ ….Others included ‘Way Maker,’ ‘Build My Life,’ ‘Come to the Altar’ and ‘Praise,’ the latest hit from Elevation” - RNS
“In this video Gavin Ortlund explains why Paul’s teaching that the church is ‘the pillar and buttress of the truth’ (I Tim. 3:15) supports a Protestant view of the church rather than ecclesial infallibility.” - YouTube
Christian Solidarity Worldwide says “The 150 members of the Great Commission Fundamental Baptist Church… were forcibly removed from their homes… by local Catholic community leaders on April 26” and “local authorities have effectively ignored their plight despite the guarantees of religious freedom under Mexican law.”- CPost
“the so-called tunics of St. Peter and St. John the Evangelist have been subjected to a full restoration and carbon-dating analysis by experts at the Vatican Museums.” - RNS
“The authors conclude with a call to action: ‘American Protestantism needs to take a hard look in the mirror and ask itself why it has fallen so far from offering meaningful structures of authority, authentic experiences of holiness, and the kind of cultural leadership and intellectual sophistication that attracts the best and the brightest.’” -
“About three-in-ten U.S. Catholics (28%) say they attend Mass weekly or more often. Larger shares of Catholics say they pray on a daily basis (52%) and say religion is very important in their life (46%).” - Pew
“The Vatican’s doctrine office issued ‘Infinite Dignity,’ a 20-page declaration that has been in the works for five years. After substantial revision in recent months, it was approved March 25 by Pope Francis” - AP
Discussion