HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE REFORMATION AND WHY WE AREN'T ROMAN CATHOLICS?

[sparkman]

This year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Why did we, as evangelical Protestants, separate from the Roman Catholic Church?

There are two major reasons:

1) sola Scriptura - Scripture is the sole rule of faith, and not Scripture and tradition interpreted by the Roman Catholic church
2) sola Fide - Justification is by FAITH ALONE, and not faith plus works, including the sacraments. This concept of faith alone
includes the concept of imputed righteousness, or forensic righteousness.

The Five Solas are associated with the Reformation :

Solus Christus - Christ Alone
Sola Fide - Faith Alone
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone...
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone
Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God alone

Do you know the Five Solas, and what justification by faith alone, and imputed righteousness means? Do you agree with them?

 

[Marano]

Absolutely agree with the 5 solas as any reformed should.

 

[phil36]

I agree with also, and it shouldnt just be the reformed but those in Christ..its the Gospel.

 

[sparkman]

I agree with also, and it shouldnt just be the reformed but those in Christ..its the Gospel.

I'm talking about the Reformation..not Reformed theology in the sense of Calvinism..any evangelical (Arminian or Calvinist) should agree with them.

 

[LoveGodForever]

Yes good topic... and why do we as protestants continue to follow the RCC over God's Word....

God's Sabbath is the 7th Day of the week that God commands his people to keep as a Holy day as a memorial of creation (Gene 2:1-3). The Sabbath was made for mankind and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and commands us to obey it. (Ex 20:8-11; Mark 2:27-28) The 7th Day Sabbath is the 4th commandment and one of the 10. If we knowingly break any of God's 10 commandments we commit sin because sin is the transgression of God's Law (Romans 7:7; James 2:11; 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20). If we break one of God's 10 commandments we are guilty of breaking all of them and are in danger of the judgement if we do not repent and seek God's forgiveness (James 2:8-12).

Sunday worship is a teaching and tradition of man over the Word if God and there is no command to keep it over God's Word that commands us to keep God's Sabbath as a Holy day.

Are we following God's Word if we are breaking God's commandments by following the traditions and teachings of man?

Matthew 15:3-9,
3, But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4, For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. 5, But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by me; 6, And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7, Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8, This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9, But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

What did Jesus and the Apostles teach about the Sabbath in the New Testament?

1. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56)
2. Jesus made the Sabbath for all mankind (Mark 2:27)
3. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
4. If you do not believe and follow God you cannot enter His Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4)
5. It is one of God’s 10 commandments we break it we are guilty or breaking all (James 2:8-12)
6. Breaking it is sin (1 John 3:4)
7. God’s true followers keep it Holy as God commanded (Rev 14:12; Rev 22:14; Eze 20:20)
8. Jesus is our example and kept the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56John 2:6; Matt 16:24; 1Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1-21; Pet 2:20-22)
9. The Apostle kept the Sabbath (Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)

Who should we follow God or man?

As it is written let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou art judged. In times of ignorance God winks at but now commands all men everywhere to repent. His Word is calling all that have ears to hear... to fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The 7th Day Sabbath is a memorial of creation, a holy day for the worship of the creator of Heaven and earth and a sign of those that follow him because they love him.

Here is how God's Sabbath commandment was changed from the 7th Day of the week as God's Word has stated (Ex 20:8-11) to Sunday Worship....

[video=youtube;CrB21mc2fmI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrB21mc2fmI[/video]

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrB21mc2fmI

Should we follow the Word of God or the teachings and traditions of man? (see Matthew 15:3-9)

May God bless you all as you seek him through His Word....

Let's Talk Scripture everyone we are Protestants - sola Scriptura

 

[Marano]

I agree with also, and it shouldnt just be the reformed but those in Christ..its the Gospel.

I agree but I dont think all who call themselves christians agree with the 5 solas, take mormons and 7th day adventists for instance.

 

[sparkman]

I agree with also, and it shouldnt just be the reformed but those in Christ..its the Gospel.

I agree and the issue is whether one is evangelical or not..it is sad that some calling themselves evangelical don't even believe justification by faith alone and imputed righteousness.

Pelagians are hiding in the Arminian camp and pretending to be evangelical. They are not real Arminians as Arminians themselves would not deny justification by faith alone and imputed righteousness.

I have seen Pelagians trying to redefine what justification by faith alone and imputed righteousness are, so that they can hide themselves under the Arminian umbrella. They are not Evangelical Christians since they reject justification by faith alone and imputed righteousness, and often try to redefine these words so they meet their own modified definition.

One guy says he does believe in imputed righteousness, but only up to the point of salvation and past sins. After that, there is no imputed righteousness. He also says that you become righteous by doing righteousness.

Obviously as a Reformed guy, I affirm that the believer is being conformed to the image of God, or Jesus, but justification is by grace through faith alone, and our righteousness is an alien, imputed righteousness...ie, we receive Jesus's righteousness as a free gift.

It is amazing how far evangelicals have gotten from a clear knowledge of the Reformation and the issues involved, or don't consider it important. They can be fooled by these Pelagian pretenders.

Often these guys promote Charles Finney as some great evangelist..Finney was a rank heretic who denied original sin, justification by faith alone, and imputed righteousness. I call guys like him "Roman Catholic Lite".

 

[sparkman]

I agree but I dont think all who call themselves christians agree with the 5 solas, take mormons and 7th day adventists for instance.

Some SDA likely would deny these principles, especially "traditionalists" like some on here, but there are some that are evangelical. It just depends on which SDA.

 

[sparkman]

Yes good topic... and why do we as protestants continue to follow the RCC over God's Word....

God's Sabbath is the 7th Day of the week that God commands his people to keep as a Holy day as a memorial of creation (Gene 2:1-3). The Sabbath was made for mankind and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and commands us to obey it. (Ex 20:8-11; Mark 2:27-28) The 7th Day Sabbath is the 4th commandment and one of the 10. If we knowingly break any of God's 10 commandments we commit sin because sin is the transgression of God's Law (Romans 7:7; James 2:11; 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20). If we break one of God's 10 commandments we are guilty of breaking all of them and are in danger of the judgement if we do not repent and seek God's forgiveness (James 2:8-12).

Sunday worship is a teaching and tradition of man over the Word if God and there is no command to keep it over God's Word that commands us to keep God's Sabbath as a Holy day.

Are we following God's Word if we are breaking God's commandments by following the traditions and teachings of man?

Matthew 15:3-9,
3, But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4, For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. 5, But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by me; 6, And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7, Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8, This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9, But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

What did Jesus and the Apostles teach about the Sabbath in the New Testament?

1. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56)
2. Jesus made the Sabbath for all mankind (Mark 2:27)
3. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
4. If you do not believe and follow God you cannot enter His Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4)
5. It is one of God’s 10 commandments we break it we are guilty or breaking all (James 2:8-12)
6. Breaking it is sin (1 John 3:4)
7. God’s true followers keep it Holy as God commanded (Rev 14:12; Rev 22:14; Eze 20:20)
8. Jesus is our example and kept the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56John 2:6; Matt 16:24; 1Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1-21; Pet 2:20-22)
9. The Apostle kept the Sabbath (Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)

Who should we follow God or man?

As it is written let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou art judged. In times of ignorance God winks at but now commands all men everywhere to repent. His Word is calling all that have ears to hear... to fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The 7th Day Sabbath is a memorial of creation, a holy day for the worship of the creator of Heaven and earth and a sign of those that follow him because they love him.

Here is how God's Sabbath commandment was changed from the 7th Day of the week as God's Word has stated (Ex 20:8-11) to Sunday Worship....

[video=youtube;CrB21mc2fmI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrB21mc2fmI[/video]

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrB21mc2fmI

Should we follow the Word of God or the teachings and traditions of man? (see Matthew 15:3-9)

May God bless you all as you seek him through His Word....

Let's Talk Scripture everyone we are Protestants - sola Scriptura

Is it tradition to claim that one must be a vegetarian to be pleasing to God, like Ellen G. White claimed?

By the way, no day is required observance for believers. Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16-17 is clear about that.

I recommend the book "Sabbath in Christ" by Dale Ratzlaff. He is a former Seventh Day Adventist and addresses their issues in this book. He is a 4th Generation SDA and was a teacher and pastor in their organization until he realized that the doctrines were not true. Additionally, he has issues with abortion, which the Seventh Day Adventist organization allows amongst its membership and PERFORMS in their health care organizations. They allow abortions in the case of abortion, rape or congenital defects for membership (including Down's Syndrome), and performs elective abortions in their health care facilities.

 

[phil36]

I'm talking about the Reformation..not Reformed theology in the sense of Calvinism..any evangelical (Arminian or Calvinist) should agree with them.

Hi Sparkman,

I understood what you where saying.. and it's a very good and important post. A fight for the gospel. That's why I said not just the reformed (BTW almost all the reformers where reformed), but all those in Christ.

I'm afraid that in our times evangelical does not mean what Mr Luther mean't it to mean. So a good post. hopefully we can all discuss more on these very important issues.

 

[MattforJesus]

This year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Why did we, as evangelical Protestants, separate from the Roman Catholic Church?

There are two major reasons:

1) sola Scriptura - Scripture is the sole rule of faith, and not Scripture and tradition interpreted by the Roman Catholic church
2) sola Fide - Justification is by FAITH ALONE, and not faith plus works, including the sacraments. This concept of faith alone
includes the concept of imputed righteousness, or forensic righteousness.

The Five Solas are associated with the Reformation :

Solus Christus - Christ Alone
Sola Fide - Faith Alone
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone...
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone
Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God alone

Do you know the Five Solas, and what justification by faith alone, and imputed righteousness means? Do you agree with them?

I agree,and faith works through love,so let us have love for people,or faith does not count,for love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love is the fulfilling of the law,so what more is to be added if love fulfills the law.

Looking at that simple list,which it is the simplicity that is in Christ,and look at the vast amount of things the Roman Catholic Church does,it is crazy.

I think the Roman Catholic Church puts the Pharisees to shame,and is the all time winner of extra curricular beliefs,traditions,rituals,and works.

The Pharisees and scribes have nothing on the Roman Catholic Church,neither could they,for that Church is a blend of paganism,and Christianity,which means they adhere to both,but all their extra curricular activity is coming from the pagan side,and they interpret the scriptures a lot according to paganism.

Love is the fulfilling of the law,which means God wants us to help people with their needs,and do them no harm.

What more is needed if love fulfills the law.

It should be more like love alone,for love is greater than faith,and everything concerning our salvation does not stem from faith,it stems from love,and that is where faith comes in,and then grace comes in.

 

[LoveGodForever]

Is it tradition to claim that one must be a vegetarian to be pleasing to God, like Ellen G. White claimed? By the way, no day is required observance for believers. Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16-17 is clear about that.
I recommend the book "Sabbath in Christ" by Dale Ratzlaff. He is a former Seventh Day Adventist and addresses their issues in this book. He is a 4th Generation SDA and was a teacher and pastor in their organization until he realized that the doctrines were not true. Additionally, he has issues with abortion, which the Seventh Day Adventist organization allows amongst its membership and PERFORMS in their health care organizations. They allow abortions in the case of abortion, rape or congenital defects for membership (including Down's Syndrome), and performs elective abortions in their health care facilities.

If we are Protestant and believe God's Word we should follow the Word of God over the traditions and teachings of man. Yet you denounce the RCC for not following scripture while you choose not to follow the scriptures and follow the traditions and teachings of the RCC through Sunday Worship. I show you scripture but you provide your opinion over the Word of God.

We are Protestant which means we should stand for scripture and follow God's Word over the teachings and traditions of man.

I posted above in post # 5 that you are claiming that you do not follow the RCC because you claim to follow scripture yet in action you are following the RCC over the Word of God by following Sunday Worship. This is supported by multiple scriptures in post # 5 that you ignore and quote in your defense more books written by man over God's Word (Dale Ratzlaff) pointing people away from God's Word to someone's interpretation of God's Word. In your view is this what Protestantism is today? Pointing people away from God's Word to follow the teachings and traditions of man over the Word of God is not Protestantism this is what the RCC does. If we are Protestant we are people of God's Word and point people to the Word of God because it is only there that we find Jesus. Then you quote EGW and make false statements that one must be a vegetarian to be pleasing to God to try and dismiss the scripture provided in post #5. If you were Protestant you would point all to God's Word.

In your own post # 1 you say Protestantism stands for sola Scriptura but your actions say otherwise.

Are you Protestant?

You quote Romans 14; Colossians 2:16-17 to try and make out that God's 4th commandment the 7th Day Sabbath has been abolished yet none of these scriptures say this. In fact there is not one scripture in all of God's Word that says that we no longer have to keep God's Sabbath as a Holy day and we are now commanded to keep Sunday Holy. This is a teaching and tradition introduced into Christianity by the RCC that you claim not to follow but by your actions you do.

Let's talk scripture.....

Paul was the Apostle to the gentiles (Romans 11:13). Problems were being experienced in Colossians 2 also found in Romans 14 and Ephesians 2 and Acts 15 where certain of the Jewish Christian believers in the Gospel were judging the new Gentile believers because they were not following the laws of Moses (e.g. circumcision, various food and drink offerings and annual holy days that had their fulfillment in Jesus) which were shadows of things to come. I am happy to talk scripture and provide the details of the scripture you quote to put things beyond doubt? Just let me know.

God has is sheep in many folds (all Churches) but there is a time coming where God will call his people out from following man made traditions over the Word of God to worship him in Spirit and in truth and there will be one Shepard and one fold. In times of ignorance God winks at but now calls all men everywhere to repent. Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

God's Sheep will hear His Voice..

 

[Jackson123]

Yep, but now some of protestant move closer to them. It is sad story

Protestant Leaders Declare Reunification Under the Holy See

 

[LoveGodForever]

Yep, but now some of protestant move closer to them. It is sad story

Protestant Leaders Declare Reunification Under the Holy See

It is the sign of Revelations 17-18 The daughters of the mother are the mothers daughter...

 

[prove-all]

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.



the 47th chapter of Isaiah: “Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon,
sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more
be called tender and delicate. … And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou
didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly,
that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow,
neither shall I know the loss of children” (verses 1, 7-8).

Here God prophesied that the Catholic Church would experience a great rebellion against
her evil deeds—and then, in the very end time, would bring those daughters back under
her direction; she would not “know the loss of children.”

-

The Protestant Reformation was a rebellion against Catholicism. Today, however, the
Protestants are in the process of being reunited with the Catholic Church under the pope’s rule.

The draft statement, the first issued by the International Anglican-Roman Catholic
Commission for Unity and Mission, is sure to generate more controversy. Indeed,
biblical prophecy indicates that full unity will not be achieved purely voluntarily.

At a certain point, the mother church will abandon its efforts to woo her daughters back
by flatteries and instead revert to the age-old method of preserving “Christian” unity by
exerting physical force.

However, thankfully, God says the Roman Catholic Church will again suffer the loss of
children “in a moment” (verse 9). Then Jesus Christ is going to rule the Earth.
Time is accelerating quickly, and all of this will happen in a moment.

-


Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

 

[sparkman]

Notice the Judaizers attempting to sabotage the thread.

This is why I create threads with what I want to say on the top; so the main message doesn't get overwhelmed by Judaizers.

If the Mosaic Covenant was in effect, I might agree with some of what they have said, but it is not. The Sabbath and physical circumcision were related to the Mosaic Covenant, not the New Covenant. Therefore, they are not applicable.

Realize that one of them thinks he's going to become God in the resurrection, and join the "God Family". He rejects the Trinity because of that. I used to hold his theology as a member of Worldwide Church of God, so I am intimately aware of their teachings.

The other belongs to the Seventh Day Adventists who teach that abortion is acceptable to God. While loudly proclaiming that the Sabbath commandment still applies, they are fine with murdering fetuses, and halting a process that leads to birth. This is because, in SDA theology, the fetus is a non-human until he takes his first breath.

So, the inconsistency of the SDA position is an abomination. I have at least one SDA friend that knows abortion is immoral, and admits it freely. I respect that guy. I don't respect SDAs who will not speak out against their church on this issue. Especially pastors who don't, because I suspect it's because their income is the reason why they don't speak out. They aren't willing to suffer for the sake of righteousness, therefore I don't respect them nor do I believe them on any issue. Unless someone is willing to admit that abortion is a sin, and speak out against it, I have no respect for them in terms of being a spiritual authority. They are immoral and are approving of wickedness, and Romans 1 clearly addresses this...approving of those who are wicked puts one in the same camp.

 

[OneFaith]

This year is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Why did we, as evangelical Protestants, separate from the Roman Catholic Church?

There are two major reasons:

1) sola Scriptura - Scripture is the sole rule of faith, and not Scripture and tradition interpreted by the Roman Catholic church
2) sola Fide - Justification is by FAITH ALONE, and not faith plus works, including the sacraments. This concept of faith alone
includes the concept of imputed righteousness, or forensic righteousness.

The Five Solas are associated with the Reformation :

Solus Christus - Christ Alone
Sola Fide - Faith Alone
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone...
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone
Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God alone

Do you know the Five Solas, and what justification by faith alone, and imputed righteousness means? Do you agree with them?

1- Christ purchased and established HIS church. It will never be ‘reformed’. Even though false churches branched off of His true church, including the Catholics, no man can ever do anything to improve the one true church of Christ.

2- Christ’s doctrine (the New Testament) says “Faith without deeds is dead.” and “A dead faith is no faith at all.” and “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Therefore, I cannot, in all good conscience, agree with any doctrine that teaches “Faith Alone” because the Bible sure doesn’t.

 

[LoveGodForever]

Let's talk scripture......

Who should we follow and believe? Should we follow and believe the teachings of the RCC, SDA, Pentecostals, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptist, Presbyterians, or any of the other 500+ Churches all professing to follow God's Word and claiming that they are the chosen of God? Maybe we should follow the Word of Website, or books written about someone else's interpretation of God's Word?

Now obviously not all these people can be right especially when we are specifically told in the last days that there will be many false teachers that will deceive if possible God's very elect (Matthew 24:24; 1 Peter 2:1). How will you know who is telling the truth and who is not?

The truth is you cannot know what truth is because the natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them because spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14). For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

Only by humbly seeking and asking Jesus through his Word can anyone find the truth.....

Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

John 8:31
If you continue in my Word then you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free

John 14:26
26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 7:17
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself
He must increase and I must decrease. We should only be pointing all to the Word of God because it is here that we find Jesus. Faith is the victory...

This is the parable, the seed is the Word of God....

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth....

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him (the Word) was life; and the life was the light of men....

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth....

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God........

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer....

Sanctify me through the truth thy Word is truth......

Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee......

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God...

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever....

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. The mirror shows the way to those that walk by faith and not by sight. Speak the Word only....the blind now see, the deaf now hear, the lame walk and the dead rise...

God's Sheep hear His Voice...

May God bless you as you seek him who is the Word. Be not deceived through the word of website where some wish to lead the way. If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into a ditch...

 

[Willie-T]

Some people might find this outline a bit easier to follow.

The Five Solas are:
1. Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
2. Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
3. Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
4. Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
5. Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone

 

[sparkman]

1- Christ purchased and established HIS church. It will never be ‘reformed’. Even though false churches branched off of His true church, including the Catholics, no man can ever do anything to improve the one true church of Christ.

2- Christ’s doctrine (the New Testament) says “Faith without deeds is dead.” and “A dead faith is no faith at all.” and “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Therefore, I cannot, in all good conscience, agree with any doctrine that teaches “Faith Alone” because the Bible sure doesn’t.

"Faith alone" means that we are saved by placing our faith in Jesus, but this type of faith is accompanied by works. However, the fallen man has no capacity to do good works to earn or merit his salvation.

You can't clean yourself up to come to Christ. You come to Christ, then God cleans you up. Part of this involves being given a new nature, and God writing his laws upon your heart.

The issue is whether fallen mankind has the spiritual resources to do good works prior to salvation. Evangelical Christianity says no, none of redeeming value. Romans 8:7 says this clearly, as well as Ephesians 2:1-2 which states the unsaved are spiritually dead.

Justification by faith alone is clearly taught in Ephesians 2:8-10 as well as a lot of other verses. Faith is constantly mentioned as the sole condition of salvation.

James discussed the TYPE of faith that justifies one, which is a faith that is accompanied by works. It eventually manifests itself through good works which follow, that are a result of being born again.

Faith + (Obedience or Works) => Salvation Heretical view
Faith => Salvation => (Obedience or Works) Orthodox view