As a Protestant, I agree with this statement. But as I said earlier, Catholic doctrine seems to lump all the terms together (regeneration, justification, sanctification) into justification. I really do believe that Christ makes us righteous by His righteousness, but if you are staying consistent with Catholic doctrine (and correct me if I'm wrong), don't Catholics have to say that the person and Christ BOTH work to make the person righteous? Your understanding of "making us righteous" and a Protestant's understanding of sanctification is different at the root. A true believer will bear fruit, but that doesn't work to justify us. I dare not take away the power and the glory of the cross by thinking I need to add to the finished work of Christ. My works are evidence of His work. Jesus never marveled at the work of a man, but he did once at the faith of one (Luke 7:1-10). I don't see this as "double think" at all, but rather theological consistency.
James says,
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only.” (James 2:24).
This is in context to being saved (justified) before God (and not men) because if you skip back a chapter, James says this:
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12).
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:21-22).
But what about Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5, Romans 11:6, and Titus 3:5?
Paul is condemning “
Works ALONE Salvationism” (that did not include God's grace). Paul was also referring to the Old Law (the 613 laws of Moses as a whole or package deal and not the laws of Christ).
How so? Well, in Acts of the Apostles 15, we learn at the Jerusalem council that a certain sect of Pharisees were trying to deceive Gentile Christians into thinking they had to be initially saved by being circumcised, and also by keeping the Old Law (i.e. the 613 Laws of Moses). But Christians are not under the Old Law, but they are under the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) (1 Corinthians 9:21) (Romans 8:2). Anyways, if a person thought that circumcision was the entrance gate to salvation (instead of being saved by God's grace through faith in Christ), they would be making the Law or a Work the basis or foundation of their salvation. Please read the following verses:
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:1).
“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:5).
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” (Acts of the Apostles 15:24).
Now, the apostle Paul also fought against this heresy that said you had to be circumcised in order to be initially saved, too.
For Paul said:
“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,
Christ shall profit you nothing.” (Galatians 5:2).
“But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,
was compelled to be circumcised:” (Galatians 2:3).
“What advantage then hath the Jew?
or what profit is there of circumcision?” (Romans 3:1).
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.” (Romans 4:9-12).
This is why Paul spoke negatively against being saved by works or the Law (when those terms are used generically). In context, you will find that these works or the Law was in reference to the Old Law (the 613), and Paul never spoke against the commands that come from Jesus and His followers. Paul was saying that you cannot save yourself by Law Alone or Works ALone without God's grace. We cannot go back to the Old Law to be justified because it was nailed to the cross or fulfilled. For the Law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). This is why we need to look at the whole counsel of God's Word.
But many today have taken the Faith Alone teaching way too seriously or literally to mean that they can turn God's grace into a license for immorality on some level (See Jude 1:4).
For example:
In an LA Fitness Gym in Pennsylvania on August 4, 2009, a man named George Sodini fired 50 rounds into an aerobic class before turning the gun on himself. The shooting resulted in four deaths (including Sodini himself) and nine injured. George Sodini was a member of the Tetelestai Church where he sat quietly for many years, listening to the deceptions of his preacher. Talking about the pastor of his Church, Sodini wrote in his blog dated Dec. 31, 2008,
“this guy” (Alan “Rick” Knapp) “teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Ask him.”
And in a post dated August 3, 2009, on Sodini's website (the day before the killings) said;
“Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for every sin, so how can I or you be judged by GOD for a sin when the penalty was already paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.
Source:
O.S.A.S. – THE WATCHMAN'S CRY
Kenneth Nally, another believer of Faith Alone (in the most literal sense) committed suicide in 1980 based on this teaching from John MacArthur's church. He was taught that even self-murder would not stop a person once saved from going to heaven. MacArthur's church was sued by the family, but they doubled down on their belief to the court. They stated to the court that a Christian who commits suicide will go to Heaven.
Most churches today teach that you can sin and still be saved on some level. This is the problem I have with Protestantism. Imagine if you told a child that they are saved by a belief alone in Jesus plus nothing else and you never seen them again. They could turn out to be the next George Sodini, or Kenneth Nally. This is why this teaching is dangerous - IMO. For if works or holy living have nothing to do with our salvation, then we can just live life however we please and we can be our own Lords and masters instead of making Jesus our Lord and Master.
The apostle Paul says, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing,...” (1 Timothy 6:3-4).
Note: James 4:6 says that God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
The apostle Paul also says, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny
him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16).
The gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. But we have to realize that the gospel calls us to holiness. For the gospel call is... God has chosen you to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit, and a belief of the truth.
“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel,...” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
For God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).
