Doctrine of Faith

[Musicmaster]

What does faith do for us all, both Jew and Gentile?

Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Hmm. That's quite powerful, and serves as the antithesis to the Council of Trent declarations:

CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as
to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of
Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by
the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

So, what's missing in the above verses, and many, many others that say the same thing, there is no mention of cooperation with any thing or any one, but only faith in the completed and finished work of Christ Jesus.

CANON XXIX.-If any one saith, that he, who has fallen after baptism, is not able by the
grace of God to rise again; or, that he is able indeed to recover the justice which he has
lost, but by faith alone without the sacrament of Penance, contrary to what the holy
Roman and universal Church-instructed by Christ and his Apostles-has hitherto professed,
observed, and taugh; let him be anathema.

Where are these alleged teachings by Christ and His apostles whereby one must perform some sacrament of penance? They obviously are not in the Bible I read. Perhaps they are all in tomes of writings external to the Bible and the actual writings of the apostles?

Fallen after baptism? Let's see what the Bible says:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Nowhere does that context establish such confessions to some appointed "priest" or anyone else. The text gives ample indication that the confession is made to He who alone has the power for forgiveness. In all of Heaven, in Revelation 5, there is none found in Heaven, on earth nor UNDER the earth who is worthy to open the seven seals, and those people in that council thought mere men are the middle men for confession unto forgiveness of sin?

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Looks like the Trent gang is eating crow. Nothing in the context makes allowances for any sacraments for anything. "...fallen after baptism..."? Really?

When we see scripture contradicting the most prolific tome of writings that convey so many falsehoods of doctrine at this level, we must look upward unto the Lord who inspired the writings we call our Bible, and trust in Him alone, by faith, for only He can save, cleans and make holy and righteous, by faith....and faith alone. No sacraments are necessary, and no legalistic bondages will never legitimately replace the wondrous and completed work of Christ for us.

Thoughts?

MM

 

[Musicmaster]

Oh, yeah, and here's another oldie, but a goodie...again from the Council of Trent:

"CHAPTER XI.
On keeping the Commandments, and on the necessity and possibility thereof.
But no one, how much soever justified, ought to think himself exempt from the
observance of the commandments; no one ought to make use of that rash saying, one
prohibited by the Fathers under an anathema,-that the observance of the commandments
of God is impossible for one that is justified."

Really?

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

So, 'cooperation' in sacraments is, according to the apostle, of no use and no value.

"For God commands not impossibilities, but,
by commanding, both admonishes thee to do what thou are able, and to pray for what thou
art not able (to do), and aids thee that thou mayest be able; whose commandments are not
heavy; whose yoke is sweet and whose burthen light. For, whoso are the sons of God,
love Christ; but they who love him, keep his commandments, as Himself testifies; which,
assuredly, with the divine help, they can do."

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:19-20

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

Wow. Contradiction after contradiction...with that council being found to be at such complete odds against the scriptures....

"For, although, during this mortal life, men,
how holy and just soever, at times fall into at least light and daily sins, which are also
called venial, not therefore do they cease to be just. For that cry of the just, Forgive us our
trespasses, is both humble and true. And for this cause, the just themselves ought to feel
themselves the more obligated to walk in the way of justice, in that, being already freed
from sins, but made servants of God, they are able, living soberly, justly, and godly, to
proceed onwards through Jesus Christ, by whom they have had access unto this grace. For
God forsakes not those who have been once justified by His grace, unless he be first
forsaken by them. Wherefore, no one ought to flatter himself up with faith alone, fancying
that by faith alone he is made an heir, and will obtain the inheritance, even though he
suffer not with Christ, that so he may be also glorified with him. For even
Christ Himself, as the Apostle saith, Whereas he was the son of God, learned obedience
by the things which he suffered, and being consummated, he became, to all who obey
him, the cause of eternal salvation. For which cause the same Apostle admonishes the
justified, saying; Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one
receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. I therefore so run, not as at an
uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air, but I chastise my body, and bring it into
subjection; lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway."

The scriptures speak of faith alone, with works being of no value in relation to adding to, nor completing the work already completed by Christ our Lord. Our works may gain reward in Heaven, but our salvation rests entirely in the hands of Christ Jesus alone, not the things of any religion.

"So also the prince of the apostles, Peter; Labour the more that by good works you
may make sure your calling and election."

This clearly is a doctrine of demons, as it runs so horribly opposed to what is taught in scripture.

"For doing those things, you shall not sin at any
time. From which it is plain, that those are opposed to the orthodox doctrine of religion,
who assert that the just man sins, venially at least, in every good work; or, which is yet
more insupportable, that he merits eternal punishments; as also those who state, that the
just sin in all their works, if, in those works, they, together with this aim principally that
God may be gloried, have in view also the eternal reward, in order to excite their sloth,
and to encourage themselves to run in the course: whereas it is written, I have inclined my
heart to do all thy justifications for the reward: and, concerning Moses, the Apostle saith,
that he looked unto the reward."

There you have it. Doing justifications! Doing! Did you get that?

By that standard, one can never know if he has done enough, or with enough vigor to merit salvation or the 'gift'! The best one can hope for is to burn in some mythical place to purge out what their good works could not account for.

How tragic indeed, and what a slap in the face of the sufficiency of the completed work of Christ Jesus on that cross, especially when He said, "It is finished!"

Amen

MM