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Having pulled the plug on my CL account I can't comment on the current discussion of faith alone being enough for salvation (w/o good works); seems to me this was one of the gripes Luther had in the first place. What about the old and poor that cannot (thru not fault of their own) cannot do the good works some would require? faith and the acceptance of Chris should turn the trick, or so I was taught.Comments?Wally
I would think that intent to do good works would be sufficient, as the act itself cannot always be accomplished. It's actually my understanding that the disagreement among Protestants and Catholics that revolved around the faith alone/faith & works issue has basically been resolved. Perhaps this is not true on the level of each individual, but theologically the sides have found that they believe essentially the same thing (this is according to what I have heard and read).
You can't earn your salvation. It is given to you by God. You have nothing to do with it. Good works is how you can tell if you are actually saved. (that's what I believe anyway)
Understood; isn't, however, faith and acceptance of Christ enough to get the gift?Yes… I also understand that the evidence of salvation (ala Calvinism) has been the good works and success that one displays in life (family, church, community). Hence, the very fact that one has / displays faith must therefore be the evidence of salvation, eh?
You can't earn your salvation. It is given to you by God. You have nothing to do with it. Good works is how you can tell if you are actually saved. (that's what I believe anyway)
I am of similar thought, but perhaps a bit more Calvinist in some things.
It's actually my understanding that the disagreement among Protestants and Catholics that revolved around the faith alone/faith & works issue has basically been resolved.
Are you sure about that?? The issue of sacraments (leading to salvation) still seems like a hot button issue between Catholics and Protestants even to this day.
Well, perhaps I made too broad of a statement. Still, take a look at The Lutheran World Federation site on Lutheran/Catholic discussion on theological issues, or the JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church (too long to read in a few minutes, but you get the point).I remember also having heard and/or read about a conference between Catholics and some Protestants (perhaps Lutherans) from some time in the 1990s where I believe they essentially agreed that they were meaning the same thing in regards to faith and works, but they were using different language. I don't have the specifics on this, though.
That is correct. I think many of the modern so-called Protestant denominations (Episcopal, Lutheran, and others) aren't really..well…Protestant because they are so similar to each other and to the Catholic denominations. I sort of think that the Anabaptists and Quakers fit more the definition of Protestant than the other ones I mentioned.
I think that the Episcopalians are closer to the Catholics to begin with since they're related to the Anglicans, who seem to have broken off later than the other Protestant groups….under Henry VIII, I think. IMO the Church of England has been more closely aligned with the Catholic Church to begin with.
IMO the Church of England has been more closely aligned with the Catholic Church to begin with.
I agree.
Of course, the liturgy of the Anglican Church is exactly the same as the RCC. The only reason it was formed was so Henry the Eighth could have his divorces. 🙂
I actually wrote some summaries of the Protest Reformation here:http://www.learnerator.com/ap-european-history/study-center/summaries/protestant-reformationNot sure if that helps, but I think its a nice overview.
Here is the problem with works… by saying that works are required for SALVATION you are in no fewer words saying that Jesus' statement “It is finished” and his death and ressurection were not suffiecient to atone for your sins. Ergo, you claim that you have some sort of stock in your own salvation. You don't. The bible is pretty clear on this.Works without faith is pointless. Faith without works is impossible. If you TRULY have faith, the Holy Spirit will instill the desire and fortitude for works on your behalf.Works, as I see it presented by scripture, is strictly positional in the presence of the Lord. The crowns we toss at our saviours feet will be given to us by Christ and then adorned with jewels in relation to our works. We are saved without works. R.C. Sproul has a done a GREAT deries on predestination and the elect. If you get a chance, visit Ligonier Ministries and seearch for it. Very bibilical and insightful.
