Recently, I understand, some Protestant denominations were considering a merger with the Catholic Church, but the talks broke down over differences about how one achieves salvation.
The argument can be boiled down to two formulae:
1) Grace + Nothing = Salvation, and
2) Grace + Works = Salvation.
While Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church of his day over the use of indulgences ~ a form of opportunism they later abandoned in the Catholic Reform ~ his basic argument with that ancient church, to which he belonged, was over the two formulas above. Luther decided that the scriptures teach that faith alone is the door to salvation and Jesus' promise of eternal life. One cannot work one's way to heaven.
So which formula is right?
I have to go with formula #1, although I spent a good deal of my life on #2. But the 2 formulas need not divide the church, even if it does divide denominations.
Still, the "Good News" (i.e. the gospel) is not "work and you shall be saved." It is "believe and you will be saved." Believe what? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, period. When you wrap your mind around that promise, you will realize it is very good news, especially since we cannot win God's approval by our effort.
I think the second formula should actually read: Grace + Works = Reward.
That's good news also. It means that, although works can't save you, they can secure for you a "better resurrection," as the writer of Hebrews put it. "Lay your treasures up in heaven," Jesus said.
His brother, James, said, "Faith without works is dead." Luther didn't like that verse and called the Book of James an "epistle of straw." But Martin Luther should not have been offended by it. Many people have dormant faith. That faith is still working to bring them into the Kingdom, but why just scrape by? Why not pursue the abundant life that is available through the savior?
The New Testament teaches that our works, added to our faith, are stored up for us and faithfully remembered by God. So in that sense we "work out our own salvation."
That is, we build on it, and building is work. But we don't need to become judges of other people's works. We really can't. Only God is capable of that. But we can encourage one another on to good works.
Are you doing works for God? Don't boast about it, unless you're simply boasting about what He does through you. Don't become harsh and critical of others who don't share your enthusiasm, or who don't follow the same formula you do. Like the old Nike ad, "Just do it." And always stay humble. You can do nothing without Him.
And remember, that work you do will never save you. That's what people need to know. Not that they have to be just like you, or even just like Him. Nobody knows how to do that. They just have to believe in Him. Then they can learn Him. And we can encourage them to do so.
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5 comments:
Thank you Alan... I work with a few wonderful Catholic Souls at both my jobs... I could not boil it down so simply as you have just done... I will use your example. One of them in particular mentions pergatory quite a bit, I tell him he should just come on up to heaven with me and skip that step... they are both very open and easy to talk to... Opportunity :)
I have been staring at salvation for some time, trying to understand exactly what it is. It is because I became confused with all the ideas about it. I think the best epistle about it is 1John.
There was a time in my life I could not confess Christ, so I opposed Him. I understand people who do that. But I called on Him in my distress and He rescued me. He revealed Himself to me. But I didn't fully understand how awesome is His divinity until more recent times in my life.
If a spirit or an angel does not confess the divinity and complete authority of Christ, it is not of God. What sets us apart from the world is this confession. The spirit of opposition (antichrist) cannot confess it; will not confess it.
Denominations do not a Christian make. Those come from arguments about the meanings of obscure scriptures. What makes us Christians is Who we know, not what we know. Most of church history, believers had no Bibles. Their relationship to Christ was from the heart only.
I have asked many Catholics what they believe about Jesus. Who is He? In most cases, they believe the same as I do. They may not go deep, but they understand He is their only Savior: not Mary or anybody else.
I don't believe I need to venerate saints or Mary, because I am the same as them. But if people do that, I see them as honoring holy people. Like honoring your parents. It is a lot better than honoring porn stars, or thieves, or murderers, or dictators, or rock musicians. I want to say to Christians, no matter which denominational corral they prefer, to CHILL OUT!
Thanks Alan... I love the fact that if I dont do 1 more thing the rest of my life for Jesus, He still loves me... in light of that, you cant help but do things for Him... I mean what could be better than someone who ALWAYS loves you? Jesus is THE way :)
I was really impressed with the Bible stance the Pope took on hell. In today’s post modern mentality that is unique.
PV
Again, the Catholic Church was the precursor of Protestant doctrines and ideas about hell. They have a pretty tough theology on that that gets all mixed up with, for instance, divorce. Growing up Catholic seems to produce a lot of confusion. But think of their stance on abortion. We all tend to agree on that. But Protestants didn't buy the no birth control thing.
Still, I am not anti-Catholic. Nor do I think they are Babylon the Great. And, my assumption, most of them trust Christ for salvation, with a little bit of good hard work thrown in.
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