The just shall live by faith!

Saints, I have an important question to ask: Is there such a thing as Protestantism anymore? I’m not referring to a particular denomination; I’m referring to a historical Christian movement. This movement, at one time, stood up for the Gospel of grace: the declaration in Scripture that man is deemed just and right in the sight of God on the basis of faith alone, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. It also once stood up against a religious system that contradicted what is clearly declared in Scripture by its traditions; it protested traditions of this system, hence the label of “Protestant.”

The religious system, of course, is that of the Roman Catholic Church. In God’s word Paul declares that “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) Roman Catholic tradition, on the other hand, declares that the just shall live by faith AND works. What is scary is the fact that certain manmade traditions have been elevated to the height of Scripture, even above Scripture in some cases. Now, what is even scarier is that many professing Christian Churches today, which at one time protested this system, are now embracing her as part of the body of Christ. This really should not be! Another gospel, as warned about in Galatians 1:8-9, is being preached from her pulpit. Christian, you are not doing the Catholic a favor by saying that everything is alright, and that we are all a part of the body of Christ. If any man depends upon a system in order to be justified before a holy God, they have absolutely no hope. You are doing nothing but giving them a false hope, a false assurance.

How can I say such a thing?

Read on…

“If anyone 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 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” (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).

“If anyone saith that the sacraments of the New Law [ie., the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church] are not necessary for salvation…and that without them…men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification…let him be anathema…”

“We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere ‘to the end’ and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1821).


Is this the Biblical Gospel?

What is wrong with teaching that we must co-operate with our works alongside our faith in Christ in order to be justified?

When we (mankind) say that we must do our part, what are we doing in reality?

1 – We are denying the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our justification.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18)

2 – We are denying the efficacy of Christ’s blood to justify us and save us from God’s wrath.

“…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:8-9)

3 – We are denying the power of Christ’s resurrection to bring our justification.

“Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

4 – We are denying the power of the Gospel to bring our justification.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

5 – We are denying the Lord Himself, who is the Justifier of those who simply believe.

“To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

6 – We are denying the fact that justification is free by God’s grace.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)

7 – We are denying the fact that justification will never come by works.

“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.” (Romans 3:20)

“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.” (Galatians 2:16)

8 – We are denying a man the true liberty he could have in Jesus Christ.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:1-5)

9 – We are denying a man the true peace he could have with God through Jesus Christ.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

10 – We are denying the fact that the righteousness of only One, Jesus Christ, brings our justification.

“Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)


Saints, it truly is (and always has been) ALL about Jesus,

Stand up for the truth!

One Clay Soldier among many