Adiaphoron

Now that is a great word to add to your vocabulary – adiaphoron.   A Lutheran brother in Christ introduced me to the term last week.

In our most recent discussion on the JUSTONEMORE blog many have made some comments about what they believe or do not believe.  In some instances, some of what we was discussed falls into the adiaphorous category.

The word is Greek in origin.  It is defined as: A matter having no moral merit or demerit; a religious ceremonial observance that is held to be an affair of the individual conscience because it is neither forbidden nor enjoined by Scripture…

Adiaphoron can also be defined as non-essential adornments we tack onto matters of the Christian faith.

These matters may be worthy of “angelic smile” as my Lutheran friend commented, but they are not Scriptural.
We must be careful not to elevate our adiaphoristic observances to the place of Scripture.

The Lord’s Supper and Communion with Christ – the bread and cup

Many people refer to John 6 to substantiate the belief that Jesus is actually, literally, physically present in the wine and bread.  Since that is the case, I would like to use that text for our final discussion on the Lord’s Supper.  After reading the text we will attempt to answer a few questions to clarify a biblical understanding.

Please take a moment to read the text:

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”  28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.  36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.  37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.  38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.  39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.  40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”  42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”  43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.  44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.  45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—  46  not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.  47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  48  I am the bread of life.  49  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  50  This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.  58  This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”  59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?  62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

John 6:22-65

Question:  What is the context? Or, what is Jesus talking about?

Let there be no mistake, Jesus is teaching about eternal life.  Herein is the proof:

27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”  28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”  42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”  43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.  44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.  45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—  46  not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.  47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48  I am the bread of life.  49  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

John 6:27-51 (underline added)

Question: Is Jesus talking about the Lord’s Supper?

No, Christ is not talking about the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper or any other religious act.  The Lord’s Supper has not even been instituted at this juncture in His earthly ministry.  Moreover, it is not even mentioned in this passage.

When the Lord’s Supper was instituted, Jesus clearly stated that it was a memorial.  The Bible says,

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Luke 22:19-21

This is why Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  Additionally, you cannot find one incident in which Jesus said that the Lord’s Supper imparted life.

To say that a man receives eternal life by eating bread and drinking wine is to deny the grace of God in salvation.

God’s Word teaches,

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Thus the Bible clearly teaches we are saved by grace through faith, not through the observance or the participation in the Lord’s Supper.

Question: since Jesus is not teaching about the Lord’s Supper, then what does Jesus mean by “eat flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” (v. 53)?  Is He speaking in literal terms?

Jesus is not speaking in literal terms.  Note later in v. 63 He clearly says, “The flesh is of no avail”.

If Jesus were speaking in literal terms He would be advocating cannibalism.  And we know eating human flesh and drinking human blood would be contrary to the teaching of Scripture.  So, we know Jesus cannot be speaking in literal terms.

Question: If Jesus is not speaking in literal terms, then what does He mean by “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” (v. 53)?

Again, we must return to the context, and the context is eternal life.  Thus, the words of Christ are highly symbolic.  When a person symbolically eats Christ’s flesh and drinks His blood, they are – that is, he or she partakes of Christ and receives Him – by receiving the Word as taught by the Spirit.

Question: Since “the flesh is of no avail” – meaning it does not give life – then what does it give?  Of, if the flesh of Jesus does not give life, then what gives life?

Again, Jesus provides the answer in verse 63:  “It is the Spirit who gives life…The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

John 1:1-4 is critical to our understanding about Jesus giving life.  The Bible says,

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:14 adds,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As one commentator noticed, whatever the Bible says about Jesus, it also says about itself.  Note both Jesus and the Bible are:

• holy (Luke 1:35 and 2 Tim 3:15)
• truth (John 14:6; 17:17).
• light (John 8:12; Ps 119:105).
• give life (John 5:21; Ps 119:93).
• produce the new birth (1 John 5:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
• eternal (Rev 4:10; 1 Peter 1:23).
• the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24; Rom 1:16).

The conclusion is obvious: when you receive the Word into your heart, you receive Jesus Christ.   We “eat His flesh” by partaking of the Word of God.

Look at verse 51 again from John 6.  Jesus said, “I am the living Bread that came down from heaven.”  In Matthew 4:4 He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The concluding section of this passage helps us understand that much more deeply by what Jesus meant when we read where Peter grasped the meaning of the sermon.  In John 6:68-69 Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Lord’s Supper and Communion with Christ – the Baptist View

As a Baptist, I would predictably side with the last approach we discussed yesterday – the symbolic view.  However, in the last few years, as I move toward the Lord’s Table with greater regularity, I tend take to the “spiritual” view of the meal—the teaching that Jesus is spiritually present with the elements.

Although I cannot hold to the Catholic (transubstantiation) or the Lutheran view (consubstantiation) of the Lord’s Supper, I do believe we Baptist could benefit with a more regular and consistent observance as these traditions practice.  At CrossPoint we have increased our awareness of the Lord’s Supper by taking the bread and juice each month.  Speaking personally, I find a spiritual refreshing that comes with taking the bread and the juice.  For the lack of a better explanation, my soul is reinvigorated each time I take the Meal.  My remembering Christ and His sacrifice creates a deeper appreciation and a more solemn understanding of my salvation.

Let’s make sure we understand another simple truth about the Lord’s Supper: it is a mystery.
The Lord’s Supper is one of the most unfathomable acts of the New Testament Church.  What takes place during that sacred occasion is inexplicable.  Yet Jesus instructed the church to remember Him through this meal, albeit an unfathomable observance.

In addition to the Meal being mysterious, I find it to be one of the most solemn and serious moments in the life of a church.  If you do not agree with the profundity of the Lord’s Supper, then read what the Word of God says in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30,

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30

Tomorrow, we conclude our brief discussion.

The Lord’s Supper and Communion with Christ – the different views

In the midst of the ongoing dialogue pertaining to the differences between Protestants and Catholics, there was a comment made as to why Protestants do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper.  After reading that comment I decided it was necessary to discuss the Protestant view of the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is a fascinating subject.  It is the only practice found in every Christian denomination.  Christian churches may baptize different ways, worship in their own unique fashion, and even preach for different reasons, but for the most part every Christian church I know of has some kind of activity which involves bread and wine (or unfermented juice for Baptist).

To get straight to the point, the primary difference in each tradition is discovered when we ask a very simple question: WHY?

It is my desire to attempt to answer that question the next few days.  I begin today by trying to discuss the different views:

• The Roman Catholic position teaches that the body and wine are the physical body and blood of Christ.
• The Lutheran view says that Jesus is physically present “in, with, and under” the elements, though they remain bread and wine.
• Calvin maintained that Jesus is spiritually present with the elements.
• The Baptist view teaches that the elements symbolize Jesus’ body and blood.

Please note: the core difference is the meaning of Jesus’ statement at the Last Supper:

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Luke 22:19-21 (underline added)

Catholic theologians believe in transubstantiation; that is Jesus meant his words to be understood literally, so that the bread and the wine change their substance to become his body and blood when the administering priest consecrates the elements during Mass.  They still appear to be bread and wine, but their essence changes to that of Jesus’ body and blood.

As explained to me by a Luther brother just week, Luther argued that Jesus’ words were meant literally, but that they do not require the elements to change their substance.  Rather, Jesus’ physical presence is “with” the elements.  This is a belief sometimes described as consubstantiation.  Luther spoke of an iron bar in the fire-it is still iron, though the heat of the fire is physically present in the bar.

Calvin saw Jesus’ presence at Communion to be spiritual rather than physical.  In the same way the sun remains in the heavens but radiates light and heat on the earth, so Jesus mediates his presence spiritually through the elements of his Supper.

Baptists interpreted Jesus’ words to be symbolic in intent: as we break bread in our hands and teeth, so Jesus’ body was “broken” on the cross; as we drink wine made from the “blood” of crushed grapes, so Jesus’ blood was poured out for us.  The Supper causes us to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), remembering Jesus’ sacrifice with gratitude.

The discussion continues tomorrow.

The veneration of Mary and other matters

There is nothing like good dialogue between a Roman Catholic believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and a Baptist preacher.  Walt, I believe I speak for many of us when I say thank you for the conversation.  You have certainly created great discussion.

With that in mind, I want to delve into a few more differences between Protestants and Catholics before I head in another direction with my blogs later this week.  And, before anyone accuses me of kicking the Roman Catholic Church in the teeth, please read the blog posts from October 20 and 21, especially with regard to the disclaimer.

Walt and/or Phillip I would be curious to learn where the Bible teaches the following Roman Catholic teachings:

1. The veneration of Mary.
2. Mary portrayed as the Mother of God
3. Mary’s perpetual virginity
4. The Immaculate Conception (for the Baptists reading this blog, this has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus but it is the Catholic teaching that Mary was born without sin and remained that way).
5. The assumption of Mary (i.e., instead of dying, God assumed Mary into heaven).
6. Prayer directed to Mary
7. The transubstantiation of the Lord’s Supper elements (i.e., wine changing into the blood of Jesus and bread changing into His body.  Please do not use John 6 as your proof text since Jesus’ words are obviously symbolic—see tomorrow’s blog).
8. The Doctrine of Purgatory
9. Origin of the Papacy
10. Worship of the cross
11. Use of Holy Water
12. Use of the Rosary
13. Confession of sin to an earthly priest
14. Inclusion of the Apocrypha in the Catholic Bible

Again, this is not to disparage Catholicism, but where in the Bible does someone find a legitimate argument for the preceding subjects?

Since I consider the Bible the final authority for life and faith, I have difficulty understanding, even grasping these teachings.

Grace always.

Only Jesus and Jesus only

In my last installment on salvation this week, I want to recount a story my friend, Harry Lucenay, shared to me.  As many of you know, Harry is the shepherd of an English-speaking, International congregation in Hong Kong.

Harry writes:

Bill, a British man who works in Southeast Asia and occasionally is in Hong Kong, spoke up in Prayer Meeting.  He said, “My neighbor, Ed, is Buddhist.  I told him he ought to just add Jesus to what he believes.  After all, it is easier to add to what one believes than it is to subtract.  After a while, when he sees the Spirit of Jesus, he may drop some of the other things.   Preacher, what do you think of that?”  Well, that certainly changed the direction of the Prayer Meeting discussion.  I spoke to him for a few minutes about Jesus being the only way of salvation.  M.W. was sitting next to Bill. When I finished M.W. turned to Bill and said, “Jesus is the only one who loved me enough to die for me.  The rest of them teach contentment or some such things.  Jesus invites me to share eternity with him.  That love and that eternal relationship is why I gave my heart to him.”

That love and that eternal relationship is why I gave my heart to him.  Amen, and amen. Only Jesus and Jesus only.

Is Jesus the only way to heaven?

The Bible says Jesus is the only way.

The Bible says there is NO OTHER WAY.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

The Bible says there is NO OTHER NAME.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

The Bible says there is NO OTHER FOUNDATION.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus    Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

The Bible says there is NO OTHER MEDIATOR.

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

1Timothy 2:5-6

Good information is not enough.
Good decision-making is not enough.
Good living is not enough.
Good parents are not enough.
Good habits are not enough.
Good desires are not enough.
Good religion is not enough.
Good thoughts are not enough.
Good choices are not enough.

Being good is not enough.

There is only One who is enough.
There is only One who sufficient.
There is only One who is competent.
There is only One who is able.
There is only One who is Lord.

Of Jesus, John the Baptist said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Speaking of Himself, Jesus said,

…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28

Again, referring to Himself, Jesus said,

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:17

The Bible says this about Jesus,

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for    us.

Romans 5:8

Why is Jesus the only way to heaven?

Jesus is the only way to heaven because we are LOST – I am the way.
Jesus is the only way to heaven because we are DUMB – and the truth.
Jesus is the only way to heaven because we are DEAD – and the life.
Jesus is the only way to heaven because HE SAID SO – No one comes to the Father except through me.

Continuing the theme of salvation

Last spring I recommended you read Christian George’s book, Sex, Sushi & Salvation (Chicago, IL:  Moody Publishers, 2008).  With the topic of salvation on this week’s blog, I have decided to share a story he relates regarding the price God paid to save us.

George writes:

A boy once made a boat.  It was a special boat, a red, shiny boat.  For days he sketched its design, measured its dimensions, and carved its frame.  He carefully crafted the mast, whittled a rudder, and glued the mast to the hull.  With meticulous care, he even tied pieces of twine together and strung them along the boat’s perimeter.  It lacked only one thing.  Picking up a paintbrush, the boy signed his name on its side and declared that this was the best boat ever created.
One sunny Saturday, the boy decided to sail the boat in a river.  The water upheld the vessel as it floated by the banks.  The boy was thrilled.  There was his creation, his pride and joy, handling the currents and rapids of the river.  But then, to the boy’s horror, the boat crashed against the rocks and drifted out of sight.  After hours of searching, the boy was heartbroken and returned to his house without his beautiful boat.
Several days later, the boy was walking down the street and saw his boat displayed in a window.  He couldn’t believe his eyes and ran inside the shop.
“That’s my boat,” he yelled. “Give me back my boat!”
“Are you sure about that?” the shop owner said.
The boy nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.  Look, there’s my signature on the side.”
“That might be your signature,” the man said, “but if you want this boat, you have to buy it.”  He pointed to the price tag hanging from the rudder.  It cost a lot.  But the boy reached into his pocket, pulled out everything he had, and purchased back the boat he had made.
Christians belong to God by creation and redemption.  In Him we were made and remade, formed and reformed.  King David wrote, “oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:15).  And though we fell from original perfection and were sold to sin, Christ died a criminal’s death to buy us back.  Everything in the syllabus of salvation happened just the way God wrote it, and with Paul the apostle we pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we will know the hope and riches of God’s inheritance for His saints (Ephesians 1:18).

God definitely pulled out everything He had in order to purchase back from the sin the people He made.

Salvation explained

After spending two days discussing the differences between Catholics and Protestants, I am compelled to share more of my personal convictions about salvation.

What you are about to read is the result of a challenge I issued to myself a few months ago.  Early one Saturday morning I sat down with pen and paper to record a chronological explanation of salvation.  Not each point is original with me.  However, with the assistance of other pastors and theologians more gifted than me, this is my explanation.

When it comes to our salvation through Jesus Christ this is what matters:

1. There is only one God, who is holy, perfect and righteous.
2. The holy God created every human being for the sole purpose of reflecting His glory.
3. God requires every human being to be holy, righteous and perfect before Him.
4. When Adam, the first human sinned, he sinned against the Holy God and thus became a representative of the human race.
5. As a result of Adam’s sin, every human being has inherited a sinful and corrupt nature.
6. Our sinful nature offends God’s infinite holy character, and deserves therefore an infinite damnation.
7. In order for God to receive and accept us God had to do for man what man could not do for Himself.
8. God sent Jesus Christ, His eternal Son, to save sinners from His infinite punishment.
9. As a sinless man, Jesus Christ represented sinners as the One who has perfectly obeyed God’s Law, and by His death died in the place of sinners to fully satisfy God’s wrath.
10. Yet Jesus Christ did not remain dead in the grave.  He came back to life, and He is still alive today.
11. When confronted with the reality that God is holy and man is sinful, the Bible teaches that one must plead for mercy and repent of their sin in order to avoid the wrath to come.
12. This repentance leads to an abiding faith in Christ.
13. All those who repent and believe in the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, shall be saved forever.
14. The acceptance of God that comes by the faith given to us in repentance calls every born again believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ to live a life of faithfulness and holiness before God.

Continuing my comments from last Friday

As I return to last Friday’s blog, it is critical for me to reiterate my original disclaimer:

DISCLAIMER: MY RESPONSE IS GIVEN IN A SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.  MY DESIRE IS TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WALT STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO.  I THANK WALT FOR HIS FRANK RESPONSE, AND AS A RESULT I WANT TO OFFER MY CANDID REJOINDER.

Next, as Walt suggested, I read Kenneth J. Powell’s article, “Is Salvation an Act or a Process“.  Powell’s article clarifies another great difference between Catholics and Protestants.

Powell writes:

CATHOLIC: We believe that salvation is a process by which we come closer to God throughout our whole life as we participate in the sacraments and the grace that comes through them. But it is not true that man plays as important a role as God. God the Father planned our salvation, not man. God the Son gained our salvation by his death and resurrection; no one else did these things. And God the Holy Spirit infused the very love of God into our hearts by his presence (cf. Rom. 5:5). This is beyond our human ability. Still, we must cooperate with God’s grace to find eternal happiness with God. If we don’t, we will be cut off from God forever. In contrast, Semi-Pelagianism is only a weakened form of Pelagianism, which taught that a person could save himself. To be a semi-Pelagian is to believe that we could save ourselves but God just helps us to make it easier.

That first sentence troubles me, especially with the phrase “as we participate in the sacraments and the grace that comes through them.”  Either salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ or it is not.

At CrossPoint we teach that salvation is through Jesus Christ, period.  I am not saved through Jesus plus my baptism.  I am not saved through Jesus plus church membership.  I am not saved through Jesus plus the sacraments.  I am not saved through Jesus Christ plus anything.  I am saved only and entirely through Jesus Christ.  Either I am saved completely and entirely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ or I am not saved.

Note, again, God’s Word:

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3:1-9

My point about Powell’s article is not to argue with the Catholic Church.  My point is to say Powell is correct in his assessment.  Protestants believe salvation is an act of faith, while Catholics believe it includes is a process of works.  If not, then why did he add this sentence?

Again, Powell states:

We believe that salvation is a process by which we come closer to God throughout our whole life as we participate in the sacraments and the grace that comes through them.

Where in the Bible does it state “that salvation is a process by which we come closer to God throughout our whole life as we participate in the sacraments and the grace that comes through them”?  I cannot think of a single time in Scripture where we are told we come closer to God as we participate in the sacraments.  I would be curious to see where this is taught.

For those who want to contend that the Bible speaks of works, I will agree.  Yes, the Bible speaks of works.  But when the Bible speaks of works, it does not speak of them as our process of being saved.  Works do not save us; works are the result of our salvation.

It was James who wrote,

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-17

So, the Bible does address the need for works.  But one most note the context in which James wrote these words.  In the larger context, the book of James is about faith.  But it must be noted, it is not about saving faith.  The book of James is speaking of the part of our faith that produces a lifestyle.  James is not concerned with saving faith; he is concerned with the behavior our faith produces.

Here is a good way to distinguish between Paul and James and their teaching on faith.  They are both speaking of the same salvation.  Paul is speaking of the belief side of our salvation, while James is speaking of the behavior side of our salvation.

I like what The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words (Zondervan) says about the aforementioned passage:

It is not beyond our efforts to resolve the apparent conflict between Romans and James. Consider the following: James does not teach that Abraham was pronounced righteous on the basis of his actions. James teaches that Scripture’s announcement that Abraham was righteous is vindicated on the basis of Abraham’s subsequent obedience. He did right because God’s action actually worked within him to make him righteous! James is speaking of two kinds of faith, only one of which is saving faith. He teaches that saving faith will be vindicated by the actions that flow from it and in this sense complete it.

What is particularly significant is that James joins Paul in suggesting that justification is something more than a judicial declaration.  True, in response to faith, God does declare sinners acquitted and righteous before Him; but He does more than that.  God acts within the believer to make righteousness a reality.  Thus the offer of salvation by faith includes more than a pardon: it also includes a transformation.  God will declare the sinner righteous, and then God will act to make the sinner what God has declared him to be.

The kind of faith which saves also transforms, and that transformation will show up in the lifestyle of the true believer.

Note what follows:

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:18-26

James in these verses is not contradicting Paul.  As I noted yesterday, Paul, in Romans 4:1-5 and Gal 3:1-7, is explaining how the sinner is justified, given a right standing before God.  James, on the other hand, is writing about how the saved person proves that salvation before others.  The proof is in the works God produces within them.  People have no right to believe that we are saved if they do not see a change in our lives; a change that God produces within us.  A sinner is saved by faith, without works (again, see Ephesians 2:8-9), but true saving faith leads to works.

Verse 26 is the key: for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.  My works are the result of my faith.  It is by grace through faith I am saved, and it is by works as a result of my faith people see that I am saved.

The problem I have with Catholic doctrine is the addition of works for salvation.  Both writers made it clear that man must do something to be sanctified by God.  They may purport to believe in salvation by faith, but soon thereafter Catholic doctrine turns from that point to teach a salvation and sanctification of works.

Note Powell’s sentence:

Still, we must cooperate with God’s grace to find eternal happiness with God.

What does he mean by “cooperate with God’s grace to find eternal happiness”?  If he does not mean “work for” our salvation, then what does he mean?

There is so much more I could write.  I will stop here.  I trust my response is clear.  In summary, I firmly believe the Catholic writers have given a fair treatment in the differences between Catholics and Protestants.  In Olson and Powell’s own words, there is a stark difference between what Protestants and Catholics believe and confess.

Walt thank you for your response you provided two weeks ago.  As I wrote then, and I will write again today, we need you and your thoughts.  Look at what your response has produced this week.

Let the dialogue begin…or continue!