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On The Topic Of Justification


Brother Adam

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Brother Adam

I just read through Romans, trying to read it with "Catholic" glasses on. I have two questions regarding the denial of "Faith alone".

In Romans 5 Paul mentions that we are justified by faith and Romans 10:9-13 also says that who ever confesses and believes is saved. Through the whole Epistle Paul never directly connects works to justification, only faith. I realize he doesn't say "faith alone" but he does say "by faith you are saved". With this distinction in mind and the aparent silence on Pauls part about any "fruits" bringing salvation, how is it then that faith alone [b]cannot[/b] save.

Thank you,
Bro. Adam

Edited by Brother Adam
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You have to look at who Paul was preaching to. A Catholic theologian would preach the same thing to modern day Catholics who believe that we are saved by our works. Well, we are not saved by our works, we are saved by faith, shown by our works. Paul's emphasis on faith was to drive home the point that first and foremost, [b]we must have faith[/b] to be saved. In other gospels, it's made clear that faith and works cannot be separated, but Paul probably didn't feel it was necessary to point this out, as it was probably assumed.

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Born Again Catholic

I think Protestants and Catholics can use the term faith differently , with protestants puting an unnatural seperation between faith and obediance that was not meant by scripture. James Akin has a nice article about this, I would provide the link but I am running out of time.

Paul makes no such unnatural separation

In the first paragraph of Romans he states his objective.

Romans 1:5 Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith.

And then again in the last paragraphof Romans Paul reiterates his objective.

Rom 16:26 ….according to the command of God to bring about the obedience of faith.

God Bless and thanks again for inviting me here

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Brother Adam

Welcome Born Again Catholic. Glad to see you here. Were you already banned from the BB?

You are right- I noticed those passages too. Thank you :)

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