OUR DIFFERENCES WITH ROMAN CATHOLICISM (PART 4)

The Excellence of the Christian Faith  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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-{James 1 & Romans 4}
-I have been doing a series that contrasts our Baptist faith with other faiths so that we have a better understanding of our own theology, be equipped to defend the faith, and ready to share our faith with others.
-The last few times I taught this series we have looked at the differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Protestantism (which broadly includes Baptists and others). I noted that Catholics find their authority in tradition and Scripture whereas we believe in sola scriptura=Scripture alone as our authority of faith and practice.
-I then began noting the differences between Catholic and Baptist teachings about justification—how we stand right and justified before God. I noted last time that Catholics believe in a form of baptismal regeneration (which means you need to be baptized to be saved), whereas Baptists see baptism as symbolic of our covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
-Tonight, to further contrast our beliefs about justification I want to discuss whether works are needed and necessary for salvation—or more generally, where do works fit in to the scheme of our faith? While Catholics and Baptists would agree that Christ’s death on the cross was necessary for our redemption, and they both believe in God offering salvation through grace, things are a little bit more nuanced. Catholics believe in what is generally called merit—that people can merit further grace for sanctification and eternal life.
-I will try to (as accurately as possible) describe their system, why I believe that this makes it a works-based system, and what we believe that is different. Now, many would deny that it is a works-based system, but you note that if you have to start by being baptized, that is a work they believe is needed for salvation. Therefore, to make the claim of being a works-based system is not a stretch.
-Catholic theology can be very confusing, so I am going to read an extended explanation from an author that might hopefully demonstrate their belief and the contrast with Baptist /Evangelical theology. This author wrote:
Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered, Volume 2 (2014–2021) What Are Meritorious Works in Catholicism?

In Catholic doctrine, there are two kinds of merit. The first is condign merit, that is, merit that carries with it an obligation. If condign merit is not recognized and rewarded, there is a violation of justice. For example, if you go into a restaurant and enjoy a good meal, you are obligated to pay for it. If it is a horrible meal, you may be justified in refusing to pay; but, if it is a great meal, justice requires you to pay.

Congruous merit is that which carries no obligation but is fitting or appropriate to recognize and reward. For example, if the waiter at the above restaurant gives you great service, it is fitting that you leave a good tip. However, even if you leave no tip at all, you have not violated justice.... Any tip you leave is at your discretion. If a waiter gives good service, it is certainly fitting (congruous) that you leave a good tip, and, if he gives bad service, it is appropriate to leave a small tip or no tip at all.

The Catholic Church teaches that humans cannot perform works of condign merit—that is, we can never put God in our debt so that God would “owe” us eternal life. However, according to Catholic doctrine, we can perform works of congruous merit—that is, we can do good works appropriate for God to reward. Penance is one of the works of congruous merit that will “make up for” sinful actions, but anything that would be considered a “good work” may have this kind of merit.

According to Catholic teaching, the sacrament of baptism removes original sin and returns one to a state of innocence, enabling him to perform works of congruous merit. Without these works of congruous merit, it would be incongruous (inappropriate) for God to allow entrance into heaven. If a person dies “in a state of grace”—that is, in a proper relationship with the Catholic Church, having been baptized and not having committed any mortal sin (a sin that destroys the state of grace)—but does not have enough works of congruous merit to cover his sins and to make it appropriate for God to allow him into the glories of heaven, then that person must suffer in purgatory until he has paid the temporal penalties for his sins.

... Catholics and evangelicals would both agree that Christ paid for our sins on the cross. However, Catholics affirm (and evangelicals deny) that we can make satisfaction for some of our sins as well. Evangelicals and Catholics also disagree about how we attain the positive righteousness necessary to allow us entrance to heaven. In Catholicism, this positive righteousness comes through works of congruous merit, which are the result of personal exertion and cooperation with grace. If one’s efforts are not enough, the remainder will be taken care of in purgatory. (In Catholic theology, purgatory is a part of heaven. If you make it into purgatory, it is only a matter of time before you are purified, and it will be appropriate for God to let you enjoy the glories of heaven. It may take millions or billions of years, but it will happen.) Therefore, it seems impossible to escape the conclusion that ultimate salvation as taught in Roman Catholicism is based upon a person’s works.

Evangelicals argue that, not only did Christ pay the penalty for our sins, but He is also the source of all the righteousness that we need to enter into the presence of God. The righteousness we have is not our own congruous righteousness but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes that he wants to “be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith” (

-I know that was lengthy, but it is a complicated situation. They do not believe that faith alone in Christ is salvific. They stated in their Council of Trent:
If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning thereby that no other cooperation is required for him to obtain the grace of justification, and that in no sense is it necessary for him to make preparation and be disposed by a movement of his own will: let him be anathema.
-The Catholic Church looks to the book of James to make their claims, especially how James quotes from Genesis about Abraham’s faith being accounted to him as righteousness. Interestingly enough, Paul also quotes the same verse but strangely enough seems to come to a different conclusion. How do we reconcile the two? That is what we will spend the rest of our time trying to do.
James 2:17–24 LSB
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
-Roman Catholics look at these verses and say: well, isn’t it obvious that humans are justified by their works. Faith alone doesn’t save, but you have to have works. But then you look at what Paul says:
Romans 4:3–5 LSB
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 4:22–25 LSB
22 Therefore it was also counted to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was counted to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those who believe upon Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification.
-Obviously, Scripture cannot contradict itself, so there must be something within the context that tells us what’s going on here. And I believe that it does.
-Paul’s argument throughout Romans is that doing works of the law are unable to justify someone (give them a right standing before God). You cannot DO anything to make yourself righteous in God’s eyes, because your sin has already tainted you. And no amount of good works or righteous deeds is able to make up for the sin that you have.
-And I believe that is where the Catholic church errs. They believe that through your good works you receive the grace of merit to cover your sins. However, you’re never able to do enough to tip the scales that way. So, Paul is trying to demonstrate that to have a right standing before God is by grace alone through faith alone.
-On the other hand, James is talking about how you demonstrate in front of others that you have received this saving grace. You can talk about having faith in Jesus Christ all day long, but if your lifestyle does not demonstrate it, you are talking in vain.
-If other humans do not see your faith in action in your life, then they have a right to question. As one author stated it:
James wants his readers to understand that if they are going to claim to have faith even as Abraham, then their works of obedience should demonstrate it even as Abraham’s obedience demonstrate his faith. It is a man’s actions that declare him to be righteous, not mere talk or a professed faith that is not lived out.
-When you think of the original context, Abraham was chosen by God, told to move from his home to a land that his descendants would possess, and that his descendants would be numerous. However, Abraham had no children at the time, and he was already an old man. And yet Abraham trusted that God would fulfill His word. And that faith was counted to him as righteousness. He believed God’s word, He trusted God to do it. Therefore, he was declared righteous.
-But then, as you move along with the story, Abraham puts that faith to work through obedience to God, eventually culminating to where he was willing to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command, believing that God could raise him from the dead. So, Abraham demonstrated that his faith was real. Abraham was declared righteous by God, and demonstrated that standing through what he did. As another author stated it:
Paul stressed the root of justification (faith in God), while James stressed the fruit of justification (works before men).
-Paul himself may have clarified this:
Ephesians 2:8–10 LSB
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
-You are saved by grace through faith, but having been made new you then demonstrate that faith in your lifestyle. However, it is not the obedient lifestyle that makes you new or brings you into God’s favor. You are not able to merit favor...you are not able to merit grace.
-So, this is the difference. It would appear that Roman Catholics are trying to establish a righteousness of their own—they have something to boast about in earning forgiveness and heaven. As Paul described the Jews:
Romans 10:3 LSB
3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
-Your righteousness gives you no favor before God. Your works will not save, but will demonstrate that you have been saved. And we want to pray for all works-based religions and denominations that they would come to know God’s amazing grace...
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