"Protestantism's Big Justification Lie"

[Robert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L14UNjaZJm8&list=PLGVSKByrYzsufIKilFHFUDlvpSYFlSuvT

[Robert]

Through Faith Alone
Part 1
A general manuscript written by Ellen G. White circa 1890. 

Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit. Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt, that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him.

[pnattmbtc]

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:3-5). Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’s righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. He can say with rejoicing, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7). {FW 101.1}
Again: it is written, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13). Jesus declared, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Verse 5). It is not a low standard that is placed before us, for we are to become the children of God. We are to be saved as individuals, and in the day of test and trial we shall be able to discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. We are saved as individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. {FW 101.2}
Many are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. They seek to make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. This they can never accomplish. Christ has made the way by dying our Sacrifice, by living our Example, by becoming our great High Priest. He declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). If by any effort of our own we could advance one step toward the ladder, the words of Christ would not be true. But when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true path that leads to heaven. {FW 102.1}

[pnattmbtc]

I haven't gotten to the end of this yet, but it's been a very interesting video.  Glad you posted it.

[pnattmbtc]

The video present the Catholic perspective.  I thought it was interesting that the speaker would speak of "The Protestant position", as if there were just one, but sometimes he would more accurately refer to it as the "Protestant Reformed" position.  We as SDA's believe some aspects of both the Catholic and Reformed position, but in general disagree with both.  For example, regarding the Catholic position, we do not believe that regeneration is a result of water baptism, but that baptism is merely a symbol.  Regarding the Reformed position, to name just one thing, we do not agree that the will plays no part in justification by faith.

[pnattmbtc]

Above all, it is Sola Scriptura that separates Protestantism from Catholicism

Or maybe "Sola Christus".  

Sola Scriptura is an interesting one, as nowhere in Scripture does the Bible define what books belong in the cannon.  Also, does the Bible itself teach "Sola Scriptura"?  I think the role of Scripture is often misunderstood.

[pnattmbtc]

What I was thinking is that the primary role of Scripture is to lead us to Christ.  E.g.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (John 5:39:40)

[pnattmbtc]

Yes, i see your point.  But being led to Christ is so that you can love Him and do his will, One cannot do that if he/she is following the commandments of men..

i guess we could around and around on this, but i think the "Bible and the Bible only" is the founding principle of Protestantism.

Truth is progressive.  I liked the quote you presented, but noticed that the quote talked about putting the conscience ahead of the magistrate, yet for a long time Protestant communities tried to legislate conscience itself.  It took a long time for the principle of separation of church and state to come about.

Also, the cannon itself is not specified by scripture, so that's an interesting problem to sort out.  It's also interesting that God chose not to explicitly state that cannon within Scripture.

One cannot help but admire the men who risked their lives, and often gave their lives, to further truth.