Regaining Salvation

In a recent article in the CARM anti-Catholicism forum, Matt Slick challenged Catholics to comment upon his understanding of the Catholic faith saying:

Here are some articles I've just written. I'll continue to polish them based on feedback.Catholicism is bankrupt!

The following are his comments in blue and my response in black.

Penance

In the article Maintaining Salvation in Roman Catholicism, penance was a means to replenish the lost grace due to venial sins.  But, in regards to mortal sin the Catholic must also perform penance in order to regain the sanctifying grace that is needed for salvation.

Penance must be done in regards to either.

"Penance is “necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism," (CCC, par. 980)

“The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace… Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament,” (CCC, par. 1468).

"As a means of regaining grace and justice, penance was at all times necessary for those who had defiled their souls with any mortal sin,” (Council of Trent, Session 14, c. i.).

"As regards those who, by sin, have fallen from the received grace of Justification, they may be again justified, when, God exciting them, through the sacrament of Penance they shall have attained to the recovery, by the merit of Christ, of the grace lost: for this manner of Justification is of the fallen the reparation: which the holy Fathers have aptly called a second plank after the shipwreck of grace lost," (Council of Trent, Session 6, Decree on Justification, Chapter 14).

In order for penance to work, the person must be sincerely repentant and willing to perform the necessary actions given by a priest.  In this process, a priest absolves the person’s sins and assigns penance a series of things he must do.

The underlying truth is that Jesus absolves through the Priest:

1460 ….The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ. We who can do nothing ourselves, as if just by ourselves, can do all things with the cooperation of "him who strengthens" us. Thus man has nothing of which to boast, but all our boasting is in Christ . . . in whom we make satisfaction by bringing forth "fruits that befit repentance." These fruits have their efficacy from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and through him they are accepted by the Father.

"In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification," (CCC, par. 987)

“Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest’s absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same,” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, Penance).

• "the absolution given by the priest to a penitent who confesses his sins with the proper dispositions remits both the guilt and the eternal punishment (of mortal sin)," (Catholic Encyclopedia, Penance).
• Penance can take different forms including reading scripture, restitution to the offended party, saying certain prayers such as the “Our Father” or the “Hail Mary” a specified number of times. 
• “The penance the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent's personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all. They allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ, "provided we suffer with him." “The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ,” (CCC, par. 1460).
• What is important to note is that the works of Penance performed by the Roman Catholic help “make satisfaction” for sins.

That is correct.  As it is written:

2 Samuel 12:14

King James Version (KJV)

 14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

David had to suffer the death of his child because of his murderous sin.

“Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must "make satisfaction for" or "expiate" his sins. This satisfaction is also called "penance," (CCC, par. 1459).

• The Catholic Catechism says that Penance is a work when it says, “works of penance” (CCC, 1430).  Therefore, we can see that Penance is, essentially, taking care of your own sins by undergoing a work that releases you from sins’ debt.  This is works righteousness, no matter what the Roman Catholic Church teaches!

As it is written:

Acts 26:20

King James Version (KJV)

 20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

If you want to call that "works righteousness", go right ahead.  However, it is an example of works which are the result of a repenting spirit.

• Biblical Response
• There is nothing we can do in any way to merit the forgiveness of God.  All that we need has been accomplished in the person of Christ who was made under the law (Galatians 4:4) and fulfilled the law perfectly having never sinned (1 Pet. 2:22).  Because of the work of Christ, we receive his righteousness (Phil. 3:9) by faith (Rom. 5:1). What the Roman Catholic Church does is add a huge burden of works by which a Roman Catholic attempts to attain, maintain, and regain salvation. It is a hopeless process because it cannot save.

Only those who obey Christ receive that salvation:

Hebrews 5:9

King James Version (KJV)

 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Those who do not want to obey Christ, simply do not love Christ:

John 14:23-24

King James Version (KJV)

 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

• "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law," (Rom. 3:28).

That is true.  Only those who work are justified.  But not by their works.  They are justified by God because they work in accordance to His Will.  Again, as it is written:

Romans 2:13

King James Version (KJV)

 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

• "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," (Rom. 4:5).

Still the same thing.  This is a reference to Abraham.  Did Abraham work?  Sure he did.  By faith Abraham obeyed God:

Hebrews 11:8

King James Version (KJV)

 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

That is the obedience of faith.  It isn't faith alone.  But faith accompanied by works of obedience.

• “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly," (Gal. 2:21).

Righteousness does not come through the Law. But the Law leads us to righteousness:

Galatians 3:24

King James Version (KJV)

 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the 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?" (Gal. 3:1-3).

The Law justifies no man.   But if you don't keep the Law in the Commandments, God won't justify you.  Very simple.

• The addition of works to salvation invalidates salvation.

If you don't add to faith, virtue and works of charity, God will not save you.

2 Peter 1:5-10
King James Version (KJV)

 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Essentially, is saying that the work of God in flesh is not sufficient.  This is why we have such verses that condemn salvation based on faith and works…

We have no verse which condemns faith and works.  We have verses which condemn prideful attitude of works apart from God.  As though we could save ourselves.  And we have verses which condemn faith alone.

But we don't have any verses which condemn faith AND WORKS.  NONE.

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness,'" (Matt. 7:22-23).

Good point.  YOU PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.  If you don't keep the LAW in the Commandments, you are LAWLESS. 

• “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted," (Luke 18:10-14).

Thank you.  Now, lets compare.  You see how the Pharisee considers himself saved.  Yeah.  He thinks he is saved and considers himself superior to the man who simply says, "God be merciful to me, a sinner."

Now, please go to any street corner and ask Protestants and Catholics if they think they are saved.  Here's what you will find.  Protestants will say, "yeah, I'm saved by my faith alone. I'm not like those Catholics. They don't even know if they are saved.  They are bankrupt!"  Yeah, he sounds just like the Pharisee.

Ask a Catholic if he is saved and the answer will be quite different.  The answer will be according to Scripture.  "I don't know.  God judges me.  If I am saved, I thank God."

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

King James Version (KJV)

 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

• In essence, the Roman Catholic is supposed to perform works under the Roman Catholic system of law...it cannot save.

God saves.  The Catholic Church simply instructs you what to do if you want to be saved by God.  But if you save yourself by your faith alone and don't need God to judge you according to your works:

Revelation 22:12

King James Version (KJV)

 12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be

Well, thats a whole new Gospel.  Scripture tells us about that as well:

Galatians 1:8

King James Version (KJV)

 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

• "Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law," (Gal. 5:2-3).

The Catholic Church doesn't teach circumcision to be saved.

"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them," (Gal. 3:10).

And yet, only doers of the Law will be justified:

Romans 2:13

King James Version (KJV)

 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Because only those who keep the Law, love Christ:

John 14:15

King James Version (KJV)

 15If ye love me, keep my commandments.

• "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all," (James 2:10).

That's why Christ provided the Sacrament of Penance.  So that we could be forgiven for our sins.  Didn't you know?  Or does your faith group teach that God no longer forgives?

Sincerely,

De Maria