Error - Protestants say, "Before Abraham did anything he was made righteous by faith."
Response:
What happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification?
Hebrews 11:8 By 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.
Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Protestant logic is based upon that premise and therefore they arrive at false conclusions.
If the Law is no longer in force, why does St. Paul say:
1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Don't they recognize these Commandments enumerated there?
Thou shalt not - commit idolatry, lie, commit adultery, steal, covet.
Its not the law which is the difference. Its the advent of Jesus.
Before Jesus, no saving grace.
After Jesus, saving grace provided in the Sacraments.
Before Jesus, the Jews did all their good works and as it says in Heb 11:
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
BY FAITH they did all that good. But they didn't receive the promise.
So, salvation is not BY FAITH. Nor is it by all the good that they did.
Why is it then? By the mercy of God which was poured out to them from the Cross.
So, how do Christians receive that mercy? In the Sacraments. When we approach the Sacraments, we approach the Cross of our Lord, we remember His Sacrifice and He pours out to us His mercy.
All Christians? No! Only those who, in obedience to His word, have kept the Commandments.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Response:
What happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification?
Hebrews 11:8 By 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.
Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Protestant logic is based upon that premise and therefore they arrive at false conclusions.
If the Law is no longer in force, why does St. Paul say:
1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Don't they recognize these Commandments enumerated there?
Thou shalt not - commit idolatry, lie, commit adultery, steal, covet.
Its not the law which is the difference. Its the advent of Jesus.
Before Jesus, no saving grace.
After Jesus, saving grace provided in the Sacraments.
Before Jesus, the Jews did all their good works and as it says in Heb 11:
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
BY FAITH they did all that good. But they didn't receive the promise.
So, salvation is not BY FAITH. Nor is it by all the good that they did.
Why is it then? By the mercy of God which was poured out to them from the Cross.
So, how do Christians receive that mercy? In the Sacraments. When we approach the Sacraments, we approach the Cross of our Lord, we remember His Sacrifice and He pours out to us His mercy.
All Christians? No! Only those who, in obedience to His word, have kept the Commandments.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Thanks for the excellent resources, and exegesis, provided here.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
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