Thursday, May 10, 2018

Will they be saved who do not do good works?

Galatians 4:30
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
From Jesse's blog:

Martin Luther's Commentary On Galatians 4:30

"And now they themselves do not defend their wicked life; nay, rather, they which are the best and the soundest of them all, do detest it; but they fight for the maintenance and defense of the doctrine of devils, for hypocrisy, and for the righteousness of works. Here they allege the authority of councils and the examples of holy fathers, whom they affirm to have been the authors of their holy orders and statutes. Therefore, we fight not against the manifest wickedness and abominations of the papacy, but against the greatest holiness and holiest saints thereof, which think they lead an angelic life, whilst they dream that they keep not only the commandments of God, but also the counsels of Christ, and do works of supererogation, and such as they are not bound to do. This, we say, is to labour in vain, except they take hold of that only and alone, which Christ saith is only necessary, and choose the good part with Mary, which shall not be taken from them.

Jesse quoted Luther, but simply quoted Luther's misunderstandings, or intentional twisting, of Catholic Doctrine.

First of all, as opposed to Luther's claim, the Catholic Church Teaches us not to judge ourselves.  This is from Scripture, which says:

1 Corinthians 4:3 But 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.

And, again, as opposed to what Luther said, the Catholic Church teaches to follow the examples of Holy men who precede us in the Faith.  That is to say, to follow the example of the Saints which Luther maligns above:

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

And the Church Teaches us to labour for righteousness sake.  Whereas, Luther claims that all labour is fruitless, as we can see above:

Proverbs 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

This did Bernard, a man so godly, so holy, and so chaste, that he is to be commended and preferred above them all. 

Here we see that Luther contradicts himself, acknowledging the holiness of the man which Catholics call, St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

He being once grievously sick, and having no hope of life, put not his trust in his single life, wherein he had lived most chastely; not in his good works and deeds of charity, whereof he had done many; but removed them far out of his sight, and, receiving the benefit of Christ by faith, he said: "I have lived wickedly. But thou, Lord Jesus Christ, by double right dost possess the kingdom of heaven: first, because thou art the Son of God; secondly, because thou hast purchased it by thy death and passion. The first thou keepest for thyself, by thy birth-right. The second thou givest to me, not by the right of my works, but by the right of of grace." 

Here, St. Bernard acknowledges that salvation is from Jesus Christ.  This is Catholic Teaching.

He set not against the wrath of God his monkery, nor his angelic life; but he took hold of that one thing which was necessary, and so was saved. 

Luther acknowledges that this is what St. Bernard teaches.  That salvation is by grace.  But does St. Bernard teach that salvation by grace is extended to those who do not do good works and reject the Commandments?  I'll answer that at the end of the article.

I think that Hierome, Gregory, and many other of the fathers, were saved after the same sort. And it is not to be doubted but that also, in the Old Testament, many kings of Israel and other idolaters were saved in like manner, who, at the hour of death, casting away their vain trust which they had in idols, took hold of the promise of God, which was made unto the seed of Abraham, that is to say, Christ, in whom all nations should be blessed. 

Note that Luther here, extends salvation to idolaters by the criteria of his own opinion.  Notwithstanding, the Catholic Church Teaches that God alone judges salvation.

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And if there be any of the papists which shall be saved, they must simply lean not to their own good deeds and deserts, but to the mercy of God offered unto us in Christ, and say with Paul: "I have not mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by faith in Christ," (Phil. iii. 9.)" (Excerpt taken from "A commentary on Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians")

6 comments:

  1. This is sad because the article terribly twists the biblical doctrine of justification by faith apart from the merit of works. It is what I call a strawman on your part, De Maria.

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    1. Its easy to make unsubstantiated claims, Jesse. But, merely answer the question. Does Scripture say that those who do not do good works will be saved? Here's a hint.

      Romans 2:6-13 King James Version (KJV)

      6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

      7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

      8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

      9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

      10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

      11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

      12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

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

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    2. Unsubstantiated claims? Geeze! Any unsuspecting person who comes across this blog and reads it will come to the conclusion that we who subscribe to Sola Fide are against the performance of good works. But that could not be further from the truth. Additionally, the "doers" mentioned in Romans 2 are "justified" because their hearts have been changed. Are we going to merely talk the talk or actually walk the walk?

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    3. Jesse: Unsubstantiated claims?

      Yep.

      Geeze! Any unsuspecting person who comes across this blog and reads it will come to the conclusion that we who subscribe to Sola Fide are against the performance of good works.

      And they would be right. Because that is what Luther teaches. Read what he says:

      Excerpt: Therefore, we fight .... against the greatest holiness and holiest saints thereof, which think they lead an angelic life, whilst they dream that they keep not only the commandments of God, but also the counsels of Christ, and do works of supererogation, and such as they are not bound to do. This, we say, is to labour in vain, .....

      But that could not be further from the truth.

      On the contrary, it may be true for you, but many people who believe in Sola Fide deny that they have to do anything except claim to have faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

      Additionally, the "doers" mentioned in Romans 2 are "justified" because their hearts have been changed. Are we going to merely talk the talk or actually walk the walk?

      And the evidence that their hearts have been changed is the good works which they perform. And it is to them that God gives the grace of salvation. Not to those who refuse to do the works of the Law. See Matt 25:31-46, the Sheep and the Goats.

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  2. Hello De Maria,

    Obviously, Jesse is NOT saying that those who do not do good works will be saved. I don’t know of any Protestant who says that. You and I have discussed this before. Anyone who is truly saved / justified will indeed go on to do good works after believing.

    It’s just that God will justify a person when his trust is in the work of Jesus on the cross, and only that. AT THE POINT OF SALVATION, there is no work, but rather, surrender to God. Salvation itself is passive, but afterward, the person’s heart has been changed and he desires to do good works.

    Jesse has commented under your first comment on the link you posted above. In my opinion, he has explained his reasoning quite well.

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    Replies
    1. Russell
      Hello De Maria,


      Hi Russell, Good to hear from you again.

      Obviously, Jesse is NOT saying that those who do not do good works will be saved. I don’t know of any Protestant who says that.

      I do. And I have known them both on the internet and in person. One of those that I know in person, is a preacher.

      You and I have discussed this before. Anyone who is truly saved / justified will indeed go on to do good works after believing.

      We are not the judges of salvation. Based upon that criteria, of human observation, Dennis Rader, a deacon in a Lutheran Church, would have been guaranteed salvation by all his peers for all the good works that he did. BUT, he turned out to be the BTK strangler. Whether he will be condemned for all eternity for those sins, only God knows. I also do not read hearts and do not know whether the man has repented.

      Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

      We can't judge anyone's hearts. We can't even judge our own. But Protestants claim to do so all the time.

      It’s just that God will justify a person when his trust is in the work of Jesus on the cross, and only that.

      And because he trusts Jesus, he acts and does the works of God.

      2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

      AT THE POINT OF SALVATION, there is no work, but rather, surrender to God.

      True. But if you have done no good work, you will not be saved. See Matt 25:31-46.

      Salvation itself is passive, but afterward, the person’s heart has been changed and he desires to do good works.

      On the contrary, people must change their heart and desire to do good before they are saved. If they don't, they will not be saved.

      Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

      Jesse has commented under your first comment on the link you posted above. In my opinion, he has explained his reasoning quite well.

      He has. But it is flawed because it is based upon the flawed teachings of Luther.

      Delete

Thanks for contributing.