Salvation by grace in the Sacraments - 3

 

De Maria

2 days ago

JBG,

BEAUTIFUL! I'd like to add that this is why Catholics are Abraham's children. When we attend the Sacraments, it is because we believe God. God looks into our hearts and counts it to us as righteousness. Therefore, He pours out His grace into our hearts and washes us of our sins. And we are made chldren of God.

Protestants say, "Before Abraham did anything, he was made righteous by faith."

Protestants frequently say that we need no longer do anything to be saved. They claim, for example, that Abraham was saved before he did anything. Then, the question is, what happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification? Was that just filler in the Old Testament? By no means!

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 false premise, called faith alone, therefore they arrive at false conclusions. But Abraham did a great deal before he was justified. He just wasn't justified by what he did. Let me repeat, he wasn't justified by what he did. No one is.

God justifies those who, because of their faith in Him, do works which He considers good.

Abraham, like everyone else, was justified because he was faithful, not by his professed faith. In fact, I don't think there is one instance in Scripture where Abraham calls himself faithful. Abraham, like everyone else, was justified because of his obedience not by his obedience. Abraham was justified because of his good works, not by his good works. Abraham was justified by God because he did good in the eyes of God.

Because they don't believe in works, Protestants will frequently say that the Law of Moses is no longer in force. But, if the Law is no longer in force, why does St. Paul say: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.

It's not the law which is the difference. It's the advent of Jesus Christ.

Before Jesus, no saving grace.

After Jesus, saving grace provided in the Sacraments.

Before Jesus, faith filled Jews did all their good works and as it says in Heb 11, they did not receive the promise:

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 works. Look at all the good that they did. But they were not saved.

Why is it then? By what were they saved? 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 upon us His mercy. His Divine Mercy. His grace.

Does He pour it out upon all Christians just because they claim to have faith or works? No! Only those who, in obedience to His word, have kept the Commandments. Its in Scripture:

Exodus 20:6 And showing 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.

The Justification of Abraham

I want to walk you through Abraham’s justification in order to illustrate the difference between the Catholic Doctrine of justification by faith and works through the Sacraments and the Protestant doctrine of a one time proclamation of faith. 
Read More...

Error - Protestants say, "Before Abraham did anything, he was made righteous by faith."

Protestants frequently say that we need no longer do anything to be saved. They claim, for example, that Abraham was saved before he did anything. Then, the question is, what happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification? Was that just filler in the Old Testament? By no means! (Read more).

Free will means that an unregenerate man can choose to do good

DE MARIA February 13, 2015 at 3:41 pm

ERIC February 13, 2015 at 1:45 pm

Get a grip. Free will is compatible with Sovereignty, with monergism. ….

So, in monergism, an unregenerate man can use his free will to choose to do good before he is justified?

Because that’s what free will means to us. Men have the freedom to choose to do good even before they are justified and elected to grace.

According to you, Scripture details that Abraham was justified by God in Gen 15:6. That means that Abraham was unregenerate when God first spoke to him in Gen 12. Yet, Scripture says that Abraham did something very good while he was yet unregenerate:

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. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

That doesn’t seem consistent with monergism, since you all have agreed that a man can do nothing good before he is justified and is regenerated by the grace of God.

Abraham vs Protestants

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Protestants proclaim to save themselves by their faith alone. God doesn’t make that proclamation. Protestants say that about themselves.

Here’s the difference.  Protestants claim they are saved like Abraham. God saw his faith and credits him righteousness. Read that again. God sees his faith and credits him righteousness.

But God is out of the picture with Protestants. They claim faith and credit themselves righteousness. Abraham didn’t do that. Abraham didn’t say, “I’m saved by my faith alone! You’re not saved! And you’re not saved! But I’m saved!”

Uh, uh.

Abraham simply obeyed God because of his mighty faith. And Scripture says:

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Any questions?

God is speaking of idolaters

Lutero said:
2….Paul already gave a very lengthy explanation on how both Jew and Gentile have failed to meet the standard of the Law

Correct.

and how all are sinners and continually fall short of God’s glory chap 3 —

Not quite. Again, that is your interpretation. Unless you claim that St. Paul contradicts himself, you need to take into account that he also says, in Ch. 5:
Romans 5:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

In order to understand what St. Paul is talking about when he says, “all have sinned” we need to correlate to the Old Testament verses to which this is making reference:
Isaiah 41:26
King James Version (KJV)
26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Is Isaiah talking about everyone in the world? No. Here’s the proof. It is Isaiah who is speaking. Is Isaiah unfaithful and unrighteous?

Now, lets go down a few more lines:
29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

God is speaking of idolaters. Search throughout the Scriptures, this refrain is commonly made. God is referring to idolaters and fools who don’t believe in God at all, atheists.

Psalm 14:1
King James Version (KJV)
14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

St. Paul understands the Scriptures. In addition, there are other verses which state positively that there some people who are righteous in the eyes of God:
Genesis 7:1
King James Version (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Psalm 69:28
King James Version (KJV)
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Psalm 72:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Therefore, then, St. Paul would not have contradicted himself nor the other Scriptures.

that the wrath of God was only porpitiated through the faithfulness of Christ

True. Just as Moses and Abraham had faced down God’s wrath in the breach. So now, Christ, dying on the cross, ameliated the wrath of the Father towards mankind.

and that righteousness that justifies is the righteousness of/from God (not our own)

Absolutely. All good things come from God. As the Scripture says:
Philippians 2:12-13
King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvationM with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

that is gained through faith in the finished work of Christ (climaxing at His death and resurrection in behalf of the guilty) and not in any work done by man or self.

Yes. Jesus finished His work. But Scripture is clear that He left for us a job to do. See Phil 2:12 above and:
Hebrews 5:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

There are many more verses to show that we have a part to play in our own salvation and in the salvation of others:
James 5:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Paul, brought about the Abrahamic narrative to portray this truth. I find it hard to believe in exegeting 4:5 that Abraham is not the referent here as, exegetically, vv 4-5 is the direct explaination of Paul’s usage of Gen 15:6 in this context.

I agree with you that Abraham is included in this category of “ungodly”. But I disagree with the conclusions you draw from this understanding.

Paul, in this regard, did structure the argument to mimic the flow of thought of chapter 3 (see previous post). Abraham, though regarded by Jews are perfect, was regarded by Paul as “ungodly” needing righteousness (see note 1 and note 4).

Nope. St. Paul was not saying that Abraham was not righteous. If he were, he would be contradicting God who in the very same verse says that Abraham is accounted righteous. What St. Paul means is that Abraham believed in GOD. The phrase, “who justifies the ungodly” is a Hebraic form of speech in which they redundantly say the same thing. God justifies sinners WHO REPENT OF THEIR SINS.

Go back to Romans 2:13:
Romans 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 ….but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Doers of the Law are accounted righteous by God, because indeed they have proven it by their works. And let us not forget what St. Paul said about the very first encounter that Abraham had with God:
Hebrews 11:8
King James Version (KJV)
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.

Now, if you believe in faith ALONE. And I think this is what this entire conversation has been about, then you have to admit that your own soteriology deems Abraham righteous FROM THE MOMENT that God called him.

The overall context is still the Righteousness of God that justifies the wicked by faith.

Faith proved in works.
Genesis 26:5
King James Version (KJV)
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

This will not change as Paul used the Abrahamic narrative. Abraham was not put forward as an example of having “faith” only. He is the prime example of the activity of God in justifying the condemned and guilty. God is the subject not Abraham.

They are both subject. Abraham is the subject which is described as faithful:
Romans 4:19
King James Version (KJV)
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:

God is described as the justifier of the faithful.

Even Romans 4:18-22 serves as an extended explanation of why this justification is “by faith not works” if it is “by grace”. More importantly, what kind of “faith” that justifies. What brought about the “promise” is not Abraham’s faith per se. What brought about “Isaac” is not because of anything intrinsic in Abraham (not his efforts, not his deeds not his condition but inspite of Abraham’s failures, effort and physical limitation). It was all God’s doing all along…

THAT is Catholic Teaching. Again, refer to Phil 2:12-13

Abraham’s faith recognizes that as Abraham brought nothing to the table for the promise. And that is why, faith is the only instrument that receives the promises of God even if the present reality does not correspond to that promise.

But faith is not proven by empty words. Faith is proven by actions.
Galatians 5:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

It was the perfect answer why “works” is not the instrument but faith. In other words, faith is the only proper response to apprehend what Christ did for us on Calvary and the Resurrection since it is the only response that enables us not to look at our intrinsic effort, ability and condition but God’s alone.

And therein is the difference between Catholic and Protestant.
Catholics are taught not to judge the merit of their works. This is easily proven by a response Catholics give when accosted by Evangelicals. And we are soundly reprimanded by those Evangelicals for that response. Protestants are wont to ask, “Are you saved?” To which we respond, “I don’t know. God knows.”

Protestants, who are accustomed to set aside the judgement of God and replace it with their own exalted judgement of the merit of their own faith, will look askance at us for such a response. But Scripture says:
1 Corinthians 4:2-4
King James Version (KJV)
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 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. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

But it doesn’t seem to penetrate the Protestant psyche, I have repeated it over and over and over. We do not judge our works. We leave judgement to God:
Luke 17:10
King James Version (KJV)
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

It is a very foreign concept to you, I know. Placing complete faith in your salvation on God’s judgement rather than your own. I don’t mean that facetiously. It is plain for all to see.

Protestants judge themselves saved.
Catholics leave the judgement of our salvation to God.

It is the only instrument that gives us the eyes to see the Lord’s verdict of “not guilty” fully knowing that we are “guilty” because of Christ’s Obedience (see Chap 5) in our behalf. That faith will not waiver (as Abraham’s faith did not) though assailed at some points in our life and it will cling ever more to the promise of God that those who believe in Christ will be justified because of the finished work of Christ in our behalf and not because of our intrinsic worth, efforts and condition (3:22).

You are comparing yourself to Abraham. The main difference is this. Because of his faith, Abraham worked:
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.

Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Whereas, Protestants claim faith ALONE and declare they don’t have to do a thing but claim their salvation.

We’ll continue my post soon regarding “logizomai”. Right now, with all the wedding preparation, I’ll take a break.

Are you getting married? Congratulations.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Justification is by works and not by works

The great debate between Protestants and Catholics is whether justification is by works or not by works.  Protestants adamantly deny that works have anything to do with justification.  They maintain that justification is by faith alone.

Normally, Catholics, in what appears to me to be a knee jerk response, say that justification is by faith AND works.    Not by faith alone.

Who is right?  Well, I'm Catholic. So, whom do you think I believe?  The Catholics.

So, why do I call it a knee jerk response?   Because, before the advent of Martin Luther, the Father of the Protestant Revolution, some very prominent and influential Catholics also said that justification was by faith alone.

I know.  You don't believe me.  Ok, let me provide a some examples:

Basil of Caesarea (329-379)
“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord, that Christ has been made by God for us righteousness, wisdom, justification, redemption. This is perfect and pure boasting in God, when one is not proud on account of his own righteousness but knows that he is indeed unworthy of the true righteousness and is (or has been) justified solely by faith in Christ.” 

Ambrose (c. 339-97)
“Therefore let no one boast of his works, because no one can be justified by his works; but he who is just receives it as a gift, because he is justified by the washing of regeneration. It is faith, therefore, which delivers us by the blood of Christ, because blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, and to whom pardon is granted.” 

Jerome (347-420) on Romans 10:3
“God justifies by faith alone.” (Deus ex sola fide justificat).

So, in my opinion, if these Church Fathers used the term "faith alone", I conclude that there is a legitimate understanding of this term for Catholics.

Ok, I think I've muddied the waters enough.  The question that is probably going through your mind is, "What is it then?  Is it by works or not by works?  Is it by faith alone or by faith and works?

Please step back a moment and let me do the driving.  A better question to ask, in my opinion, is, "Can justification be both by works and not by works?  Can it be both by faith alone and by faith and works?"

My answer is, "Yes!"  They can both be true.

At this point, I expect Protestant and Catholic alike will quote me the old adage, "Two contradicting statements can not both be true at the same time!"  "Therefore, you are wrong!"

Please, step back one more time.  The key words in that adage are, "at the same time."  Yes, at first glance, the statements are contradictory.

Now, I would like you to ask this question, "How can it be both by works and not by works?  How can it be both by faith alone and by faith and works?"

Good question.

How can justification be by works?

Justification is by works, because God does not justify those who do not do His Works.  Only those who do the works of God will enter the Kingdom of heaven:

Scripture says:

Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

And again:

Romans 2:3-13
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;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.

I hope it is clear to all that God does not justify those who do not do His will.  God does not justify those who do not keep His Commandments.  God justifies only those who do good works.

In that sense, justification is by works.

How can justification not be by works?

Justification is not literally, by our works.  We do not stand before the Just Judge and say to God, "No need for you to do anything.  I've washed myself of all sins and become righteous without any need for your interference."

No sir!  That is what the Pharisee did and Jesus said:

Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This is what the Catholic Church teaches:

1994 Justification is the most excellent work of God's love made manifest in Christ Jesus and granted by the Holy Spirit. It is the opinion of St. Augustine that "the justification of the wicked is a greater work than the creation of heaven and earth," because "heaven and earth will pass away but the salvation and justification of the elect . . . will not pass away." He holds also that the justification of sinners surpasses the creation of the angels in justice, in that it bears witness to a greater mercy.

Therefore, in this sense, justification is not by our works.  We do not justify ourselves.  We do not wash ourselves of our sins.  Justification is God's work.

So far so good?  Have I lost anyone?  Better yet, has anyone begun to understand what I'm saying?

So, let's move on to the next question.

How can it be by faith alone?

My first response, for the sake of clarification, is, "Not the Protestant way."

Protestants deny that works before justification avail anything towards justification.  But it is clear to me, from Scripture, that unless someone keeps the Commandments and does the Will of God, he will not be justified.  Scripture says:

Romans 2:13
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

This verse, very clearly tells me, that only those who do the Commandments will be just before God.  Therefore, good works avail everything towards justification because without them, we won't be justified.  In fact, unless we keep the Commandments and do the will of God, we will be condemned.

Revelation 22:12-15

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

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

In what sense then, does faith alone avail for justification?

In the Sacraments. When we approach the Sacraments, we are like Abraham.

Genesis 15:6

6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 We approach the Sacraments in an attitude of faith alone and he counts it to us as righteousness.  Let me give another example of a Church Father which perhaps will make this clearer:

"Word made flesh, by Word He maketh Very bread his flesh to be; Man in wine Christ's Blood partaketh, And if his senses fail to see, Faith alone the true heart waketh, To behold the mystery." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Pange Lingua)

So, it is by faith alone in the sense that God justifies those who believe in His promises.  It is by faith alone that we believe that God washes us of our sins in Baptism.  It is by faith alone that we believe that God seals us in the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.  It is by faith alone that we believe that God forgives our sins in Confession.  It is by faith alone that we believe that we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Eucharist.  It is by faith alone that we believe we become one flesh with our spouses in Matrimony.  It is by faith alone that we believe we are healed of our afflictions in the Anointing of the sick.  It is by faith alone that we believe we are set aside for the Ministerial work of God in the laying of hands of the Priesthood.

We can't do any of those things for ourselves.  We can't wash our souls of sin.  We can't seal ourselves with the Holy Spirit.  We can't remove our own sins.  We can't turn bread into the Body and Blood of our Lord.  We can't make ourselves one flesh with our husbands and wives.  We can't heal our own bodies or souls.  We can't make ourselves ministers of God.

Those are God's works.  Not ours.  Therefore, it is by our faith alone that we are justified in the Sacraments.

Sooo, how is it not by faith alone?  How is it by faith and works?

In the sense that it doesn't matter how much we claim to believe God's promises. If we don't prove our faith by our works, we are not just before God.  Illustration:

Let's say that a man, a non-Catholic, comes to a Catholic Church and asks to be baptized.  He comes drunk, he speaks vulgar language and he comes accompanied by two women who are obviously prostitutes.  

The priest says, "Well, you're going to have to change, radically!  You'll have to repent of your sins and your going to have to give up drinking and give up loose women!"

The guy begins to attend RCIA.  But the guy never changes.  He says he believes but he keeps living the same lifestyle.

The point here is not whether or not the priest will allow him to be baptized.  The point here is that, regardless of whether he is baptized, he will not be justified.  Scripture is clear:

Romans 2:13

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

In that sense, it is not by faith alone.  Only those, who by faith do the works of God, only they will be justified before God:

James 2:24

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

And so, it is both by works and not by works.  It is both by faith alone and faith and works.

Let me know what you think.

See also, Did St. James and St. Paul agree?

Sincerely,

De Maria

Romans 4 and the Sacraments

Romans 4
King James Version (KJV)
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Abraham is our father, according to the flesh. The Apostle asks, "what has he found"? 


2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.


Now, he asks, "did Abraham justify himself?" If he did, then more power to him, but it is not of God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.


Now, he quotes Gen 15:6, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

and he begins to explain what that means.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

This is a reference to the Jew. The Jews had made an agreement with God. They would do what He commanded and He would save them:

Ex 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.

8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.


5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


But Abraham was born way before God made that covenant with the Israelites. Therefore, Abraham did not work for debt. But for faith. As the Scripture says:

Genesis 26:5
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

And this ties the Catholic back to Abraham. We also work because of our faith in God. 

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.


David is one of the circumcised. But this is a reference, not to the covenant of works. But to the covenant of reconciliation. It is to one specific incidence that this refers:

2 Sam 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
David confessed his sin to God's human representative and God forgave him. It is the first confession on record. David confessed through a priest, the same as we confess in the New Testament Church.

2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;


No one can deny that David did many works. But here, in his confession, all he did was believe in God's mercy. That is what Catholics do when we attend the Sacraments.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Is this reconciliation only offered to the Israelites. By no means. Abraham was not an Israelite. He was not even circumcised yet, when God saw his faith at work.


10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

This is a prophecy which showed that even the gentiles would be justified by faith.


12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

That pretty much repeats what I just said. We, like Abraham, believe and are imputed righteousness, in the Sacraments of Jesus Christ.


13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The promise of God, then, was restricted to the Israelites but to the whole world, including the Israelites who believed God's promises:
Hebrews 9:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.


14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Here, St. Paul is contrasting the Old Testament with the New Testament.

The Old Testament is the Law.
The New Testament is the Faith.

Those who followed the Old Testament were not members of the body of Christ. They were not born again, nor could they be, because the Spirit was not yet given. Therefore Scripture says:
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

So, even though they did everything by faith which they were supposed to do, they did not inherit the promise UNTIL Jesus died upon the Cross and established the Sacraments with His Blood.


15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.


There was no ministry of reconciliation in the Old Testament. David's reconciliation was the exception and it was to show the blessedness to come. It was a foreshadowing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.


16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,


Again, this explains why Catholics are children of Abraham. Because we believe and it is counted to us righteousness in the Sacraments.


17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.


18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.


That is the promise which God made to Abraham.


19 And being not weak in faith, 

and Abraham, believed God.

he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.


And believing God, even though there were many obstacles, he worked. Believing God, he performed.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  

And it was imputed to him righteousness. Just as it is imputed to the Catholic, who believing the promises of God, approaches the font of grace and submits to the Sacraments, calling on his name.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

And that was not written for Abraham alone, but for us, who would receive the promise of the Holy Spirit of the Sacraments of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:37-39
King James Version (KJV)
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

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.


39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Hebrews 12:18-24
King James Version (KJV)
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

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,


24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

See also Analysis of St. Paul's Teachings

Sincerely,

De Maria