In my opinion, some of the most beautiful paragraphs in the Catechism are the ones about grace. I will give snippets within this post, but highly recommend reading them in their entirely (CCC1996-2005). The clearest definition of what grace is from the Catholic perspective is found in CCC1997 – “Grace is a participation in the … Continue reading Grace and Infused Righteousness
Salvation
Sanctification In Scripture
In my previous posts I have mentioned that in the Catholic view of salvation, sanctification is not optional. Nor is it a by-product of salvation. Rather, it is at the very heart of what it means to be saved. It is our transformation into the image of Christ and true freedom from the bondage of … Continue reading Sanctification In Scripture
The Justification of Abraham
The New Testament authors often hold up the patriarch Abraham from the Old Testament as an example of his faith leading to his justification. He is mentioned in this way multiple times by different New Testament authors. But is this a one-time singular event in the life of Abraham, or a process? The first Old … Continue reading The Justification of Abraham
Salvation as a Process in Sacred Scripture
In my last post I spoke to one of the primary differences in the way Catholics and Protestants tend to view salvation. Protestants often see salvation as primarily a one time, instantaneous event that occurs when a believer comes to faith in Christ and are saved. For Catholics, we tend to view salvation as a … Continue reading Salvation as a Process in Sacred Scripture
What do we mean by Salvation?
One of the more basic differences between most Protestants and Catholics is what we mean when we talk about “salvation.” Central to this difference is whether salvation is viewed as a one-time event, or a process. The Southern Baptist Statement of Faith says this – “In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and … Continue reading What do we mean by Salvation?
Martin Luther and the Four Salvation “Solas”
Martin Luther launches Protestantism in the sixteenth century on a foundation of five “solas” – the Latin word meaning “alone.” One of these is “sola-Scriptura,” which deals directly with authority. That topic will be covered at a later time. The other four “solas” are related to a Protestant understanding of salvation. Simply stated, the Protestant … Continue reading Martin Luther and the Four Salvation “Solas”
The Image of the Father and Penal Substitution Theology
I began this series on the atonement with a question about whether or not the crucifixion of Christ was God’s active will, or His permitted will. The Cathechism provides the answer from the Catholic perspective: CCC600 To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of … Continue reading The Image of the Father and Penal Substitution Theology
God Forsaken – Christ on the Cross
One of the most moving moments in the narrative of Christ’s passion is his cry from the cross to His Father, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). The understanding of this passage is another area where Protestant and Catholic theology will in general diverge. Protestant Reformed minister RC … Continue reading God Forsaken – Christ on the Cross
God-Forsaken – Christ in the Garden
My favorite mystery of the rosary has always been The Agony in the Garden. It returns me to those Holy Thursday evenings of my youth. After the celebration of the Holy Thursday liturgy we would return to the church between the hours of nine and midnight to “watch one hour with me.” (Matthew 26:40, Mark … Continue reading God-Forsaken – Christ in the Garden
Penal Substitution Theology and God’s Need
In my last post I began to identify the problems from a Catholic perspective with the Protestant concept of Christ’s passion as being one of “penal substitution” – the concept that on the cross Christ is being punished by God for our sins. I will continue with that over the next several posts. Consider some … Continue reading Penal Substitution Theology and God’s Need
An overview of Protestant Penal Substitution Theology
With the advent of Protestantism in the sixteenth century, the understanding of the atonement undergoes a significant change in thinking. This theology is generally referred to as “penal substitution.” As with the Catholic understanding, in this view Christ is our substitute. The foundational difference is in the way he is standing in our place. As … Continue reading An overview of Protestant Penal Substitution Theology
God’s Justice versus God’s Mercy
Is this six minute clip from Bishop Barron, he speaks to why the cross of Jesus was necessary. I will summarize and expand on some of his points in this post, but I will not do justice to what he says, so if you have a few minutes it’s well worth the time. https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/video/why-was-the-cross-necessary-faith-seeks-understanding/122/ Bishop … Continue reading God’s Justice versus God’s Mercy
The Atonement as Satisfaction
In the eleventh century St. Anselm, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote “Cur Deus Homo,” which translated is “Why God Became Man.” In this work, he directly took on the idea that there was no true justice in the idea that God had to pay Satan a ransom to redeem His creation. His focus … Continue reading The Atonement as Satisfaction
The Atonement as Christus Victor
Another dominant view of the atonement from the early Church is Christus Victor. This view focuses on the victory Christ won on the cross over the powers that hold mankind in bondage – sin, death, and Satan. Adam and Eve by their disobedience placed humanity under this bondage. Unlike the ransom view of atonement which … Continue reading The Atonement as Christus Victor
The Atonement as Ransom
In my last post I referred to a common saying that “Jesus paid a debt he did not owe, because I owed a debt I could not pay.” Sacred Scripture does support the idea that Christ is paying a “debt” with his sacrifice as we read in Colossians 2:13-14 - “And you, who were dead … Continue reading The Atonement as Ransom
An Overview of the Atonement/God’s Active or Permitted Will?
Scripture tells us three times in the Garden of Gethsemane Christ prayed to the Father to allow the cup of his passion to pass from him; that he would not have to drink it. And all three times he also prayed that not his will, but the Father’s will be done. It becomes a model … Continue reading An Overview of the Atonement/God’s Active or Permitted Will?
Mortal and Venial Sins Part 3
A couple of posts back I quoted a view that the concept of a difference between mortal and venial sins isn’t Biblical. We’ll now turn to the most explicit passage of Scripture that specifically says, yes it is. We already reviewed this passage in the context of whether a person can lose their salvation where … Continue reading Mortal and Venial Sins Part 3
Mortal and Venial Sins Part 2
To resolve the question as to whether some sins are greater than others, we simply have to look to the words of Christ. When standing before Pilate to be condemned to death, Pilate asks Jesus, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to … Continue reading Mortal and Venial Sins Part 2
Once-Saved, Always-Saved Part 6
In his writings in Sacred Scripture, St. Paul affirms many of the things we’ve already seen regarding our salvation –faithfulness to Christ is not optional, we must remain in him, and we must persevere to the end. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, St. Paul writes “Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached … Continue reading Once-Saved, Always-Saved Part 6
Original Sin
Christian views on what original sin actually is and its impact can vary. The Catechism has a very good presentation of the Catholic view and is well worth the read (paragraphs 396-421). Here is a summary: We cannot understand evil and misery in the world apart from our connection to Adam’s sin. This sin has … Continue reading Original Sin
Total Depravity Part 2
Calvinists can point to many verses in Scripture that would support their view that humanity is totally depraved. Here’s a sampling: Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, … Continue reading Total Depravity Part 2
Between the Farm and the Cross 