[Apologetics] (no subject)

[Dianne Dawson]

Stuart,
 
Are you saying that justification is a one-time deal?
 
Dianne

"Stuart D. Gathman" <stuart at bmsi.com> wrote:
Interestingly, the Catholic Encyclopedia "gets it" when it comes
to the Protestant idea of "faith", carefully distinguishing it from
mere intellectual ascent. 

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12495a.htm

The argument then comes down to the meaning of "justified". The Catholic
Encyclopedia uses the meaning "made righteous", which is perfectly Scriptural
and common for Catholics and Anabaptists. Unfortunately, in their
"refutation", they assume the major reformers were using it in the
same sense.

If they had sat through some Protestant Sunday School classes, the
Protestant meaning would have been explained:

Justified == "Just as if I'd" never sinned.

In other words, to Protestants (other than the old Anabapists), "justified"
means "declared righteous" - also Scriptural, but in different passages. We
usually say "sanctified" to mean "made righteous". I think "Sanctification by
faith alone" would be summarily dismissed in Protestant Church as antinomianism
(i.e. looking for an excuse to sin).

This explains why the Catholic - Lutheran accord concentrates on the
meaning of "justification". Apparently, the confusion over the meaning
of "faith" today is among the rank and file, not the theologians.

-- 
Stuart D. Gathman 
Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.

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Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.

Ps 42:1
 
 



		
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