3.
THE QUESTION
WAS: How does
James 2:24 describe justification?
Martin Luther didnt like this Bible verse very much. Actually, he
didnt like the whole Book of James. He tried to eliminate that book from the
Bible (along with Revelations and other New Testament Books) but fortunately,
did not succeed.
Protestants may also be interested to read The Salvation Controversy
by Jimmy Akin. Akin, a former evangelical Protestant, writes with the
background and language of evangelicals, and continues to have great affection
for his Protestant brothers and sisters.
There is actually less of a difference between the Protestant and
Catholic view of justification than many have thought
.both sides use different
terminology and emphasize different things
..but in the end, the important
thing is that both groups hold that an unjustified person becomes justified by
grace alone
.no work plays a role in bringing an unjustified person to justification. This is explained in the recent Lutheran-Catholic Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification at
The real difference is that Catholics believe justification is a life-long process. Works of love can increase our grace ONLY if we were previously justified. (Works cannot cause or trigger our justification, which is a free gift). After we are justified, sinful works can decrease our grace. Extremely sinful works (deadly or mortal sins) can cut us off completely from God's grace and from the whole Body.
For the Bible says that some sins are mortal, or deadly, to our souls.
As long as we continue in God's grace, cooperating with it instead of running away from it, we will go to heaven.
Evangelical Protestants believe justification is a one-time event, with no good or bad work afterwards affecting justification in any way.
This article on justification is splendid:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/JAMES2.htm
These web sites on faith and works are marvelous:
http://www.petersnet.net/most/getchap.cfm?WorkNum=212&ChapNum=18
http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/galatians.html
http://home.netcom.com/~matt1618/white.htm
http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/salvation.html
http://library.saint-mike.org/Apologetics/Justification.html
http://www.catholic.com/library/Mortal_Sin.asp (Mortal Sin)
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