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Martyred for the Gospel

Martyred for the Gospel
The burning of Tharchbishop of Cant. D. Tho. Cranmer in the town dich at Oxford, with his hand first thrust into the fyre, wherwith he subscribed before. [Click on the picture to see Cranmer's last words.]

Daily Bible Verse

Saturday, July 31, 2010

What Is the Difference Between Law and Gospel?

What is the difference between the law and the gospel?

Romans 4:16.

The universal depravity of our race is nowhere more evident than it is in the fact that we are all proud, self-righteous, legalists by nature. All men naturally cherish the foolish notion that we can, in some measure, atone for our sin and win God’s favor by our obedience to his law, or by some other works of righteousness we perform but it is all a vain delusion. It is this natural tendency toward self-righteousness and legalism that Paul constantly exposed and denounced. It was as common to the Gentiles as it was to the Jews. He declared as plainly to the Romans as he did to the Galatians, "that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Galatians 3:28). Paul keeps insisting, in all his writings, that salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone, that it might be by grace alone, without the works of human flesh. Paul opposed nothing so fully and constantly as he did legalism, and he opposed that in any form. He gave no place for the law in the house of faith (Read Galatians 4:21-31).

Why is the law/grace issue so important? The answer is obvious; Any mixture of law and grace is a total denial of grace (Romans 11:6). Almost all doctrinal error and religious heresy arise from man’s inability to distinguish between the law and the gospel. Blessed is the man who knows the difference between grace and works, gospel and law, very few do. The law says, "Do". The gospel says, "Done!" That is the difference. Legalism always attempts to wear the mask of grace but it always smells like works. The smell of the carcass is easily detected. Legalism will always enforce its claims, somewhere, with the promise of reward or the threat of punishment. It may talk about "love" and "faith", but legalism must have its "stick and carrot". At some point the legalist will either promise or threaten something, conditioned upon man’s obedience or disobedience. The gospel conditions everything on the Person and work of Christ alone!

From:  Free Grace

30 comments:

Billy said...

Jn. 5:29

Charlie J. Ray said...

Wow. One verse out of context means I should become a papist? I don't think so.

But what is the full context? Let's see:

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:21-29 ESV)

Charlie J. Ray said...

Notice that the dead have no power to do anything and the Son gives life to whomever He chooses. So clearly salvation is bestowed by grace alone and by the soveriegn choice of Christ, not by how "good" the dead are. Those who are elect will bring forth the evidence of true faith, good works. Those good works are not the basis of their salvation but:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25 ESV)

The basis of salvation is "hearing" and "believing" not doing good works. Good works follow "hearing" and "believing" and are the result of salvation not the cause of salvation.

In short, if you have not believed what Jesus said or His Gospel, then all of your good works will earn you everlasting punishment.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 ESV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 ESV)
Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. (Psalm 143:2 ESV)

Charlie J. Ray said...

John 5:21. Jesus gives life to whomever He wills. That precedes any good works that the believer may do. Therefore, salvation is based on the Son's sovereign choice, not on the inherent "goodness" of the person OR his or her good works.

Unknown said...

GRACE, FAITH & WORKS
Okay, which way is it, by Grace, by Faith, or by Works, that brings us into eternal salvation?

How about all of the above?

For many non-Catholics, the answer to the question is one of 'Either - Or', but with Catholics, the answer is 'And'. (This is an example of Boolean Logic)

"Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by GOD and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."

This is a Joint Declaration on Justification (Salvation) by faith, paragraph 15. This joint declaration was agreed upon by the Catholic and Lutheran Churches in 1999 after 33 years of discussion.

"Even so let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

"Make no mistake: GOD is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due season we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up."
(Galatiansl 6:7-9)

"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, what part of wrong do you not understand? The so-called joint statement on justification was done by liberal Lutherans and by no means represents the Evangelical and Conservative Lutherans in the Missouri and Wisconsin synods.

The Bible takes precendence over church councils which can and do err.

The 39 Articles of Religion, the English Reformed view, clearly states that good works play no part in justification whatsoever and that is precisely the teaching of Scripture.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Article IX
Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek phronema sarkos (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh), is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath itself the nature of sin.



Provenance

Composed in 1552/3 by the English reformers.
Article X
Of Free Will
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon God. Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have that good will.


Provenance

Originates from the Confession of Würtemberg.
Article XI
Of the Justification of Man
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort; as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.


Provenance

Based on the Confession of Würtemberg.
Article XII
Of Good Works
Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of faith and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of God's judgement, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.

Charlie J. Ray said...

XIII. Of Works before Justification.
WORKS done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea, rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin.

XIV. Of Works of Supererogation.
VOLUNTARY works besides, over and above, God's commandments which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for His sake than of bounden duty is required: Whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to do, say, We be unprofitable servants.

XV. Of Christ alone without Sin.
CHRIST in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which He was clearly void, both in His flesh and in His spirit. He came to be the lamb without spot, Who by sacrifice of Himself once made, should take away the sins of the world: and sin, as S. John saith, was not in Him. But all we the rest, although baptized and born again in Christ, yet offend in many things: and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Charlie J. Ray said...

XVI. Of Sin after Baptism.
NOT every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

XVII. Of Predestination and Election.
PREDESTINATION to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby, before the foundations of the world were laid, He hath constantly decreed by His counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour. Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season; they through grace obey the calling; they be justified freely; they be made sons of God by adoption; they be made like the image of His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; they walk religiously in good works; and at length by God's mercy they attain to everlasting felicity.
As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feeling in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: so for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlessness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation.
Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise as they be generally set forth in Holy Scripture; and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expressly declared unto us in the word of God.

XVIII. Of obtaining eternal salvation only by the name of Christ.
THEY also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out to us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, looks like you're a Roman Catholic. That's too bad. Unless you stop trying to make it to heaven by your own good works, merits and righteousness you will be forever rejected by God and placed into eternal punishment in hell. Jesus is our ONLY righteousness.

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4 ESV)

Anonymous said...

For Rick Warren, apparently very little, acc. to his pal, Mike Horton.

Mike hugs Warren after claiming that Warren "distorts the gospel," and "confuses law & gospel."

Go figure!

Yours for truth,
Hugh

Eric said...

Charlie, thanks for posting on such an important topic that so few today talk about, much less reflect on.

Charlie J. Ray said...

You're welcome, Eric. I did not write the article posted but I do fully agree with what is said there. In Anglican circles there is a tendency to tolerate papists and works righteousness. But that is not what the Anglican formularies teach. The formularies would be the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the 39 Articles of Religion and the Ordinal.

Charlie

Unknown said...

Dear Charlie,

The Origin Of The False
Doctrine Of Sola Scriptura...

Driving The Last Nail InThe Coffin of Sola Scriptura.


Martin Luther (1483-1546) is to be given the credit for inventing the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Bible Only or Bible Sufficiency).

He had separated himself from the authority of the Papacy and the Magisterium, and thereby so doing lost all authority regarding Church matters.

He then turned to the Bible, a book, as the sole source of authority. Can a book ever be a sole source of authority?

Can the Constitution of the United States stand alone without an authoritive body to interpret it?

What authoritive body is there to resolve disputes between opposing interpretations of the laws written within it?

How long would this country have lasted if the founding fathers had not had the foresight to establish a Supreme Court, which has the final word in the interpretation of the Law of the Land?

This country would have been split into factions right from the very beginning.

Isn't this exactly what happened to Protestantism? Luther separated from the Catholic Church in 1521 and immediately there were squabbles between him, Zwingli, his fellow reformer from Switzerland, and Thomas Munzer.

In that same year, Munzer broke away and formed the Anabaptists.

John Calvin separated in 1536 and formed Calvinism.

John Knox parted company and formed the Presbyterians in 1560.

John Smith started the Baptists in 1609, and John and Charles Wesley started Methodism in 1739.

From the moment they separated themselves from the Catholic Church, Protestantism lost the 'Supreme Court' of Bible interpretation, the Papacy and the Magisterium, and they lost all of the authority given to those two offices by GOD Himself.

I was saved, I am saved and I am being saved.Yes, but only GOD knows who they are.

Unknown said...

Dear Charlie,

Who Has The Authority?
And who does not!


Authority comes from the "Author of Life", Acts 3:15. All authority comes from GOD, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."
(Romans 13:1-2).

Notice that GOD is selective as to just who He gives authority.

The Catholic Church has a form of government called a theocracy and operates as an "Hierarchy".

Like any other form of government, it has to have "authority" to function.

The Church received its authority from its founder, Jesus Christ...

Private interpretation of Scriptures can be exceedingly harmful to self and others. This has divided Christianity into hundreds if not tens of thousands of segments.

Too many individuals claim their position is right and are unwilling to freely discuss the position taken or to be submissive to moral authorities.

Holding to a personal position, or one of heretical source, places one's eternal soul in jeopardy. Such people often become instruments that lead others to perdition.

Anonymous said...

God save us from the pale, tearless hell to which opinion-righteousness would lead us, as much as from works-righteousness.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, your attack against the Protestant Reformers is laughable. First of all, the Renaissance led to the critical study of the original languages of the Biblical texts. Desiderus Erasmus, a Dutch Roman Catholic, was the first to reveal the mistakes and mistranslations of the Late Latin Vulgate. Luther, Calvin, Bucer and the other Protestant Reformers simply built on Erasmus' work.

What sparked the Reformation was the discovery that not only did Catholicism's evolved doctrines did not line up with Scripture but they did not line up with the church fathers either!

In short, the whole weight of Rome collapsed under the authority of Holy Scripture as the one and only infallible source of doctrine. Scripture is sufficient for salvation and needs no infallible interpreter. Every man can read and understand it for himself so as to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Law and Gospel.

Charlie

Charlie J. Ray said...

When will you submit to God and His Holy Scriptures, which are God-breathed, Michael?

Charlie J. Ray said...

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, since the Catholic Church has departed from the Holy Scriptures it is an apostate church and does not have any authority from Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us what He wanted us to believe in Holy Scripture and since the RCC teaches another gospel and another Jesus (Galatians 1:6-8; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4), the Roman Catholic Church is essentially a synagogue of satan.

I hope this helps.

Furthermore, the Reformed and Protestant churches do not practice "solo" Scriptura. Private interpretation is to be taken in the context of sola Scriptura and not in the sense of re-inventing a new religion out of the blue.

The RCC has gone beyond Scripture and is therefore apostate (1 Corinthians 4:6).

Charlie J. Ray said...

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV)

Unknown said...

Charlie J. Ray said...
Desiderus Erasmus, a Dutch Roman Catholic, was the first to reveal the mistakes...

Dear Charles,

DESIDERUS ERASMUS - HERETIC

Erasmus's philological approach to the Bible and his emphasis on individual spirituality would ally him, however briefly, with the most powerful voices of what became the Protestant Reformation.

Martin Luther and his followers used Erasmus's writings to advocate reform of the Church, and Luther himself contacted Erasmus in 1519 to ask for his support.

Erasmus, by then a devout pacifist, hoped to stay out of the conflict, but his attempt to find a middle ground—reforming the Church without creating factions and schism—failed.

Forced to choose sides, Erasmus eventually denounced Luther in De libero arbitrio, Diatribe seu collatio (1524; Discourse on Free Will), but his support of the “new learning” in such works as Antibarbari (1520; Against the Barbarians) kept him from allying fully with the conservative elements of the Church.

In 1529 he left Basel, Switzerland, where he had lived for eight years, and moved to Freiburg, Germany, to distance himself from the increasing hostilities.

Throughout this time he wrote for peace and reconciliation, in addition to his work on a treatise on the art of preaching, his Ecclesiastes, sive De ratione concionandi (1535).

The urgings of friends in Basel and his desire to publish his manual on preaching drove him to return to Basel in May 1536.

He died July 12, while living at the home of publisher Jerome Froben.

He was buried at the cathedral in Basel, having remained a loyal supporter of the Catholic church to the end; he was nonetheless declared a heretic at the 1559 Council of Trent.

Continue here, Charles!

Unknown said...

Charlie J. Ray said...
..the Roman Catholic Church is essentially a synagogue of satan.

Dear Mr Ray,
Revelation, there are two types...

A. Public: the teaching of Jesus Christ, also called, 'Divine Revelation'.

1. There are no new public revelations as they were sealed when the last Apostle died.

2. The only possible way for new public (divine) revelation is for GOD Himself to come and proclaim it.

3. Public revelation consists of 'Holy Scripture', and 'Sacred Tradition', the 'Deposit of Faith'.

4. It is the mission of the Pope and the Magisterium to interpret, preserve, and protect, the 'Deposit of Faith'
for all of us.

B. Private: messages received by vision, or by locution by individuals.

1. We should neither believe nor condemn them, until the Church rules whether they are truth or error.

2. We should test and discern them to see if they are of GOD, 1Thes 5:20-21, 1John 4:1-6.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael,

Making bare assertions proves nothing. Scripture alone is the inspired revelation of God and is infallible and without error in all it affirms. The pope is a false prophet and your church is a false church.

Tradition is not revelation from God but simply the traditions of men passed down. They are not the Word of God or inspired of God. All tradition is to be tested by Scripture. Tradition is not equal to Scripture and is not a "sacred deposit."

Furthermore, the so-called "sacred traditions" you mention function like new revelation since the Roman Catholic Church is continually adding new doctrines that they say are "implicit" in the traditions you say are revealed by God.

I see nothing in Holy Scripture that would come near anything you are saying here. Hence, my charge stands. Your church is a synagogue of satan and the pope is an antichrist and a false prophet.

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:3 ESV)

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15 ESV)
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24:11 ESV)
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 ESV)
"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26 ESV)


Charlie

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, you'll have to do better than that. Some of the works of Erasmus were condemned at Trent but Erasmus himself was not condemned:

http://biography.yourdictionary.com/desiderius-erasmus

Erasmus' influence could not realize the vision of Christian renovation expressed in his New Testament dedication and preface, which urged Pope Leo X to make Rome the center of reform and to make Christ's words available to every plowboy in the field. Following Luther's lead, many intellectuals, impatient for action, rejected humanism's "halfway house" and used presses and pulpits to move Europe's masses as Erasmus never had. The Erasmians' style of persuasion was countered by simpler, vernacular tracts on theology, the Sacraments, and Church structure, sometimes linked with social and political issues. In 1516 Erasmus had foreseen a golden age, but by 1521, dismayed by the partisan tone and substance of the reformers' appeals, he was calling his own times the worst since Christianity began.

Erasmus' eventual response, after an important exchange with Luther in 1524-1525 about the role of human will in salvation to which he contributed De libero arbitrio (On the Freedom of the Will), was a gradual disengagement from the disputing theologians and their secular sponsors. He avoided Europe's major courts and capitals, and he left congenial intellectual homes in Catholic Louvain in 1521 and Protestant Basel in 1529, when denominational advocacy invaded their scholarship and governance. Printing presses continued to hold his audience: they were the lifelines of this complex man, rootless at birth, whose temperament, circumstances, and dislike of permanent commitments consistently separated him from friends and institutions eager to harness his talents.

He died on July 12, 1536. The embattled Catholic Church, which he never left, condemned some of Erasmus' work for its critical attitude and moderation against heretics, while much modern opinion based on Protestant, nationalist viewpoints has judged him harshly. But there is, with the ecumenical mood of current commentary, a revival of interest in, and sympathy for, Erasmus and his conviction that tolerance and rational persuasion must prevail through discordant times.

Charlie J. Ray said...

I might add that even if Erasmus were condemned it would not change anything regarding the Protestant Reformation. Scripture is the final authority, not the pope and certainly not the Roman Catholic Church.

Unknown said...

Dear Mr Charlie J Ray,

The false doctrine of Sola Scriptura, first proclaimed by Martin Luther, created the 'everyone for himself' syndrome for Bible interpretation.

Each individual would claim, 'the Holy Spirit told me'.

This thinking flies into the face of what the Bible actually teaches that individual interpretation of Scripture cannot be done. See Acts 8:27-39, and 2Peter 1:20, and 2Peter 3:16-18.

Belief in Sola Scriptura is the primary reason for the fact that there are over 28,000 splinters in Protestantism.

There can be only one truth, and yet each splinter claims, 'the Holy Spirit told me'.

Each claims the truth, yet each has differences with the others.

Truth is one; therefore all Churches should be united in the one truth.

Are we led to believe there over 28,000 Holy Spirits, each telling a protestant sect something different, or maybe one Holy Spirit giving a different truth to each?

The doctrine of Sola Scriptureis clearly a false doctrine invented by mere men, and has no Scriptural basis whatsoever.

Anyone who believes in the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura, and rejects tradition, is taking away from the Word of GOD.

They are therefore in violation of all of the Bible verses which admonish, "Do not add to, or take away from, the Word of GOD."

Deuteronomy 4:2, 11:32, 13:1, Psalms 12:7, 33:4, Psalms 50:16-17, Proverbs 5:7, 30:5-6, Jeremiah 23:36, Galatians 1:8, 1Peter 1:24-25, 2Peter 3:15-16, Revelation 22:18-20.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael, if you wish to spout off the false doctrines of Rome, do so elsewhere.

The pope "claims" to be infallible and then tells me to believe what he says above what God has said in the Bible? I don't think so!

Furthermore, your straw man fallacy is obvious. Sola Scriptura does not teach that every man can make up whatever he wishes. The doctrine of sola Scriptura means that individuals and churches together formulate confessions of faith which are drawn from the only infallible and inerrant source of truth and doctrine--Holy Scripture.

The fact that you so despise Scripture and lift up your false prophets and your false church above Scripture only proves you've been deceived by the enemy.

Unless and until you can provide more than empty assertions do not expect anymore of your comments to be posted.

Charlie

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael,

I fear for your soul since even the lowest plowboy who reads the Bible knows more than your pope or your church. Those who refuse to listen to what God Himself says directly through the Holy Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit are in danger of hellfire.

There is no other way of salvation except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

May God grant you the grace to reject the traditions of men and accept the Word of God as the final Word in all matters of faith and doctrine. May He also grant you the grace to understand that none of your righteousnesses will earn or merit anything for you other than the hell you deserve (Romans 6:23).

May God grant you the grace to understand that justification is imputed to ungodly people who cry out for mercy (Romans 4:1-9).

In Christ,

Charlie

Charlie J. Ray said...

Michael,

I moderate this blog. I am a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am authorized by God's Word to preach the Gospel as a prophet, priest and king.

If you wish to promote Roman Catholicism, I would suggest you do it on your own blog:)

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