10.26.09 ROMAN CATHOLIC VS REFORMATION

THE THEOLOGICAL RESULTS OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

one should specifically note the rediscovery of five critical biblical doctrines that had been obscured from public view by the medieval roman catholic church. the roman church still opposes these doctrines;

1. SOLA SCRIPTURA (scripture alone) the reformers were united in their belief that the Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for salvation and christian living (II pet. 1:1-4). they held the word of God to be the only standard by which men's consciences may be bound. rome, on the other hand, then and now, denies sola scriptura by elevating papal decrees and church tradition to wha they say are equal (but are in reality greater) positions of authority than that of the Bible. where the meaning of the Bible differs from the opinion of the pope or official doctrine (as is very often the case) the word of God plays a mute second fiddle.

2 SOLA GRATIA (by grace alone) the reformers understood that salvation is not a cooperative event carried out by God and man working in partnership. in salvation, sinners are rescued from God's wrath by His grace alone (titus 3.3-7). God's grace is His spontaneous and unmerited favor, granted to the spiritually dead and helpless sinner through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. God mercifully releases those whom He is saving from their own willful bondage to sin and thus enables them to repent and believe ( john 3.3; 6.44; rom. 8.6-8; 9.16). interestingly, this point of doctrine is disputed today also by evangelicals outside the roman church.

3. SOLA FIDE (through faith alone) 'justified' is the biblical term that describes a person as forgiven, not guilty, and perfectly righteous in God's sight. according to scripture, justification is bestowed on the sinner by grace alone through faith alone, 'not as a result of works, so that no one can boast' (eph. 2.8-9; gal. 2.16). according to official roman catholic teaching, however, using the word 'alone' after the word 'faith' will earn one a pronouncement of anathema (formal damnation). rome actually forbids you to believe or repeat what the Bible plainly states! they insist that while justification begins with faith, it can only be completed through the sinner's personal effort. in roman catholic theology, one may not say, 'therefore, HAVING BEEN justified by faith', or 'HAVING NOW BEEN justified by His blood' (the exact words of paul in rom. 5.1 and 5.9) according to rome, one may only believe that he is being justified - by faith plus words.

4. SOUS CHRISTUS (because of Christ alone) the reformers understood that the salvation of God's people was the work of Jesus Christ alone. His death was a sufficient and effective sacrifice for sin (heb. 9.12,26,28; 10.12,14). He is the only mediator between God and men (I tim. 2.5). only Christ's righteousness (not the sinner's personal righteousness) merits the believing sinner's justification (II cor. 5.21). rome, on the other hand, commands the performance of seven essential works of merit (sacraments) for justification. rome also insists that mary (not Jesus) is the dispenser of grace. while Rom denies that Christ's righteousness may be imputed to the believing sinner, mary is said to have vast amounts of excess righteousness which can be imputed to sinners. this form of blasphemy against the Son of God is bad enough, but it culminates in blasphemy against God the Father - the idolatry of mary worship. mary is praised as the 'co-redemptress' and 'co-mediatrix with Christ. rome even refers to her in some places as the savior of mankind, the one who commands God to save whom she will.

5. SOLI DEO GLORIA (for the glory of God alone). it is obvious that in roman catholic theology mary receives equal (if not greater) credit than God for the salvation of sinners. rome openly glorifies her. also, God is robbed of His glory by making the sinner the one who ultimately performs (via the sacrments) or suffers (via purgatory)his own way into heaven. but the Bible insists, and the reformers recognized, that God saves sinners by Himself. therefore He alone should receive all praise and glory. and the God of the Bible is a jealous God (ex. 20.5). He will not share His glory with another (isa. 42.8; 48.11).

so what was reformed (or recovered) during the reformation? in the final analysis, it was the gospel of God's grace.