Salvation, Justification, and "Faith Alone" (Index Page for Dave Armstrong)

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General (Catholic View) / Infused Justification

St. Paul's Teaching on the Organic Relationship of Grace / Faith and Works / Action / Obedience (Collection of 50 Pauline Passages)

Comparative Soteriology: A Handy Chart 

Dialogue on Catholic Soteriology (Specifically Grace) (vs. Phillip Johnson)


"In Him / God [etc.]" as a Possible Biblical Expression of the Oneness of Deification / Theosis [Facebook, 13 March 2014]


Dialogue on Faith and Works and the Relation of Each to the Final Judgment (vs. Bethany Kerr) [10 Oct. 2013]

The "Obedience of Faith" in Paul and its Soteriological Implications (Justification and Denial of "Faith Alone") [from Ferdinand Prat, S. J.; Facebook]

New Testament Epistles on Bringing About Further Sanctification and Even Salvation By Our Own Actions


Justification is Not by Faith Alone (Romans 4  + James 2) and is Ongoing, as Seen in Abraham's Multiple Justifications

Council of Trent: Canons of Justification (+ a Handy Summary of Tridentine Soteriology)

Dialogue on Justification in James

Biblical Evidence for the Nature of Saving Faith (Including Assent, Trust, Hope, Works, Obedience, and Sanctification)

Catholic "Initial Justification" and Protestant "Faith Alone": Significant Common Ground?

Monergism as a Characteristic of Initial Justification: Documented from Trent, Vatican I, and The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Biblical Evidence for "Power" as a Proof and Manifestation of Infused (Catholic) Justification

Martin Luther: Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis and Transformational Sanctification Closely Allied with Justification

Ecumenical Discussion on Comparative Protestant-Catholic Soteriology (with C. Michael Patton)

Catholic Underemphasis on Justification by Faith: My Theory on Why This Is (with Dr. Edwin Tait)

Theosis / Divinization (and God's Exalted Role for the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Recommended Catholic Scholarly Works on Tradition, Soteriology, and the Eucharist

Trent Doesn't Necessarily Exclude All Variants of Imputation (Kenneth Howell)

Is Christ's Righteousness Imputed to Believers?: Catholic vs. Reformed Protestant Understanding ("Adomnan" vs. John Bugay)


Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue on Justification and "Faith Alone" ("Adomnan" vs. Nathan Rinne)

Do Catholics Believe in Imputed Justification, External Righteousness, and Justification by Faith Alone? Yes (!), With Proper Biblical Qualifications

Exchange With Protestant Apologist Jason Engwer on the Scriptural Relationship of Faith, Works, and Judgment

N.T. Wright: Rutherford House Lecture on St. Paul (With My Reactions)

"The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much" (James 5:16: KJV): What Does It Mean? Dialogue With a Lutheran (vs. Stuart Floyd)

Reflections on Justification

Critique of Martin Chemnitz' Examination of Trent: Soteriology and Justification in the Church Fathers

Some Highlights of Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical Spe Salvi ("Saved by Hope"): 30 November 2007

  Sola Fide (Faith Alone: the Protestant View)

Final Judgment in Scripture is Always Associated With Works And Never With Faith Alone (50 Passages) 

The Interpretation and Exegesis of Romans 2-4 (Justification and Works of the Law) (Includes Very Extensive Patristic Commentary and Definitional Citations from three Protestant Bible Dictionaries)

The "Obedience of Faith" in Paul and its Soteriological Implications (Justification and Denial of "Faith Alone") [from Ferdinand Prat, S. J.; Facebook]    

Reply to James White's Exegesis of James 2 in Chapter 20 of His Book, The God Who Justifies [9 October 2013]


Dialogue on Faith and Works and the Relation of Each to the Final Judgment (vs. Bethany Kerr) [10 Oct. 2013]

Justification is Not by Faith Alone (Romans 4  + James 2) and is Ongoing, as Seen in Abraham's Multiple Justifications

A Fictional Dialogue on Justification and Salvation

Is Sola Fide (Faith Alone) a Legitimate Development of Patristic and Augustinian Soteriology?

Origen (c. 185-c. 254 ) on Faith, Works, and Judgment

Commentary on Romans 1:1-3 and Dialogue on Related Issues of Justification

Did John Wesley, the Founder of Methodism, Deny "Faith Alone" (Sola Fide)? (with Dr. Edwin Tait)

Martin Luther: Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis and Transformational Sanctification Closely Allied with Justification

"Work Out Your Own Salvation With Fear and Trembling" (Philippians 2:12): Does It Harmonize With Protestant Soteriology? (vs. Ken Temple)

Dialogue on Lutheranism and Catholicism, Part Three: Soteriology and Miscellany (vs. Nathan Rinne)

Reply to Lutheran Nathan Rinne: Exegetical Exposition on Whether the "Leaven" of the Pharisees is Hypocrisy or Doctrinal Falsehood  


Is Christ's Righteousness Imputed to Believers?: Catholic vs. Reformed Protestant Understanding ("Adomnan" vs. John Bugay)

Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue on Justification and "Faith Alone" ("Adomnan" vs. Nathan Rinne)

Do Catholics Believe in Imputed Justification, External Righteousness, and Justification by Faith Alone? Yes (!), With Proper Biblical Qualifications

Baptist Pastor Ken Temple Proves That St. Paul Was a Blasphemer Who Claimed That People Can Save Others (Mariology and Synergistic Soteriology)

 

Alister McGrath on the Protestant Innovation (Corruption?) of Imputed Justification

Great Calvinist Post About Assurance of Salvation and the Extreme Fundamentalistic "Faith Alone" Position of Virtual Antinomianism

Martin Luther Despised the Widespread Antinomian Distortions of His Teaching on Faith Alone and Did Not Reject Mosaic Law

Church Fathers vs. the "Reformation Pillar" of Faith Alone (Sola Fide) [Including "Revised Protestant Standard" Variant Readings]

Martin Luther on Sanctification and the Absolute Necessity of Good Works as the Proof of Authentic Faith

John Calvin Taught That Good Works Are Part of Every Christian's Life and the Inevitable Manifestation of a True Saving Faith and Justification

Reflections on Faith and Works and Initial Justification

The Catholic Understanding of the Anathemas of Trent and Excommunication (includes an important discussion by then-Cardinal Ratzinger [now Pope Benedict XVI] and others about how the Tridentine anathemas do not necessarily apply to many Protestant soteriological positions, rightly understood)

Exchange With Protestant Apologist Jason Engwer on the Scriptural Relationship of Faith, Works, and Judgment

2 Corinthians 5:21: Was Jesus Christ Literally Made Sin on the Cross? Did He Suffer the Horrors of Damnation? Luther and Calvin vs. the Church Fathers

  Sin / Mortal and Venial Sin

Mortal vs. Venial Sin

 

Mortal and Venial Sin: The Garden-Variety Objection Answered, + Strong Biblical Support

Dialogue on Mortal and Venial Sin (vs. Ken Temple)

Dialogue on Mortal and Venial Sin, Round Two (vs. Ken Temple)

Ridicule and Sarcasm Regarding Sin and Absurdity Sanctioned by God (Argues Blaise Pascal); Many Biblical Examples Provided

Instant Assurance of Salvation / Eternal Security / Perseverance of the Saints

Assurance of Salvation

"Certainty" of Eternal Life? (1 John 5:13 and John 5:24)

Reflections on the Origin and Nature of "Instant" Salvation

John Calvin: Only God Knows Who is Numbered Among the Elect

Biblical Evidence Regarding a Vigilant, Pauline, Catholic Moral Assurance of Faith With Perseverance, in Hope

Friendly Protestant-Catholic Dialogue on Eternal Security and Original Sin (vs. Bethany Kerr) [Facebook, 13 April 2015]

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether it is Possible to Fall Away from Grace or Salvation

Examples of Individuals Losing Salvation in Scripture (Nick's Catholic Blog)

Judas as One of the "Elect" and "Elect Angels": Biblical Conundrum for Calvinists?

Observations on Arminianism

 
The Gospel, Faith, and "Personal Relationship With Jesus"

The Foolishness of the Commonly Heard Charge That Catholics Supposedly Never Hear the "Gospel" or "About Jesus" at Mass

The Gospel, as Preached by the First Christians

Good News: An Evangelical / Catholic Presentation of the Gospel Message

What is the Gospel?

God's "Valentine" to Us (Bible Passages on God's Love, Mercy, and Compassion)

Galatians and the Gospel

Was Jesus Being "Spiteful" When He Said, "Shake the Dust Off of Your Feet" (against those who refused the gospel)? [Facebook, 4 October 2014]

"Why Desire Salvation?" Short Christian Reply to an Inquiry

The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Council of Trent on Trusting God as an Element of Faith and Discipleship

Gospel Truth

"Personal Relationship With Jesus": Completely Foreign Notion to Catholics?

Biblical Evidence for the Nature of Saving Faith (Including Assent, Trust, Hope, Works, Obedience, and Sanctification)

How Do Catholics Hear the Gospel? (Gary Michuta)


Thoughts on St. Peter Sinking After Having Walked on the Water, and What Jesus Expected People (Including the Pharisees) to Know and Believe, Even Before Pentecost (Facebook, 11 August 2014)

Loving Ourselves as God Loves Us

Does 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Refer to Sacramental Reconciliation or the Gospel?

"The Harvest is Ready": Advice and Tips Regarding Methods for Catholic Evangelism

Thoughts on the Inconsistent Protestant "Quasi-Catholic" Use of the Terminology of "Altar" / The Sacrifice of the Mass

Fruitful Discussion With a Protestant About the Definition of Anti-Catholicism, Knowing Jesus Personally, and Constructive Dialogue

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace Are True (I.e., Biblical) and Also Part of the Gospel

Reply to Atheist "ProfMTH" / Bart Ehrman Video, "The 'Real' Paul": Is the Biblical Paul Self-Contradictory? (Pagan Ignorance vs. Deliberate Unbelief)

Grace, Catholic Anti-Pelagianism, Synergism, and Merit

A Primer on Semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism

 

Did the Council of Trent Teach That Man is Saved By His Own Works?

Dialogue on the Alleged Semi-Pelagianism of the Catholic Catechism (vs. Frank Turk)

Reply to James White's Exegesis of James 2 in Chapter 20 of His Book, The God Who Justifies [9 October 2013]

Dialogue on Faith and Works and the Relation of Each to the Final Judgment (vs. Bethany Kerr) [10 Oct. 2013]

Discussion: Should we Invoke Mary at Our Death, and Does This Minimize or Neglect Our Lord Jesus?

Biblical Evidence for Prayers of the Righteous Having More Effect and Power Than the Prayers of the Relatively Less Righteous

Explicit Biblical Evidence of Men Helping to Save Themselves or Participating in Their Own Salvation (Which is Always Enabled by God's Grace)

Biblical Evidence for God Sharing His Glory With His Creatures

Merit: Catholic Doctrine vs. Caricature (James McCarthy's Distortions)


Dialogue: "Doing Something" for Salvation (vs. Craig Kott)


Short Exchange on the Attempted Polemical Parallel Between Judaizers and Catholics (Alleged Works-Salvation)


Catholic-Baptist Dialogue on "Being Good Enough" to Go to Heaven, etc. (vs. "Grubb")

Is Catholic Soteriology Pelagian? (Reginald de Piperno) 

Reply to Lutheran Nathan Rinne: Exegetical Exposition on Whether the "Leaven" of the Pharisees is Hypocrisy or Doctrinal Falsehood  


1 Corinthians 3:9 and Man's Cooperation With God


Human, Pauline, and Marian Distribution of Divine Graces: Not an "Unbiblical" Notion After All?


Baptist Pastor Ken Temple Proves That St. Paul Was a Blasphemer Who Claimed That People Can Save Others (Mariology and Synergistic Soteriology)


"There is One Mediator" (1 Timothy 2:5): Does This Rule Out "Mini-Mediators"?

Merit: Clarification of the Catholic Doctrine (Condign and Congruous Merit, Total Depravity, Prevenient Grace, Etc.)

 

Soteriology and Creation (Man's Cooperation, Pelagianism, Nature and Grace) (vs. Peter J. Leithart)


Grace Alone (Sola Gratia): Perfectly Acceptable Biblical and Catholic Teaching (Rightly Understood)




Dialogue with Two Protestants on the Catholic Doctrine of Merit (vs. Chris Jones and "Nathan")

The "Judaizers": Jewish Christians ("Messianic Jews")?, Non-Christian Followers of Judaism? Gnostic Sectarians?

Second Council of Orange (529) and Catholic Sola Gratia vs. Calvinist Total Depravity, Etc.: Crucial Distinctions Noted

Defending Merit, Penance (and Ultimately Prayer) Against Lutheran Josh Strodtbeck's Ludicrous Attacks

Atonement / Limited Atonement

Theology of the Atonement: Catholic Distinctiveness Over Against the Calvinist "Penal Substitution" Model

The "Ransom Theory" of Atonement in the Fathers: Development in the Doctrine of the Work of Christ

Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue on Justification and "Faith Alone" ("Adomnan" vs. Nathan Rinne)

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace Are True (I.e., Biblical) and Also Part of the Gospel

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether God Predestines the Damned to Hell From All Eternity, Limited Atonement, and Total Depravity (Tons of Scripture!)

  Original Sin and Total Depravity

The Biblical Evidence for Original Sin

Friendly Protestant-Catholic Dialogue on Eternal Security and Original Sin (vs. Bethany Kerr) [Facebook, 13 April 2015]

Group Discussion on Eastern vs. Western Conceptions of Original Sin (with Eastern Catholics and Orthodox) (+ discussion on a second continuing Facebook thread) [Facebook, 28 June 2014] 

Reflections on the Catholic Viewpoint on Original Sin and God's Prerogative to Judge and Take Human Life as He Wills (Even, Sometimes, Entire Nations)

Total Depravity and the Fall

Protestant Founder Zwingli Denied Original Sin

Jesus' Human Nature, The Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Virgin Birth, and Original Sin: Reflections on Their Relationship to Each Other

Christian Replies to the Argument From Evil (Free Will Defense): Is God Malevolent, Weak, or Non-Existent Because of the Existence of Evil and Suffering? [includes lengthy analysis of the nature and cause of the fall of man]

Does St. Augustine Agree with John Calvin and Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity? (Reply to Detractors) [1-7-14 ]

St. Francis de Sales' Argument Against Total Depravity and for the Indefectibility of the Church, from the Psalms

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace Are True (I.e., Biblical) and Also Part of the Gospel

The Calvinist Doctrine of Total Depravity and Romans 3:10-11 ("None is Righteous . . . No One Seeks For God"): Reply to James White

Fallacious Calvinist Arguments For Total Depravity: Does Romans 1 Apply Universally to Fallen Man?

Reply to James White's Unwarranted Trashing of Protestant Philosopher and Apologist William Lane Craig / Does Dr. Craig Believe in Original Sin?

Second Council of Orange (529) and Catholic Sola Gratia vs. Calvinist Total Depravity, Etc.: Crucial Distinctions Noted

Mary, the Immaculate Conception, and Original Sin, Jesus and "Immortality", Nestorianism, and Orthodox-Catholic Differences (Christological Controversies)

Adam and Eve: Defense of Their Literal Existence as the Primal Human Couple, by Catholic Philosopher, Dr. Dennis Bonnette

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether God Predestines the Damned to Hell From All Eternity, Limited Atonement, and Total Depravity (Tons of Scripture!)

Fr. Robert Barron Denies That Adam Was a "Literal Figure"

Defending the Literal, Historical Adam of the Genesis Account (vs. Catholic Eric S. Giunta)

Total Depravity: Are the Non-Elect Continually Evil? (vs. John Calvin)

Clarification of My Positions on Predestination and Calvinism (Especially Total Depravity), in Reply to the Ridiculously Muddle-Headed Insults of TAO and in Light of John Bugay's Manifest Abominable Ethics



Predestination and God's Sovereignty

Do Catholics Believe in Predestination?

Catholic Predestination (Ludwig Ott)

Clarification of My Positions on Predestination and Calvinism (Especially Total Depravity), in Reply to the Ridiculously Muddle-Headed Insults of TAO and in Light of John Bugay's Manifest Abominable Ethics

Martin Luther Clearly Taught Double Predestination, Yet Prominent (LCMS) Lutheran Pastor Paul T. McCain Remarkably Denies This

Supposed Contradiction Between 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 (God or Satan as Cause?)

Catholic Predestination, Molinism, and Thomism in a Nutshell

On the Alleged Contradictions of 2 Samuel 24, and 1 Chronicles 21 and 27 (vs. the atheist "DagoodS")

Did God Harden Pharaoh's Heart? (Does God Positively Ordain Evil?) (vs. [atheist] "DagoodS")

Reply to a Calvinist Critique Concerning the "Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart" (vs. Colin Smith)

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace Are True (I.e., Biblical) and Also Part of the Gospel

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether God Predestines the Damned to Hell From All Eternity, Limited Atonement, and Total Depravity (Tons of Scripture!)

Biblical Evidence Against Double Predestination From Lack of Parallelism in Descriptive Terms for the Damned + Non-Calvinist Exegesis of Romans 9

Martin Luther: God is the Author of Evil and Hates Some Men Eternally / Horse and Rider Analogy / No Free Will / Everything (+ Damnation) is Predetermined

Dialogue With a Calvinist on Whether it is Possible to Fall Away from Grace or Salvation

Judas as One of the "Elect" and "Elect Angels": Biblical Conundrum for Calvinists?

A Dialogue on the Nature of God's Foreknowledge and Sovereignty (vs. Dr. Alex Pruss)

Dialogue on Molinism (Speculations on How God Predestines) (vs. "JS")

Molinism, Middle Knowledge, and Predestination: Suarez, Congruism, and the Elegantly Ingenious Solution of Fr. William G. Most

Dialogue on Molinism and God's Mode of Predestination (+ Part II | Part III | Part IV) (vs. "JS")

Judas as One of the "Elect" and "Elect Angels": Biblical Conundrum for Calvinists?

Observations on Arminianism

Last updated on 14 April 2015.

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