Campus Bible Fellowship invites you to a summer cookout on July 23rd at the CrossRoads to the Nations House (74 W. Forest Ave, between Cass and Woodward). Drop in anytime between 5 and 9 pm and enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, and other delicious foods. (Note: We will have a separate grill for those who desire halal meat.) We hope you will be able to join us for this memorable event!
Join us for a new series, based on the book 10 Lies About God by Erwin Lutzer, that addresses common misconceptions about God by considering what the Scripture says on these issues:
God is whatever we want Him to be—June 7
Many paths lead into God’s presence—June 14
God is more tolerant than He used to be—June 21
God is obligated to save followers of other religions—June 28
God takes no responsibility for natural disasters—July 12
God does not know our decisions before we make them—July 19
The Fall ruined God’s plan—July 26
We must choose between God’s pleasures and our own—Aug 2
God helps those who help themselves—Aug 9
The Bible study meets each Monday from 11:30–12:30 in Room 299 of the Student Center.
One of the most common misconceptions in our modern world is that science establishes truth for us. Many seek new or creative interpretations for the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 1–2) because the normal understanding of the text is in conflict with what “science tells us.” Thus, they want to interpret the inerrant Word of God in light of the “truth” of science. After all, one can’t argue with science. Though there are multiple problems with this approach, I want to briefly highlight one.
Certain scientific “truths” that were accepted by the majority of scientists have been reversed after more study. For example, for years most scientists believed in spontaneous generation, a form of abiogenesis, (“the supposed spontaneous origination of living organisms directly from lifeless matter.”) This belief, which included ideas like mold arising from the molecules of decaying bread or mice arising from dirty hay, was shown to be false in 1861 by Louis Pasteur. However, until that time the belief was held dogmatically, and those who questioned it were ridiculed. Fortunately, Pasteur was willing to question science, and because of that actually overturned what science had told us.
In reality, most scientific models of the past have been shown to be false in one way or another as more information came to light. If science is continually changing in that way, why should we accept its current “truth” as dogma? Isn’t it just as possible that the scientific models so strongly held today will be overturned in the coming years? As Christians, we should realize the value and potential of science, when properly conducted, in helping us understand the world that God has made. But we should never look to science to establish truth. We should and must be willing to question the conclusions of science when they contradict with the truth established by Scripture. Because God and His Word are the basis for all truth: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Prov 1:7)
On Friday, May 14, at 6:00 pm Campus Bible Fellowship will depart from DeRoy apartments for the Cincinnati area and spend the night at the facilities of First Baptist Church of Glen Este. On Saturday morning, CBF will visit the Creation Museum. The state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot Creation Museum offers over 160 interactive exhibits and a number of informative videos that bring the pages of the Bible to life, casting its characters and animals in dynamic form and placing them in familiar settings
The Creation Museum features:
· Planetarium
· Special effects theater
· Life-size dinosaur models
· Garden of Eden representation
· Scale model of Noah’s Ark
· Exceptional fossil and mineral collections
· Botanical gardens
At the Museum on Saturday we will also have the privilege of attending a lecture titled: “Creation vs Evolution: What does the scientific evidence really say?” by Dr. Terry Mortenson. With a PhD in the history of geology from the University of Coventry in England and an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Dr. Mortenson has lectured on the creation-evolution controversy in 18 countries since the late 1970s. He is the author of numerous magazine and journal articles and several book chapters as well as the revised version of his PhD thesis, The Great Turning Point: the Church’s Catastrophic Mistake on Geology—Before Darwin. Dr. Mortenson is also the co-editor of Coming to Grips with Genesis: Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth.
We will return to campus at 10 pm Saturday, May 15. The cost for the trip is $35, which includes the van ride, accommodations, breakfast, and the Creation Museum and Planetarium tickets. (You will be responsible for purchasing your lunch and dinner on Saturday.) If you are interested in going, please email us at info@cbfwsu.org to reserve a spot. The money is due May 7. Come and experience history in a completely unprecedented way. (You can see pictures of past trips here and here.)
Often, Christians distort the truth about God’s love. They portray God as a loving Daddy who simply wants people to like Him and would never judge anyone. But the Bible presents a different picture of God. He is not only loving but is also a roaring Lion who pours out His wrath against sinful people. He is a sovereign King who has the right to give and take life, and He is a Holy God who cannot have sin or unrighteousness in His presence. The Bible gives numerous examples of times when God executes His judgment against sinful people, either directly (e.g., the Flood) or indirectly (e.g., through the means of divinely-appointed institutions like the nation of Israel and other human governments). The Bible also teaches that many will ultimately face God’s judgment in a place of eternal torment and separation from God.
However, I can understand why people want to emphasize God’s love, because His love provided a way to avoid His judgment and have your relationship with Him restored. God did not simply ignore the sin and unrighteousness of people, but He offered Himself as a substitute. Jesus, God in human flesh, bore God’s wrath against sin so that we could receive forgiveness and eternal life. God died for us! That is an incredible act of love, as Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). God is not loving because He overlooks sin and lets people go to heaven anyway. God is loving because He paid for sin through Jesus’ death: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation [sacrifice that satisfied God’s wrath] for our sins.” (1 John 4:10.). God is both loving and holy.
Last time I offered two flaws with the accusation of intolerance against those who seek to urge their belief on others. Some claim that anyone who thinks they have found truth, or that they are right and others are wrong, is intolerant. However, intolerance does not mean thinking you are right or that others should adopt your beliefs, but it means trying to harm or hinder someone because their beliefs are different from yours. Believers who witness can be tolerant, because they can disagree with someone and want them to change their beliefs while still respecting them as people made in God’s image. Today, I’d like to share why believers who witness are not only tolerant but are actually loving.
Suppose you and a friend were in class together and were discussing a project you each had to do for the class. Your friend mentions that his project was already over 10 pages, so you remind him that the teacher had emphasized that any project over 8 pages would receive an F. It was even written in the syllabus. Your friend replies, “I don’t care what you think, I know I’ll be ok turning in a project that’s over 10 pages. Maybe 8 pages works for you, but it doesn’t for me.” Now, if you cared for your friend, wouldn’t you try to change his mind? Wouldn’t you want him to realize that turning in a project over 8 pages would hurt his grade?
If you continued to insist to your friend that he should trim his project down to 8 pages, would you be intolerant? Would you be arrogant by thinking that you were right and he was wrong? Of course not. In fact, it would be unloving for you to knowingly let your friend make a decision that you believed would harm him. What kind of person would silently sit by while his friend throws away his grade?
Really, the same basic principles are true for evangelism. As a believer, I know that there is only way to be right with God, through Jesus Christ. God even said that in His Word (John 3:36; 14:6). If a friend says, “I’ve started going to church again because I know I need to get on God’s good side,” it would be unloving for me to let him continue down a path that will harm him without warning him that going to church would not help him with God. As his friend, I would urge him to accept the biblical gospel of faith in Christ alone. My friend might respond that I’m seeking God my way and he is seeking God his way, but that doesn’t change what God already said He requires (anymore than your friend thinking his project can be 10 pages changes what the teacher requires.) And if I truly care for my friend, I’m going to try to urge him to adopt my beliefs. Why? Because it would be unloving not too.
Islam: A Christian Interaction
(These notes were prepared by Ryan H.)
Why understand?
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16
Islam is here.
Muslims live in almost every city in the metro Detroit.
Probably around 40,000 in Dearborn.
7,000-10,000 in Hamtramck with 7 mosques.
Public call to prayer in Dearborn and Hamtramck.
Western Reactions to Islam
“Islam is violent”
“Islam is peaceful”
“All Muslims are…”
Islam is not monolithic. The reality is that Islam has many internal division. The most important is the division between the Sufis and the Shiites. Further there are liberal Muslims, there are moderate Muslims, and there are radical Muslims. There is folk Islam with its shamanistic Muslims and its mystical Muslims.
Islamic Reactions to Christianity
“Christians are immoral”
“All Americans are Christians”
“All Christians believe…”
Necessary Presuppositions
Muslims are people
Folk Islam: tremendous variety of belief
Islam is a total way of life:
Islam is a total way of life:
The Qur’an shows man the way to a realization of his goal on earth; it describes this path in the most complete terms. It is a way of correctly viewing the reality of things; a vision – personal, social and cosmic – based on a correct manner of behavior and a precise method of interaction between men.
–Tabataba’I, p. 26
The Qur’an is a document that is squarely aimed at man; indeed, it calls itself “guidance for mankind” (hudan li’l-nas [2:185] and numerous equivalents elsewhere)…Still the Qur’an is no treatise about God and His nature: His existence, for the Qur’an, is strictly functional.”
–Fazlur Rahman, Major Themes of the Qur’an, p. 1.
Basic Beliefs: Islam
“There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.”
Five pillars
Giving Alms (2% of income)
Prayers (5x daily)
Fasting during month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage (once in life, if able)
Confession of Faith
Basic Beliefs: Christianity
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
Turn to God
Repent, confessing sins
Place faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Having repented enter a new life of love and service for the Lord.
Basic Beliefs: Islam
The Qur’an is an eternally, uncreated book proceeding from God.
There is an eternal copy in heaven.
It was handed down piecemeal.
-Doctrine largely from the Hadith
Paradise
Not with God
Sensual pleasures
Prayer
Pray only God’s words too him
no intercessory prayer.
Basic Beliefs: Christianity
The Bible is the inspired word of God, infallible, and inerrant.
It was produced by men who were guided and guarded by the Holy Spirit making it exactly what God wanted.
Heaven
Eternally dwelling and fellowshipping with God.
Worshiping God forever.
Prayer
“Cast all you care on him because he cares for you”
Basic Beliefs: Islam
Sin
Against God and man.
Good deeds can earn merit and forgive sin.
Varying gradations of sin.
Salvation
Good deeds must outweigh bad
Many say: If you believe in God and put nothing/no one with Him, then you are saved.
Basic Beliefs: Christianity
Sin
Against God
Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice alone the sinner can stand justified before God.
Any sin merits eternal punishment.
Salvation
By grace through faith alone
Only those who come to God by faith in Christ may be saved.
Origins
Mohammed: Born 570, died 632
Born to a society that had at least 365 gods.
Early influences and interactions with Jews and Christians (mostly heretical groups of each)
Began receiving “prophecies” in 610.
Early History
Worked toward a cleansing of the Ka’aba, which was full of idols.
Persecution of early followers in Mecca
Exiled to Medina. Both Hadija and Abu-Talif died in 619. Mohammed becomes much more militaristic. Moves to Medina from 620-622; Launches a guerilla war against Mecca’s trade routes.
Returns to Mecca in 628 with 1400 warriors. The city sues for peace. In 630 he breaks the treaty and seizes control. The Ka’aba is cleansed. Mohammed assumes control of city.
632 Mohammed dies.
Last fall, I pointed out why religion could be bad for Detroit, because a religious message often replaces the Gospel message. I followed up by considering why the Gospel is vital for Detroit (and ultimately the world), because it provides the only real solution for the problems we face. I then briefly looked at a common objection to the role of the Gospel in the world—the objection that religion should be kept private. I’d like to consider a similar objection today.
When someone argues publicly for biblical ideas, and openly admits that these ideas come from the Bible, critics often respond with a charge of intolerance (e.g., Brit Hume’s advice for Tiger Woods). It is considered the height of arrogance to assume that you have a truth that other people should accept or believe. Rather, you must realize that your belief is only for you, and other people’s opinions are just as valid. After all, one of the worst social crimes you could commit is to proselytize.
There are two flaws with this argument. The first is that the person accusing you of intolerance is actually being intolerant. While arguing that you should not force other people to adopt your belief system, he is not only asking that you should adopt his belief system but also condemning yours. He is trying to convince you that his view, which is that everyone should keep their religion to themselves, is better than your view, which is that people should accept the Bible. Thus, he is actually proselytizing himself.
The second flaw is that the argument confuses the concept of tolerance. Tolerance means that, though I disagree with you, I respect your right to hold your position and will not harm you because of that. In other words, I may disagree with you, but I won’t kill you. In this argument, tolerance is redefined to mean that I think your belief is just as right as mine. In other words, I don’t disagree with you, because neither of us can claim to be right. But if there is no disagreement, then there can be no tolerance. Otherwise, what are you tolerating?
Belief in the Gospel and proclamation of the Gospel are not necessarily intolerant, and you should be willing to share your faith with others.
Catholicism: Man
Adam’s sin cause humanity to be corrupted and have a tendency to sin, but man is not totally depraved
Man has a free will that is able to choose either good or evil
Biblical Teaching: Man
The Bible teaches that man is basically evil, and naturally does wrong.
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Ge 6:5).
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Je 17:9).
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:1-5).
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Col 1:21-22)
Catholicism: Purgatory
Purgatory is a temporary place of punishment/payment for sins of those who did not fully pay for their sins on earth.
All those in purgatory will eventually go to heaven, but only after their sins are paid for.
Those who are alive can intercede for those in purgatory and can buy indulgences for them to speed up their time in purgatory
Biblical Teaching: Purgatory
The idea of purgatory implies that Christ’s death on the cross was not sufficient to take away our sins. Again it goes back to the idea of justification by faith and works. Christ said on the cross “It is finished.”
Nothing we can do can ever pay for our sins, because Romans 6:23 states “The wages of sin is death.” Hebrews 9:22b states “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
A temporary time of fire in purgatory would never be able to pay for sins that needed to be paid for. Only Christ’s blood is able to pay for our sins
Catholicism: Pope
The Pope is the visible representative of Christ on earth. He is part of a succession that goes back to Peter
The Pope is not perfect, nor will he necessarily be in heaven, but he is infallible when he issues decrees concerning faith and doctrine ex cathedra
Biblical Teaching: Pope
Nowhere does the Scripture point to a continuing office of Pope.
Jesus Christ is still the head of the church (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18)
Catholicism: Mary
The Catholics have four major dogmas concerning Mary: her motherhood of God, her perpetual virginity, her immaculate conception, and her bodily assumption. Many also believe that she is the mediatrix of all grace and coredemptrix, though this is not the official teaching of the church.
The belief that she is the mother of God comes from the fact that she provided the genetic material for the human body of God.
The belief in her perpetual virginity states that as a child she made a vow to God to remain a virgin her entire life, and that even after she had Jesus that she remained a virgin. Joseph was an older widower who already had children and married her just to protect her.
The belief about the immaculate conception states that Mary was born without original sin. She still needed a savior, but the saving in her case was anticipatory saving.
The belief about Mary’s assumption is that because of her humility and perfection that she did not die but her body was taken immediately to heaven like Elijah and Enoch.
The belief about her being mediatrix of all grace and coredemtprix is not an official belief, but it is believed by many Catholics. This belief says that God has given Mary, who is the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the ability to bestow His grace upon all whom she desires. It states that God has chosen Mary as the vehicle of His grace.
The belief about her being coredemptrix says that she had a part in our redemption because as the mother of God she shared in Christ’s sufferings.
Biblical Teaching: Mary
Mary was not a perpetual virgin
Matthew 1:25 says that Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
At least seven times in the Gospels and Acts it mentions the fact that Jesus had brothers and sisters. While the Catholics correctly state that the word for brother and sister can merely be referring to a cousin, the context would seem to indicate that they are actual brothers of Jesus, or rather half-brothers.
Another belief is that they were the children of Joseph. However, Psalm 69 is clearly a Messianic Psalm. It is a prophesy about Christ. Psalm 69:8 says “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.”
Immaculate Conception
Beside the fact that there is no Scriptural teaching that Mary was born without sin, it also contradicts the teaching that all people are born with sin and commit sin (Rom 3:23; Is 53:6)
Bodily Assumption
There is also no Scriptural teaching that would make us think that Mary’s body was taken to heaven.
Catholicism: Priests
The RC Church believes that only certain people are priests who have the ability to perform certain sacraments.
Confession of sin is to be made to a priest.
Biblical Teaching: Priests
Christ alone is said to be our high priest throughout Hebrews.
Also, In I Peter 2:9 believers are called a holy priesthood.
All believers are priests in the fact that they have direct access to God (Heb 4:16) and are able to offer him spiritual sacrifices (Heb 13:15-16)
Catholicism: Eucharist
The Eucharist is practiced at Mass every Sunday. The RC Church believes in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which states that the elements of bread and wine are changed into actual the body and blood of Christ.
Biblical Teaching: Eucharist
The idea that Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient and the idea that the sacrifice can be repeated (in a way) every mass contradicts the Scriptural teaching that Christ’s sacrifice was a “once for all” payment for sins that needs nothing additional (Heb 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:10)
History
The Roman Catholic Church traces its history back to the beginning of Christianity in the apostolic period. However, until the Great Schism of 1054 (between western Catholicism and eastern Orthodoxy), there was no definite distinction between various Christian churches. Thus, all main branches of Christianity seek to trace their roots back to the apostolic period.
The Roman Catholic Church as it is structured today developed over the years. The Bishop of Rome became increasingly more powerful, eventually rising to supremacy as the Pope around the time of Gregory the Great (A. D. 590-604).
The Great Schism of 1054 effectively separated western and eastern Christendom, allowing Western Europe to be dominated by Roman Catholicism
The Protestant Reformation created another split in the church in the sixteenth century. The counter-reformation, with the Council of Trent (A. D. 1545-1563), dogmatized many teachings that have separated Catholics and Protestants ever since.
The most recent council, Vatican II (1962-1965), sought to accommodate Catholic practice to the modern world to allow for greater dialogue with other “Christian” traditions. It changed the Mass from Latin to the language of the people and encouraged the laity to read the Bible in their own language. While affirming that the Catholic Church is still the only true church, it Vatican II also stated that other churches contain elements of truth, and opened up the possibility that salvation could be found outside the Church.
Hierarchy
Pope: The pope is Christ’s visible head of the church on earth. He is the Bishop of Rome and is the authority for the church on all matters and faith and practice. He is infallible in regard to faith and doctrine and is to be obeyed fully.
Cardinals: Appointed by the pope and are used to counsel him
Archbishops: Oversee a large area of churches
Bishops: Oversee smaller area of churches
Priests: Oversee individual churches
Laymen: Everyone else in church
There are about 1 billion Catholics in the world, and around 72 million in the U.S.
Basic Beliefs: Scripture
The Roman Catholic Church believes in the inspiration of the Bible, but includes in the Old Testament the apocryphal books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, I and II Maccabees, Additions to Esther (joined to Esther) and the Prayer of Azariah, the Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon are added to Daniel. Those these were included in the Latin Vulgate (and in the KJV) they were not officially considered part of the canon until the Council of Trent.
The RC Church also holds to Church Tradition as equally binding and authoritative for Christian belief and practice.
Technically, only the RC Church is able to fully and finally interpret Scripture, though since Vatican II individual Catholics have had more encouragement to study Scripture for themselves
Biblical Teaching: Scriptures
The Apostles continually looked to the Scriptures as authoritative for life and practice (e.g. 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:3, 19-21). The Bereans were considered more noble because they did not merely accept the teaching of the apostles but also evaluated it in light of the Scripture (Acts 17:11).
The Apocryphal books were not viewed as Scripture by the Jews and were never quoted by Jesus and the Apostles, though every book in the OT (except Esther) was quoted in the NT.
If the tradition of the Church contradicts the teaching of Scripture, then tradition must be incorrect because Scripture is superior.
Catholicism: Sacraments
There are 7 Sacraments in the Catholic Church
These Sacraments cause grace to come to those who partake, and are necessary for salvation. However, Holy Orders and Marriage are not necessary for everyone.
Biblical Teaching: Sacraments
Five of the Sacraments are never mentioned in Scripture (at least not as Sacraments)
The two that are, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are commanded to be followed but nowhere are they shown to be necessary for salvation (e.g., the thief on the cross).
Baptism is a public testimony of salvation, not a means to salvation. It pictures the believer’s death with Christ and resurrection to new life (Rom. 6:4).
The Lord’s Supper is shown as a symbol of Christ’s death, and the notion that the bread and wine mysteriously become the body and blood of Christ has no Scriptural evidence. It is to be done in remembrance of Christ’s death (I Cor. 11:20-29).
Catholicism: Salvation
The RC Church opposes the doctrine of justification by faith alone. The Catholic Encyclopedia describes the doctrine as having “reference to the personal appropriation of the Christian salvation, and aims to give all glory to Christ, by declaring that the sinner is justified before God (i.e. is acquitted of guilt, and declared righteous) solely on the ground of the all-sufficient merits of Christ as apprehended by a living faith, in opposition to the theory — then prevalent, and substantially sanctioned by the Council of Trent — which makes faith and good works co-ordinate sources of justification, laying the chief stress upon works. Protestantism does not depreciate good works; but it denies their value as sources or conditions of justification, and insists on them as the necessary fruits of faith, and evidence of justification”
Baptism is when a person is regenerated and is cleansed from original and previous sin.
After baptism, mortal sin can cause a person to lose his/her salvation. It can be regained through penance.
A person can never know for certain that they are saved, because there is always a possibility to fall away.
Modern RC thought maintains that those who have never heard of Christ may be saved as long as they live a good life and believe in the God they know.
Biblical Teaching: Salvation
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that faith alone is necessary for salvation
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10)
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Tit 3:3-7)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Ro 3:23-26)
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.’” (Ro 4:2-8).
Justification is not an infusion of righteousness but an imputation, where Christ’s righteousness is placed on our account
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Co 5:21).
Those who are saved are assured of eternal life
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1).
“but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (Jn 10:26-29).
Catholicism: Atonement
Death of Christ created merit that is dispensed to sinners by the Church through the sacraments.
Christ’s death removed original sin and made it possible for people to earn their salvation.
Biblical Teaching: Atonement
Christ’s death paid the punishment for all our sin
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3)
“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,16‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ 17then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ 18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:10-18)
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