Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/1/2008

Question
Dear Reverend,

    I have 4 questions for you? I will try to keep them short and to the point.

    I have heard that Protestants believe that salvation is by faith alone. But doesn't the epistle of James say that salvation is by faith and good works? Wasn't it Martin Luther who said that salvation is by faith alone, adding the "alone" part and therefore putting words into St. Paul's mouth, when all Paul said is that salvation is by faith, which does not negate works? James even says that without works faith is dead. So how do Protestants get around this? Can a Protestant just have faith and having that faith he can lead a terribly sinful life and still go to heaven because he has faith?

    At the end of the Gospel of John Jesus tells the Apostles that if they forgive the sins of men they are forgiven them, and if they hold them bound they are held bound. The Roman Catholic Church accepts this as Jesus giving power to priests to forgive sins and to excommunicate. How do Protestants interpret this if Protestants don't have confession to priests? Protestants were excommuicated by the Roman Catholic Church, but they ignore that. How do they justify it all?  

    How do Protestants interpret Jesus words to St. Peter, You are Peter (Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? Protestants don't have a pope, or any central church authority, so why did Jesus say this to Peter?

    One of the epistles, either James or Jude, speaks of a sin which is unto death. I have heard that many Protestant denominations do not believe in mortal sins, so how do they explain a sin which is unto death?  

Thank You!
~ Andrew

Answer
Hi Andy,

THank you for these four great questions.  I am sorry for my late response.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to deal with each question in detail because I have many other folks who are waiting for answers tot heir questions.  In the future, if you would limit it to one or two basic questions per post, that would help me a great deal... if you do not mind.

   I have heard that Protestants believe that salvation is by faith alone. But doesn't the epistle of James say that salvation is by faith and good works?

This did not originate with the prostestants of the reformation.  Salvation has always been by grace through faith alone.  The Bible is FULL of examples of this truth.  James is simply speaking of how to recognize true faith from a human standpoint.  I cannot see the heart, but I can see actions.  THis is the only tool I have to evaluate.  In that case salvation is demonstrated by works, but not obtained by them.

James 2:18
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Here are some reasons I believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone:

Salvation By Grace Through Faith Alone

I.  Because of Man's Sin

  A.  Man stands guilty before God.
  Romans 3:10-19
  10 As it is written,  There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that    understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of    the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no,    not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used    deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing    and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery    are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no    fear of God before their eyes.
  19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are    under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become    guilty before God.  
  Romans 3:23
  23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
  
  B.  There is a price for that Sin.
  Romans 6:23
  23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus    Christ our Lord.
  Romans 5:12
  12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so    death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  
  Revelation 21:8
  8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and    whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in    the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
  Hebrews 9:22
  22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding    of blood is no remission.
  
  It is evident then from scriptures that the price for sin is not, as many pagan religions and sadly some who call themselves Christian have picked up, that one is purged from sin by good intentions or good works.  The price for sin simply put is death, both physical death and spiritual death.

II.  Because of the Biblical Purpose of the Law.   

  A.  The Law was to expose our sinful condition.
  * Like an MRI machine exposes disease.
  Romans 3:19-21
  19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are    under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become    guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be    justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the    righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law    and the prophets;

  B.  The Law is our Schoolmaster.
  Galatians 3:21-26
  21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been    a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by    the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by    faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith    came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards    be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,    that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no    longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in    Christ Jesus.
  
  C.  Keeping the Law to gain Salvation or keep from losing it, is futile.
  James 2:10-11
  10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is    guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.    Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of    the law.  
  Galatians 2:21
  21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then    Christ is dead in vain.

  D.  Repentance from trusting dead works is the foundation of Salvation.
  Hebrews 6:1
  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto    perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and    of faith toward God,  

III.   Because of God's Solution for Man's Sin: Grace.

  A.  God's justice demanded the payment for sin.
  1 Peter 1:18-23
  18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as    silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your    fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish    and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the    world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in    God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and    hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth    through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one    another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,    but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
  John 3:16
  16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that    whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  2 Corinthians 5:21
  21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be    made the righteousness of God in him.

  B.  Justification comes through faith.   
  Here is what Vine says about the Greek word for Justification:
  1. dikaiosis (1347) denotes “the act of pronouncing righteous, justification,    acquittal”
  W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, Vine’s complete expository    dictionary of Old and New Testament words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos    Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.
  
  Romans 3:24-28
  24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ    Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,    to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the    forbearance of God;   26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he    might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is    boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of    faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds    of the law.

  C.  Salvation by faith alone was always God's plan.
  Romans 4:19-25
  19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when    he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20     He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,    giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he    was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for    righteousness.
  23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But    for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus    our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised    again for our justification.
  
  IMPUTE  
  1. logizomai (3049), “to reckon, take into account,” or, metaphorically, “to    put down to a person’s account,”
  W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, Vine’s complete expository    dictionary of Old and New Testament words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos    Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

  D.  The only channel to God's grace is faith.
  Romans 5:1-2
  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus    Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,    and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

IV.  Grace and Works Cannot Mix

  A.  Works can only repay debt, not gain or keep righteousness.
  Romans 4:1-5
  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath    found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but    not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it    was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward    not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on    him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

  B.  Works and Grace cancel each other out.
  Romans 11:6
  6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.    But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
  Ephesians 2:8-9
  8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift    of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  C.  If one is saved by grace, he cannot be kept by works.
  Galatians 3:1-3
  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,    before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?    2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law,    or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye    now made perfect by the flesh?
  Romans 8:31-39
  31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against    us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall    he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the    charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It    is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of    God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love    of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,    or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,  For thy sake we are killed all the day long;    we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are    more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that    neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things    present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,    shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our    Lord.

  D. We are not under the bondage of ceremonial laws.
  Colossians 2:14-17
  14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was    contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having    spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing    over them in it.  



  At the end of the Gospel of John Jesus tells the Apostles that if they forgive the sins of men they are forgiven them, and if they hold them bound they are held bound. The Roman Catholic Church accepts this as Jesus giving power to priests to forgive sins and to excommunicate. How do Protestants interpret this if Protestants don't have confession to priests? Protestants were excommuicated by the Roman Catholic Church, but they ignore that. How do they justify it all?  

This is speaking of giving the gospel to those who are still trusting in works.



   How do Protestants interpret Jesus words to St. Peter, You are Peter (Rock) and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? Protestants don't have a pope, or any central church authority, so why did Jesus say this to Peter?


Matthew 16:16-18
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

This is an interesting play on words in the Greek.  Jesus says thou art Peter (petros - little stone) upon this ROCK (Petra - foundation stone) I will build my church.  Jesus is the foundation stone not Peter.  Other scripture helps us to understand this:


1 Corinthians 3:10-11
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Acts 4:10-12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Jesus is the Rock, not Peter.... peter is the little stone.

One of the epistles, either James or Jude, speaks of a sin which is unto death. I have heard that many Protestant denominations do not believe in mortal sins, so how do they explain a sin which is unto death?

It is First John.  

1 John 5:15-16
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

This is speaking of the consequences of sin.  Some sin brings physical death.  All sin brings spiritual death.

James 1:14-15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don