The Pope has landed. And from the various news reports one might be forgiven for asking ‘and the Catholic faith is…’ The Pope so far as I can tell is asking for belief or faith to be included in any discussions. But faith in what, I’ve yet to hear on any report over the last few weeks running up to the Pope’s visit. Are we to have some sort of blind faith in well, I’ve no idea.
The Reformation put at its heart a return to or the re-discovery of the doctrine of Justification by faith ALONE. Now that’s the sticking point. The Catholic Church will acknowledge justification by faith – but NOT by faith ALONE. Of course, justification by faith plus something else is very attractive to people because it means they can contribute something to their salvation and feel good about themselves.
Have we forgotten Reformers such as John Knox, who, to coloquialise, ‘would be turning in his grave’. Amidst all the politicking I would remind people that the Reformation is not over and never will be until the Catholic Church recants over statements made by the Council of Trent on Justification by Faith. It’s highly unlikely that it will. Journalists if they were doing their job properly would be pressing Catholic representatives on this – but they won’t. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story eh.
One of the aims – the main aim really – of this blog is to point people (sinners) to The Lord Jesus Christ and faith in Him for Salvation. There is only one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. No need for a Pope and the blasphemous doctrines of Rome.