The above video is the third in the series of 16 short video clips from RC Sproul, which I had referred to in my previous posts. In this video he discusses and compares various aspects of Reformed, Arminian, and Catholic theology on the subject of salvation through faith, grace, or “works” as follows:
“When J I Packer wrote the historical introduction to the Fleming Revell edition of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will, he gave a serious warning to English readers about the parallels between historic Roman Catholicism and the drifts found within Arminianism; and yet I think we also have to be fair here, and say that there are some very important differences between historic Arminianism and Roman Catholicism. But we can explore that in a few moments, and show how they do touch each other, and can become seductive; that the weaknesses of Arminianism I believe expose a person to the Roman Catholic view.
“I think it would be true to think that in the 17th century, when the Reformed faith had its crisis with Arminianism, that ended in the Synod of Dordrecht, that the Reformers felt that if they acquiesced to the protests, or the remonstrations of the Arminians at that time, that in a very real way they would have been putting their feet back on a path to Rome. Now let me clarify that. I don’t think any of them believed that Arminianism was, or is today, Roman Catholicism. We are talking about putting your feet on a path that goes in a certain direction. Now the big difference between historic Arminianism and Roman Catholicism is that Arminianism does believe, and affirms categorically the doctrine of justification by faith alone—that is, an orthodox Arminian believes that the grounds for his justification, for his salvation, is not his own righteousness, but the righteousness that has been won for him by the work of Jesus Christ.
“Now both Rome and Arminianism believe that the work of Christ is necessary, that grace is necessary, that faith is necessary. They all agree on that. But in the final analysis, the Roman Catholic Church would say that God declares me just if and only when I become inherently righteous. I can’t be righteous without the help of grace, without the help of Jesus, without the help of faith, and all of that; but not until I become actually righteous will God declare me righteous; whereas historic Arminianism believes that the righteousness by which we are saved, is a righteousness that is not in me, but it is outside of me, that has been performed by Jesus; and I receive the imputation of that righteousness when I have faith. And so again, from a creedal perspective, it would be slanderous to the Armenian cause to accuse them of being Roman Catholic in their theology. However when you get down to the nitty-gritty, and you push Arminianism to its logical conclusion, there is where you see the extreme danger of slipping into a works-righteousness.”
There is a logical inconsistency in that argument. He is effectively identifying the Roman Catholic theological position as one of “works-righteousness,” without expressly saying so, and without explaining how or why. He acknowledges that in Roman Catholic theology, everything still happens by grace, through faith, and by virtue of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But because the Catholic Church believes that we must not only be declared righteous, but we must also become righteous (by grace, and by virtue of the Atonement of Jesus Christ) to be saved, he still identifies that as a “works-righteousness”—but without explaining how or why. Well, the Catholic theological position (as usual) turns out to be a lot closer to the Bible than the Reformed and the Calvinistic one.
Calvinism focuses solely on “justification,” and makes no mention of sanctification. It says that you are “justified” (declared righteous) by “imputation” and by “faith alone” (without requiring repentance); and ignores sanctification. In other words, you still remain in your sins. You are simply “declared” righteous by “imputation” and “faith alone,” while still remaining in your sins. “Repentance” is something that just “happens” to you whether you like it or not because you have “believed”—which is heretical and false, and not biblical.
The Bible, however, tells a different story. It teaches that we must not only be “justified” (through faith and genuine repentance), we must also be sanctified to gain eternal life. And to be “sanctified” means to become righteous and holy—not just “declared” to be such. That is why the early Christians were called “saints”. A “saint” by definition is somebody who is sanctified, or made righteous and holy—not just “declared” to be such. That is the theology that the Bible teaches; and apparently also what the Catholic Church teaches. I am not an expert on Catholic theology, but RC Sproul is, and that is what he says, and I take his word for it. The Bible teaches that we must be sanctified, not only “justified,” to gain salvation and eternal life:
Acts 20:
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 26:
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Romans 15:
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 1:
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 6:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Thessalonians 5:
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Hebrews 2:
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Hebrews 10:
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Jude 1:
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
So the bottom line is that Calvinism is false, unbiblical, and a heresy; whereas Catholic theology is far more biblical and closer to the truth than the Calvinistic and Reformed theology is. The Bible teaches that we must not only be justified (through faith and genuine repentance) to be saved; but we must also be sanctified—i.e. made righteous and holy to gain eternal life. Calvinism ignores the sanctification bit altogether, and creates a perverse concoction of “justification” in which the “righteousness” of Christ is “imputed” to the sinner through “faith alone,” without the need even for genuine repentance. It is hard to imagine a more damnable heresy that has been invented since Christianity came into existence. And by the way, the Book of Mormon teaches the doctrine of sanctification (like many other doctrines) more clearly than the Bible does. Here are some quotes:
Helaman 3:
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
Alma 5:
54 Yea ... having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance.
Alma 13:
11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
13 And now my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.
3 Nephi 27:
20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
Ether 4:
7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
Moroni 10:
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Doctrine and Covenants 20:
30 And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
31 And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength.
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