[narses]

Here in Advent many who attack the Church do so with falsehoods about what we believe. In an effort to help dispel those, I post this.

[Fester Chugabrew]

“But finally, God Himself, rich in mercy, sets His Son before us in the Gospel as atonement. And those who through faith take recourse to that Son the Mediator, and apprehend Him by faith - those the Father justifies from the charge placed by the Law and from the sentence of condemnation; that is, He absolves for the sake of Christ, and, by imputation of the obedience and death of Christ, declares righteous and awards life eternal. . . .

[F]aith justifies, not because it is such an outstanding work of God and virtue in us, but because it apprehends Christ, who is our propitiation and righteousness, and relies and confides in Him.”"

But why does Scripture ascribe justification to faith?

First, to show that our righteousness before God is not to be built on our works and merits . . . . Second, . . . that we might be sure how, when, and through what means it might be applied to us, so that it might be ours, and that we might be able confidently to rejoice in it and safely rely on it as on completely sure comfort . . . ."

-Martin Chemnitz

[Salvation]

Council of Trent, On Justification, Ch. VIII and XVI
Course on Grace: Grace Considered Extensively, Justification in the N. Testament [Catholic&Open]

Essays for Lent: Justification
Joint Declaration on Justification
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
Catechism: 1987-1995 Justification is a transformation
Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist leaders to mark 10th anniv of Joint Declaration on Justification
Setting the Record Straight [Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]
The Basic Catholic Doctrine of Justification by Faith
Pope notes progress in Lutheran-Catholic dialogue over justification
On St. Paul and Justification
The Early Church Fathers on Justification - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus

[HarleyD]

Here in Advent many who attack the Church do so with falsehoods about what we believe. In an effort to help dispel those, I post this.

The Church is a bit confusing when it comes to understanding what it believes. It's a small wonder that it confuses the rest of us. There is much that can be picked on from the Council of Trent; 1) how the teaching of "free will" differs from the Council of Orange, 2) how the doctrinal misunderstanding of working for our salvation is at odds with the concept of grace, or 3) how the interpretation of predestination goes against some of the early fathers teaching on the matter (like Augustine), to name but a few items.

However, in the spirit of Advent one can only simply ponder that if God could save Mary with "special grace" and refrain her from sinning, why doesn't He do the same thing for everyone since He shows no partiality? The world would be a better place for it. Of that I'm sure God would agree. But then, that is another erroneous Church teaching.