Has the Roman Catholic Church Changed Its Doctrine of Justification?

Anglican Episcopal Bishop Anthony Palmer, who has joined the pope in calling for Christian unity and condemning “division,” claims that the issue of justification has been settled and that Rome has agreed that justification is by grace alone. Therefore, there is no reason for further disunity. The protest is over, he says; there should be no more “protestants”; all Christians should be “catholics”; there should be one “church.” If the issue were not so serious with such terrible eternal ramifications, this position would be laughable. Palmer is referring to the 1999 Joint Declaration of Justification that was signed by the Vatican and some Lutheran denominations and has since been accepted by some Methodists. The declaration states, “Together we confess: by grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.”

FIRST, PALMER IS WRONG ABOUT ROME’S DOCTRINE OF SALVATION.

The Joint Declaration on Justification doesn't mean that the Roman Catholic Church no longer preaches salvation through sacraments! Rome has a genius for giving theological words new meanings. She is a chameleon who has changed colors countless times. In the current debate, she has redefined “grace” and “alone” and “justification.” She is an ecclesiastical example of a naughty little boy telling a lie with his fingers’ crossed behind his back, and the apostate Protestants sitting at her table don’t know or care. In the Council of Trent and the Second Vatican Council and the New Catholic Catechism, Rome stated her doctrine of salvation in the clearest of terms: salvation is by faith in Christ PLUS sacraments. Salvation was purchased by Christ and given to the “church” to be distributed through the sacraments, and it begins with baptismal regeneration. Rome has expressed ZERO repentance for this false gospel. (For documentation see the report “How Rome Denies Salvation by Grace Alone” at the Way of Life web site.)

SECOND, PALMER IS WRONG ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF THE REFORMATION.

Insofar as it went (and it fell terribly short of being Scriptural), the essence of the Reformation was about the authority of Scripture -- sola scriptura. And the Roman Catholic Church is not even pretending that Scripture is the sole authority for its faith and practice. For this essential fact to be ignored shows the duplicity of the unity movement.

THIRD, PALMER IS WRONG ABOUT THE BASIS FOR UNITY.

Even if two professing Christians or churches agree on the doctrine of salvation, that is far from being a sufficient basis for unity in fellowship and ministry. We are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). What part of the faith? All of it! We are to mark and avoid those whose teaching is contrary to the doctrine which we have learned from Scripture (Rom. 16:17). Even if one accepts the philosophy of “essential” vs. “non-essential” doctrine, there are still dozens of “essential” doctrines that would form the basis for separation. We are to prove ALL things, not just some things (1 Thess. 5:21). Paul taught Timothy to allow “no other doctrine” into the churches (1 Tim. 1:3). This is not a complicated matter. The bottom line is that it is impossible to join any unity movement today while being faithful to God’s Word.

(Friday Church News Notes, February 28, 2014, www.wayoflife.org [email protected], 866-295-4143)

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