Salvation by Grace Alone: 25 Passages

Last updated on: April 30, 2026 at 12:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

Contra Works-Salvation, or Pelagianism, or Semi-Pelagianism Catholics do not believe that they are saved by works. We believe salvation is brought about by God’s grace, that we cooperate with, after regeneration and initial justification, leading to an authentic faith – not faith alone — that organically includes good works within itself (“faith was completed by works”; “faith apart from works is dead”: James 2:22, 26). That said, we completely agree with Protestants with regard to the biblical data on grace alone: by which... Read more

John Wesley vs. Extrinsic Justification & “Faith Alone”

Last updated on: April 29, 2026 at 11:23 am By Dave Armstrong

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John Wesley (1703-1791), the evangelistic giant of the 18th century revival in England and figurehead of Methodism (though he himself never formally left the Anglican Church) thought that imputed justification was false and thus spiritually harmful as a result. He is the most well-known and influential Protestant who rejected faith alone as an explanation of the biblical soteriological data. Of this there can be no doubt, because we have an abundance of confirming statements from him. Alister McGrath, in... Read more

John Calvin & Calvinists on Forensic Justification

Last updated on: April 28, 2026 at 4:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

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John Calvin (1509-1564) was the second most important early Protestant leader (aka “reformer”), but I would contend that he has had more historical influence on Protestantism than even Martin Luther. He added his own distinctive features to the development of justification in Protestantism. Anglican Church historian Alister McGrath explains: Calvin’s insistence upon the distinctiveness yet inseparability of justification and sanctification must be taken very seriously, as must the analogies that Calvin uses in exploring this point – such as that... Read more

Philip Melanchthon & Imputed Justification

Last updated on: April 28, 2026 at 12:02 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560), the mild-mannered scholar who was temperamentally the polar opposite of Martin Luther, yet his best friend and successor, was the father of modern German education, a humanist, author of much of the confessional Lutheran Book of Concord, and of the first systematic theology of Protestantism, Loci Communes (1521; revised in 1535, 1543 and 1559). About the latter, Martin Luther wrote, “No better book has been written after the Holy Scriptures than Philip’s. He expresses himself more concisely... Read more

St. Augustine (No “Proto-Protestant”) vs. “Faith Alone”

Last updated on: April 25, 2026 at 8:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Our esteemed Protestant brethren (especially Reformed Protestants, or Calvinists) often assert that the views of St. Augustine (354-430) were closer to theirs than to the present-day Catholic Church (including — very much –, this issue of faith alone and soteriology in general). In this they follow the founders of their theological traditions: Martin Luther and John Calvin; though the “allegiance” of these two men to Augustine – closely examined – is selective and a “mixed record” at best. I... Read more

Miraculous Eucharist (vs. Francois Turretin #4)

Last updated on: April 24, 2026 at 6:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

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This is the transcript of the initial presentation of the video, “The Eucharist is a Miracle! [Biblical Proof]” (Catholic Bible Highlights with Kenny Burchard, 4-24-26) ***** François Turretin (1623-1687) is regarded as the most important Calvinist theologian and apologist after John Calvin himself. I will cite his most important work, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Vol. 3, and offer replies to it (his words in blue). Here’s the first quotation from that work: A body cannot be granted which does not have... Read more

“Faith Alone” Disproven by 30 Church Fathers

Last updated on: April 24, 2026 at 10:05 am By Dave Armstrong

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“Faith Alone” (sola fide in Latin) is, as Protestants say — one of the two “pillars” of the Protestant “Reformation” (along with sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone). Protestants use the term “reformation” to describe their origins in the 16th century because it’s their belief that they were bringing back the teachings of the early Church which the Catholic Church supposedly had greatly corrupted (hence, the description of “reform”). The serious problem with this outlook, however, is that these two “pillars” are... Read more

Luther & “Faith Alone”: An In-Depth Examination

Last updated on: April 21, 2026 at 12:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

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I looked up “faith alone” in the index for the 55-volume set, Luther’s Works [“LW” henceforth], that sits in my living room, and almost all the references it gave were to The Judgment of Martin Luther on Monastic Vows: second edition of June 1522 (Vol. 44, pp. 245-400). These provide the most basic, bare-bones statements of the position, and so serve as a good introduction to our topic. Founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther’s words will be in blue throughout... Read more

Reply to “Gospel” Preaching Directed to Catholics

Last updated on: April 20, 2026 at 9:22 am By Dave Armstrong

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Matthew Everhard is a Presbyterian pastor. His YouTube channel, that goes by his name, has 80,000 subscribers. Today we’ll be taking a look at his video, “Witnessing to your Roman Catholic Friends and Family: How to Share the Gospel with Catholics” (4-8-26). His words will be in blue. I use RSV for biblical citations. ***** 0:01: We all have Roman Catholic family and friends that we care for. We want them to be saved. We want them to go... Read more

“Reformation” Debate (vs. Lutheran Nathan Rinne), Pt. 2

Last updated on: April 18, 2026 at 11:04 am By Dave Armstrong

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For background, see Part 1: “Reformation” Debate (vs. Lutheran Nathan Rinne) . . . Including St. Augustine’s Opposition to Imputed Justification, “Faith Alone” & Other Protestant Unprecedented Innovations *** No traditional Catholic dogmas have been changed or overturned. We’re still against abortion and divorce and contraception (all Protestants agreed with us till 1930, and Luther thought it was murder). We still teach the Holy Trinity and everything in the Nicene Creed. If you think we have changed something, by all... Read more

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