This is the transcript for the video short of the same name (1-7-26).
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Lutheran professor and pastor Jordan Cooper, in his video entitled, “Where the Divide Between Roman Catholics and Protestants Really Lies” (1-6-26) stated: “the primary issue that divides us is that of the quantification of grace” (4:40) and criticizes the Catholic view that “you can get more grace” (5:26). He describes this as “foreign” (5:43) to the way Protestants think, and adds, “this really is in opposition to the message of the New Testament” (20:24). “It’s not the New Testament conception of grace” (20:47). And lastly, “I don’t think you find that kind of thing among the Church fathers” (18:46).
Oddly enough, he provides no Bible passages in support of his sweeping claim. I dealt with this issue way back in 2017, and I can provide ten Bible passages that contradict this outlook of his, that he thinks is a “primary” dispute. Here we go! I cite RSV. The bracketed passages weren’t in the video:
[John 1:16 And from his fulness have we all received, GRACE UPON GRACE.]
Acts 4:33 … GREAT grace was upon them all.
Romans 5:20 … where sin increased, grace ABOUNDED ALL THE MORE,
Romans 6:1 … Are we to continue in sin that grace may ABOUND?
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the MEASURE OF FAITH which God has assigned him.
Ephesians 4:7 But grace was given to each of us according to the MEASURE of Christ’s gift.
[Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and FIND GRACE TO HELP in time of need.]
James 4:6 But he gives MORE grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (compare 1 Peter 5:5)
1 Peter 1:2 … May grace and peace be MULTIPLIED to you. (same in 2 Pet 1:2)
1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s VARIED grace.
2 Peter 3:18 But GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . . .
St. Augustine wrote, “When sin is remitted, your sins fall, your grace rises” [Explanations of the Psalms, 103:12 (103, 16) ] and “only let us love, only let us grow in grace” [Explanations of the Psalms (128, 8) ] and “the gifts of Divine grace are many, and one is greater and better than another” [On Holy Virginity, 46] and “we grow in grace” [Enchiridion: Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love, 115]. St. John Chrysostom wrote about St. Stephen: “he drew upon himself greater grace” [Homily XV on Acts 6:8].
I respectfully submit that Rev. Cooper would benefit from doing a bit more study before he sets out to make these sorts of grandiose claims. At the very least, he could produce some alleged biblical proofs, as opposed to none. In any event, everyone benefits from hearing from the other side in big conflicts of importance, rather than merely unsupported claims from one side only. We must all follow the Bible wherever it leads us.
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