Is justification the gift of God or does it require human effort? What is the relationship between faith and good works? What is the relationship between justification and the sacraments? Can people know that they are justified? Can people earn justification through works? In 1547 it concluded that: God does not make people righteous; they become righteous. Good are required as a condition for ultimate justification. People cannot bring about their own salvation; they must cooperate with the grace of God. Justification works in two phases. In the first phase, righteousness is mediated through baptism, which is God’s gift of grace. In the second, righteousness is increased by participation in the Eucharist and penance, and by doing good works. There is a middle position between assurance of salvation and despair. People can have a relative (not absolute) certainty of justification. Neither faith nor works can be said to merit justification. Initial justification is by grace, but works are necessary for progressive salvation. What, according to the Council of Trent, are the two phases of justification? In you must each choose a conclusion made by the Council of Trent and then write about whether or not you agree with the conclusion and why. Then discuss your views. Protestant criticism of the Council of Trent are biblical grounds to support the doctrine that God acquits sinners of guilt in the sense of not counting their sins against them. There is an example in 2 Corinthians 5:19 where Paul says: Christ ‘in Justification is God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.’ thus a declarative act of God’s grace.
Is justification the gift of God or does it require human effort? What is the relationship between faith and good works? What is the relationship between justification and the sacraments? Can people know that they are justified? Can people earn justification through works? In 1547 it concluded that: God does not make people righteous; they become righteous. Good are required as a condition for ultimate justification. People cannot bring about their own salvation; they must cooperate with the grace of God. Justification works in two phases. In the first phase, righteousness is mediated through baptism, which is God’s gift of grace. In the second, righteousness is increased by participation in the Eucharist and penance, and by doing good works. There is a middle position between assurance of salvation and despair. People can have a relative (not absolute) certainty of justification. Neither faith nor works can be said to merit justification. Initial justification is by grace, but works are necessary for progressive salvation. What, according to the Council of Trent, are the two phases of justification? In you must each choose a conclusion made by the Council of Trent and then write about whether or not you agree with the conclusion and why. Then discuss your views. Protestant criticism of the Council of Trent are biblical grounds to support the doctrine that God acquits sinners of guilt in the sense of not counting their sins against them. There is an example in 2 Corinthians 5:19 where Paul says: ‘in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.’ Justification is thus a declarative act of God’s grace.
2-d-e-and-f-booklet1.docx