Biblical Catholic Salvation: “Faith Working Through Love”

by Dave Armstrong

Publisher:

Dave Armstrong

, 2010

Catholic apologist and author Dave Armstrong leads the reader on a fascinating theological journey through many different ideas related to salvation and justification theology (soteriology). Armstrong devotes special emphasis to demonstrating that Catholics do not believe in “works-salvation.” It may surprise some to learn that Catholics, like Protestants, embrace Grace Alone and reject both Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism. The overwhelming theme is the biblical evidence for Catholic soteriological positions. To that end, these chapters are devoted specifically to a critique of Calvinism—or self-described “Reformed” theology—and its beliefs with regard to the five points of what is known as “TULIP”: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. This volume includes hundreds of biblical passages fully written out (RSV) for the convenience of the reader.

Contents

Top Highlights

“The terminology of men ‘earning salvation’ is false if by it we mean Pelagianism or works-salvation. It is true in terms of cooperative merit. God gives us the grace to participate and work together with Him. Merit is God crowning His own gifts, as St. Augustine famously stated. He wants us to participate in the thing, but it is all by grace and never without it.” (Page 12)

“Man’s free will to do good is ‘moved and excited by God’: at which time man can then cooperate, in this grace:” (Page 8)

“The person with grace then has the power to cooperate with grace by working together with God, including for salvation (see chapter 8). Everything is caused by this grace; without it we could do no good thing. Catholics and Protestants agree on that. Disagreements arise in the area of how we cooperate with God and how we classify things.” (Page 7)

“The Catholic position is that grace is the ultimate cause of our free will decisions and good works, in cooperation with that grace, whereas Calvinism / monergism rejects free will altogether (the whole gist of the Luther-Erasmus debate) and all good works before regeneration (i.e., total depravity).” (Page 20)

“Grace comes first, causing conversion. Man is ‘moved by grace.’ At that point it is monergistic:” (Page 9)

Product Details

• Title: Biblical Catholic Salvation: “Faith Working through Love”
• Author: Dave Armstrong
• Publisher: Dave Armstrong
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Salvation › Catholic Church
• Resource ID: LLS:BBLCLCTHLCSLVTN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:11:01Z

About Dave Armstrong

David Armstrong is a Catholic apologist and author (convert from evangelical Protestantism in 1991). His conversion story is in Surprised by Truth (1994). He has been published in The Catholic Answer, This Rock, Envoy, and other periodicals. His many radio appearances include “Catholic Answers Live” and “Faith & Family Live.”