EXCLUSIVELY FOR INSIDERS
Preface
A good news is voiced through a joint declaration between the Roman Catholic Church with the Protestan main-stream Church which was represented by the LWF ( Lutheran World Federation ) Regarding this joint declaration , had been written in Indonesian on my blog : solafide-solagracia.blogspot. com , some time ago . But after walking for so long , I observed that the joint declaration was not yet widely known by Christians, both the Catholic Church and the Protestan Church .
So in this occasion, I picked it up again in the English edition . It is indeed a very happy thing that we found the body of Christ which for nearly 500 years apart , now back into one . The birth of the joint declaration was inseparable from the role of Pope Jhon Paul II , so that in October 31 , 1999 , the joint declaration was signed in Ausburg Germany . The joint declaration is called The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ ) . The third part of the joint declaration reads :
"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 received the Holy Spirit who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works ."
If we look at the word for word , the phrase" By grace alone , in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part , we are accepted by God ." the joint declaration stated that the church has recognized jointly that our salvation is only by grace of Christ alone and not by other causes . This is very important part, because the matter of faith to Christ's saving work had made the church was divided for nearly 500 years.
Whereas since the begining the Bible had said that justification was divided from faith in Christ's saving work where we are justified by God's grace ( Romans 3 : 24 )
The brief history :Whereas since the begining the Bible had said that justification was divided from faith in Christ's saving work where we are justified by God's grace ( Romans 3 : 24 )
In 1517 AD , happened a dispute between Pope Leo X that time , with Martin Luther , a professor of theology was very obedient to the Catholic Church . He also became head of several monasteries accredited pastor . By one thing and another Pope Leo X entered into a sales letter abolition of the punishment (indulgence) that was protested by Luther . In October 31 , 1517 , Luther gluing his 95 theses on the door of Church in Wittenberg so that read by public .
Then there was a difference of views between Luther and Pope Leo X . Luther insisted found that our justification is solely because of our faith in the saving work of Christ . But at that time , Pope Leo X had a different view, so that human effort was accounted for salvation it . In 1520 AD Luther wrote a book " On the freedom of a Christian Man " , where he insisted that the Christian salvation only is obtained by grace alone , in faith to Christ saving work .In that book Luther explained the position of justification and good deeds . Pope Leo X ordered so that Luther revoked his teaching but Luther refused ! Because the Bible says that the salvation is obtained is not from human effort , but by grace alone .
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves ; is it the gift of God , Not of works , lest any man should boast ." ( Ephesians 2 : 8 - 9 King James Version )
The dispute dragged on so as to make Europe was divided into two , partly followed Luther and partly following Pope . Meanwhile , Luther died in 1546 at the age 62 years .Despite the peace of the church in Ausburg in 1955 which recognized the existence of reform church , but more than 40 years since 1517, ,Europe was hit by a commotion as a result of this dispute . Short story , the council of Trent in 1563 did not bring the result, so a definitip church split into the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church . Meanwhile Pope sake Pope alternately occupied the throne of Vatican .
Then around 1960 the two sides began a long approach to the problem, namely the problem of justification is echoed by Luther before . The theologians of both parties learn the doctrine of justification and more intensively where Pope Jhon Paul II came to the throne of the Vatican in 1978 . Finally, after a long process, the joint declaration on the justification was signed at the time of Pope Jhon Paul II , namely on 31 October 1999, the same date as the date when Luther gluing his 95 theses in the door of church in Wittenberg before ( 31 October 1517 ) .
The truth of doctrine :
Prior to the joint declaration on justification , the public know that the justification in the teachings of Catholic Church is based on deeds of love in addition to the work of the cross of Christ . But now, after the signing of the declaration, I red from a Catholic posting stating that Christian salvation is indicative imperative . This means that we do good not to be saved but because we have been saved. .
It was indeed in line with the joint declaration stating that by grace alone in faith to Christ's saving work and not by the actions of goodness in life, we are accepted by God. This is the essence of Christian belief ! All the stuff that fairy set behavior , holiness , perfection, truth , love and as so just load only and not the point ! Because if the essence of Christianity is human actions rather than acts of God , what difference Christianity with others ? Are not other religions also teach that way , that the good deeds will be taken into account by God to obtain heaven ?
In the Bible there are two types of messages that essence of message and load message ! The essence of Christian message aboslute lies in the fact of death and resurrection of Christ . Without the death and resurrection of Christ , there will never be such thing as Christianity . Because Christianity was born from the fact that Jesus died and rose ! So it should be understood that Christianity born not by the teachings of Jesus but from the work of His cross . Must be distinguished between His teachings with His saving work .
We are no saved from His teachings but from His saving work . Meanwhile the load of Christian message , lies in the ethical, moral and Christian way of life is good , which is leaned on the teachings of Jesus . So the apparent difference between the two ! The essence of Christian message lies in the Christ's saving work on the cross and the load of Christian message lies in what Christ taught , regarding life in the world .
Although many churches that promotes the load of Christian message with a focus on a healthy lifestyle such as maintaining holiness , truth , perfection , love and everything that is good deeds , there remains the Christian salvation in fact saving work of Christ and can not be replace by human effort ! Because if our salvation depends on our efforts , that is not grace ! Grace is something that we have received for free without cultivated !
"For ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit , which are God's ." ( 1 Corinthians 6 : 20 King James Version )
Jesus Christ had purchased us with His blood ,in cash , paid off ! ( this is essence of message and indicative ) .Therefore , we must do good deeds , to glorify God , as an expression of our grateful (this is load message and imperative ) So we do good deeds is not to be bought , but because we had been purchased and belong to Christ .
That is the difference between Christianity with other religions in the world . Other relogions are required to do good in the hope of salvation . But Christianity teachs that we must do good because we have been saved ! However , Christianity is not just a religion but " accept what Jesus did on the cross " ! Out of this provision , it is not Christianity !
Now, connected to good deeds , the joint declaration agreed that good works follow justification as the fruit of the justification. It was stated in Section 4.7 No. 37 of the Preamble of the JDDJ ( Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification) . It reads as follows :
" We confess together that good works - a Christian life live in faith , hope and love - follow justification and are its fruits . When the justification live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth , in biblical terms , good fruit. Since Christians struggle against sin their entire lives , this consequence of justification is also for them an obligation they must fulfil . Thus both Jesus and the apostolic Scriptures admonish Christians to bring forth the work of love ."
After reading what is written above we must not replace Christian Salavation are indicative imperative becomes imperative indicative ! Why ? For the good deeds are the fruit of justification and not the nature of justification itself !
Conclusion :
We are grateful for the two largest church denomination in the world have been integrated ! That means that the body of Christ should be the one back in the future before His coming for the second time . The matter that has always been a problem is a matter of salvation . You should know that the way of life to do good deeds it has become a commodity for all human being, regardless of religious viewpoint ! Even people who have no religion also do good because human nature is living in a society in the midst of other human being.
So the church should focus on specific things , namely the problem of Christianity salvation that does not exist in other places besides just on Christianity alone , namely that " we are saved by faith in the Christ's saving work and we are called to do good deeds useful for others." Not wrong that we always teach kindness, but you should know that the teachings was only build characters !
What we need is the depelopment of the Christian faith, so that we understand that only grace alone that saves us ! The depelopment of faith is important because without the depelopment of faith , a Christian is easy to abandon his belief to Jesus . The emphasis on grace is very important for if not , easily the Christians would come out of his faith , because they thought that salvation is obtained from doing good that is also taught by other religions . However specific statements such as biblical text below does not exist in other religions :
" For all have sined, and come short of the glory of God ; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ." ( Romans 3 : 23 - 24 King James Version ).
However we are very grateful for the birth of this joint declaration between the Roman Catholic Church with Protestant Church , has opened a new chapter that in the future the body of Christ will be integrated ! We are all people who are very happy because we get promise of God that through the saving work of Christ ,we have ( not will) been saved ! Lord Jesus Christ bless us forever . Greeting from the sea ! ( Capt. Yordan E.P.Sihombing SH.M.Ap. M.Mar )
"
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves ; is it the gift of God , Not of works , lest any man should boast ." ( Ephesians 2 : 8 - 9 King James Version )
The dispute dragged on so as to make Europe was divided into two , partly followed Luther and partly following Pope . Meanwhile , Luther died in 1546 at the age 62 years .Despite the peace of the church in Ausburg in 1955 which recognized the existence of reform church , but more than 40 years since 1517, ,Europe was hit by a commotion as a result of this dispute . Short story , the council of Trent in 1563 did not bring the result, so a definitip church split into the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church . Meanwhile Pope sake Pope alternately occupied the throne of Vatican .
Then around 1960 the two sides began a long approach to the problem, namely the problem of justification is echoed by Luther before . The theologians of both parties learn the doctrine of justification and more intensively where Pope Jhon Paul II came to the throne of the Vatican in 1978 . Finally, after a long process, the joint declaration on the justification was signed at the time of Pope Jhon Paul II , namely on 31 October 1999, the same date as the date when Luther gluing his 95 theses in the door of church in Wittenberg before ( 31 October 1517 ) .
The truth of doctrine :
Prior to the joint declaration on justification , the public know that the justification in the teachings of Catholic Church is based on deeds of love in addition to the work of the cross of Christ . But now, after the signing of the declaration, I red from a Catholic posting stating that Christian salvation is indicative imperative . This means that we do good not to be saved but because we have been saved. .
It was indeed in line with the joint declaration stating that by grace alone in faith to Christ's saving work and not by the actions of goodness in life, we are accepted by God. This is the essence of Christian belief ! All the stuff that fairy set behavior , holiness , perfection, truth , love and as so just load only and not the point ! Because if the essence of Christianity is human actions rather than acts of God , what difference Christianity with others ? Are not other religions also teach that way , that the good deeds will be taken into account by God to obtain heaven ?
In the Bible there are two types of messages that essence of message and load message ! The essence of Christian message aboslute lies in the fact of death and resurrection of Christ . Without the death and resurrection of Christ , there will never be such thing as Christianity . Because Christianity was born from the fact that Jesus died and rose ! So it should be understood that Christianity born not by the teachings of Jesus but from the work of His cross . Must be distinguished between His teachings with His saving work .
We are no saved from His teachings but from His saving work . Meanwhile the load of Christian message , lies in the ethical, moral and Christian way of life is good , which is leaned on the teachings of Jesus . So the apparent difference between the two ! The essence of Christian message lies in the Christ's saving work on the cross and the load of Christian message lies in what Christ taught , regarding life in the world .
Although many churches that promotes the load of Christian message with a focus on a healthy lifestyle such as maintaining holiness , truth , perfection , love and everything that is good deeds , there remains the Christian salvation in fact saving work of Christ and can not be replace by human effort ! Because if our salvation depends on our efforts , that is not grace ! Grace is something that we have received for free without cultivated !
"For ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit , which are God's ." ( 1 Corinthians 6 : 20 King James Version )
Jesus Christ had purchased us with His blood ,in cash , paid off ! ( this is essence of message and indicative ) .Therefore , we must do good deeds , to glorify God , as an expression of our grateful (this is load message and imperative ) So we do good deeds is not to be bought , but because we had been purchased and belong to Christ .
That is the difference between Christianity with other religions in the world . Other relogions are required to do good in the hope of salvation . But Christianity teachs that we must do good because we have been saved ! However , Christianity is not just a religion but " accept what Jesus did on the cross " ! Out of this provision , it is not Christianity !
Now, connected to good deeds , the joint declaration agreed that good works follow justification as the fruit of the justification. It was stated in Section 4.7 No. 37 of the Preamble of the JDDJ ( Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification) . It reads as follows :
" We confess together that good works - a Christian life live in faith , hope and love - follow justification and are its fruits . When the justification live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth , in biblical terms , good fruit. Since Christians struggle against sin their entire lives , this consequence of justification is also for them an obligation they must fulfil . Thus both Jesus and the apostolic Scriptures admonish Christians to bring forth the work of love ."
After reading what is written above we must not replace Christian Salavation are indicative imperative becomes imperative indicative ! Why ? For the good deeds are the fruit of justification and not the nature of justification itself !
Conclusion :
We are grateful for the two largest church denomination in the world have been integrated ! That means that the body of Christ should be the one back in the future before His coming for the second time . The matter that has always been a problem is a matter of salvation . You should know that the way of life to do good deeds it has become a commodity for all human being, regardless of religious viewpoint ! Even people who have no religion also do good because human nature is living in a society in the midst of other human being.
So the church should focus on specific things , namely the problem of Christianity salvation that does not exist in other places besides just on Christianity alone , namely that " we are saved by faith in the Christ's saving work and we are called to do good deeds useful for others." Not wrong that we always teach kindness, but you should know that the teachings was only build characters !
What we need is the depelopment of the Christian faith, so that we understand that only grace alone that saves us ! The depelopment of faith is important because without the depelopment of faith , a Christian is easy to abandon his belief to Jesus . The emphasis on grace is very important for if not , easily the Christians would come out of his faith , because they thought that salvation is obtained from doing good that is also taught by other religions . However specific statements such as biblical text below does not exist in other religions :
" For all have sined, and come short of the glory of God ; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ." ( Romans 3 : 23 - 24 King James Version ).
However we are very grateful for the birth of this joint declaration between the Roman Catholic Church with Protestant Church , has opened a new chapter that in the future the body of Christ will be integrated ! We are all people who are very happy because we get promise of God that through the saving work of Christ ,we have ( not will) been saved ! Lord Jesus Christ bless us forever . Greeting from the sea ! ( Capt. Yordan E.P.Sihombing SH.M.Ap. M.Mar )
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