Pope Paul, the Unlearned Plagiarist, Tackles Justification by Faith

Paul McCain on Cyberbrethren, Quoting F. Pieper

Not even in this respect, namely, in so far as it is a gift of the Holy Ghost, does faith justify, but simply inasmuch as it stands in relation to Christ (quatenus habet se correlative ad Christum). Here the principal question is not whence, or what sort of work, faith is or in what respect it surpasses other works, since faith does not justify per se (on its own account) or by any intrinsic value (virtute aliqua intrinseca).” (Erl. 58, p. 353.)

Francis Pieper, vol. 2, Christian Dogmatics, electronic ed., 440 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999).

Note: This is an important concept that we lose when we begin to regard “Faith” to be that one good work we do in order to be saved. Even Faith is a pure gift from God, a gracious gift, a loving, merciful gift from a loving, merciful God who eagerly desires our salvation. Dead men do not raise themselves. Dead men can not “believe” their way into God’s grace. Even faith is pure gift, from God!

***

GJ - Pope Paul, the Unlearned Plagiarist, can turn justification by faith into a farrago of contradictions. What exactly is his opinion on the Hunnius theses just published?

Agree or disagree? He has to make a decision, to quote the UOJ stylists.

Put another nickel in,
In the papal copy bin.
All he wants is bended knees,
And Luth'run genuflection.
Paul wants everything from you,
Anything he can get through,
He just earns $one-eighty-two,
From blogging, blogging, blogging.