Council of Trent response to Luther

what was the main use of the Council of Trent?

to consider its response to the Reformation

what questions did they ask on the subject of justification? (1)

• is justification the gift of God or does it require human effort?

• what is the relationship between faith and good works?

• what is the relation between justification and good works?

what questions did they ask on the subject of justification? (2)

• can people know they are justified?

• can people earn justification through works?

how did they conclude this in 1547? (1)

• God does not just make people righteous, they must become righteous

• good works are required as a condition for ultimate justification

how did they conclude this in 1547? (2)

people cannot bring about their own salvation, they must cooperate with the grace of God

how does justification work?

in 2 phases

what is the first phase?

righteousness is mediated through baptism, which is God’s gift of grace

what is the second phase?

righteousness is increased by participation in the Eucharist and penance, and by doing good works

what is there a middle position between?

assurance of salvation and despair. People can have a relative (not absolute) certainty of justification

neither what can be said to merit justification?

neither faith nor works. Initial justification is by grace, but works are necessary for progressive salvation

what is there biblical support to support the doctrine that God acquits sinners of guilt?

in the sense of not counting their sins against them

what biblical support is there that supports the idea of God acquitting sinners of guilt in the sense of not counting their sins against them?

2 Corinthians - ‘In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.’

therefore what is justification?

a declarative act of God’s grace

what did Trent proclaim?

that ‘by his good works the justified man acquires a claim to supernatural reward from God’

how does Trent’s proclamation contradict biblical teaching?

contradicts the teaching that good works do not merit grace

what is grace?

a gift and is unmerited

what did Trent declare? what does this contradict?

‘those who work well unto the end,… life eternal is… a recompense… to their good works and merit’. contradicts that eternal life is ‘the gift of God’ (Romans) and is available right now to those who believe (John)

what does John 6:29 clearly state?

the only ‘work’ necessary fro salvation is to believe

why do christian believers work?

not in order to receive salvation but because they have already received it

what are good works not necessary for? what are they necessary for instead?

not necessary for salvation but salvation inevitably produces good works