DENIAL OF FAITH WITHOUT WORKS SOUNDS DEATH KNELL OF PROTESTANTISM
From BibleGateway (NKJV):-
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. . .
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:3-4, 8-12; italized and underscored emphasis added.)
The Apostle Paul states plainly, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (Underscored and italicized emphasis added; cf. ANTI-CHRIST - WHO IS HE?.)
Compromise is evidence that the compromisers "did not receive the love of the truth," and the Apostle prophesies that God sends them "strong delusion, that they should believe the lie." This prophecy clearly applies to the times immediately preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The compromise reported in the following article is a part of the ecumenical movement's progress towards complete unity between Rome and the great Protestant movement which was once her nemesis. The compromisers who reject the truth and have pleasure in unrighteousness are condemned, as is Rome herself:-
Reformed churches endorse Catholic-Lutheran accord on key Reformation dispute
Amid ceremonies this year marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, one of Protestantism’s leading branches has officially said it now agrees with the Vatican on the main issue at the root of its split from the Roman Catholic Church half a millennium ago.
The World Communion of Reformed Churches, holding its once-in-seven-years worldwide General Council in Germany, signed a declaration this week endorsing the 1999 Catholic-Lutheran agreement on how Christians might be worthy of salvation in the eyes of God.
The ceremony took place in Wittenberg, where in 1517 Martin Luther unveiled the 95 Theses that launched the Reformation and with it centuries of dispute about whether eternal salvation comes from faith alone — the position of the [then] new Protestant movement — or if it also requires good works on Earth as Catholics argued. . .
This decision by the WCRC — representing 80 million members of Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldensian churches — marked another step in a gradual but remarkable reconciliation on this issue among Christians who once fought wars and declared each other heretics over just such questions.
The World Methodist Council formally endorsed the Catholic-Lutheran accord, known as the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, in 2006. The Anglican Communion is expected to do the same later this year. . .
The Joint Declaration effectively closes the centuries-old “faith versus works” debate by merging the Lutheran and Catholic views on salvation rather than setting them against each other.
“By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part,” its key passage said, “we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.”
Historic though it is, the resolution of this theological dispute will not soon lead to changes that people in the pews would notice, such as sharing Communion between Catholics and Protestants, or mutual recognition of each other’s ministers.
“While it brings us closer with the Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans on this particular issue, it does not necessarily immediately move us closer in concrete ways that will be felt in our member churches,” said WCRC spokesman Philip Tanis.
A statement by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said the Wittenberg signing ceremony “must be seen as another important milestone on the journey towards the full visible unity of Christians; not yet the end of the road but a significant stage on the way.” (Underscored and italicized emphasis added.)
Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men "(Matt. 15:9.) The Protestant compromisers in their delusion fail to recognize this spiritual reality. The Truth of God as it is revealed in the Bible is unchangeable and not subject to compromise. It is the Truth which brings the joy of salvation full and free:
The Review Begins - SALVATION BASICS
Salvation Basics
Are there two ways by which men may be right and acceptable to God? The signing of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" this past year has raised this question. At a news conference prior to the signing, Cardinal Cassidy said that the conferees, both Lutheran and Roman Catholic, found nothing in their contemporary teaching that was contrary to the "two traditional strands" of the Council of Trent and the Lutheran confessions. The Jesuit theologian, Avery Dulles, in a lecture on the Declaration captioned his analysis as - "Two Languages of Salvation."
Lars P. Qualben, in his textbook for college and seminary classes, lists four Reformation principles as set forth by Luther. Number one reads - "Man is justified by faith alone and not by works." (A History of the Christian Church, p. 216). In the same textbook, the position of the Council of Trent is given - "The doctrine of justification left room for work-merit." (ibid., p. 331) Reduced to simplest terms it is either salvation by faith alone or salvation by faith plus works. There is no way that these two positions can be reconciled. For Adventists it was the issue in 1888; and it is the same now involving most of those who claim to be "historic" Adventists, they placing themselves on the side of the Council of Trent.
In the solution of this question - Are there two ways by which men can be right and acceptable to God? - two other fundamental positions of the Reformation must come into play: 1) "The Bible is the only source and standard for faith and life;" and 2) "The Bible must be interpreted by the aid of the Holy Spirit." (ibid., p. 217) . . .
"simul justus et peccator" . . .
Subjugation & Manifestation . . .
Cf. What the Old Covenant Teaches; "More Than the Crucifixion"; Paul's Illustration of Righteousness by Faith