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Salvation, Justification, & “Faith Alone” (Index Page)

Salvation, Justification, & “Faith Alone” (Index Page)

Last updated on: October 8, 2026 at 2:52 am by Dave Armstrong

Salvation, Justification, & “Faith Alone” (Index Page) 2026-10-08T02:52:26-04:00 Dave Armstrong

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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(October 2010, 187 pages)

[much more book information and purchase options]

*****

Faith Alone: The “Theological Novum”: Disproofs from 525 Bible Passages & 30 Church Fathers (my 57th book: 5-11-26). 345 pages. Available as an e-file (PDF + ePub) for $9.99 or for FREE in online chapter pages.

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

***

I. GENERAL (CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY) / INFUSED JUSTIFICATION

II. “FAITH ALONE” / FAITH AND WORKS

III. SANCTIFICATION

IV. THEOSIS / DIVINIZATION / DEIFICATION

V. PRAYER

VI. SIN / MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

VII. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION / ETERNAL SECURITY / FALLING AWAY / APOSTASY / EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

VIII. PREDESTINATION / GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

IX. LIMITED VS. UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT

X. ERROR OF UNIVERSALISM

XI. THE GOSPEL, DISCIPLESHIP, REVIVAL, “RELIGION”, “PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS”

XII. GRACE, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, CATHOLIC ANTI-PELAGIANISM, AND SYNERGISM

XIII. MERIT AND REWARDS / HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE

XIV. ORIGINAL SIN AND TOTAL DEPRAVITY

***

I. GENERAL (CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY) / INFUSED JUSTIFICATION

Joe Hardhat, the Quintessential Catholic: On Justification [cartoon tract with Dan Grajek, early 90s]

Justification: Classic Catholic & Protestant Reflections [1994]

Fictional Dialogue: Justification & Salvation [1995]

Salvation and Justification in the Gospels and Acts [21 passages] [1996]

Trent Doesn’t Utterly Exclude Imputation (Kenneth Howell) [July 1996]

Dialogue w Baptist on Romans 1:1-3 & Justification [January 1997; revised 8-11-00]

Reply to Atheist Queries Re God (Esp. Trinity & Salvation) [late April 2001]

Council of Trent: Canons on Justification (with a handy summary of Tridentine soteriology) [12-29-03]

“Catholicism Refuted”? (Kevin Cauley): Pt. V: Salvation (+ Purgatory Again) [12-11-04]

Catholics’ Underemphasis on Justification by Faith [3-30-06]

Ecumenical Dialogue: Protestant & Catholic Soteriology [7-8-07]

Comparative Soteriology (Salvation): A Handy Chart [7-19-08]

The Theology of Salvation (+ Pt. 2): chapter four (pp. 161-235) of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [10-17-23]

Salvation is a Process & Not Instantaneously Assured [2009]

Bible on the Nature of Saving Faith (Including Assent, Trust, Hope, Works, Obedience, and Sanctification) [380 passages] [1-21-10]

Biblical “Power”: Proof of Infused (Catholic) Justification [12 passages] [3-14-11]

Justification: Not by Faith Alone, & Ongoing (Romans 4, James 2, and Abraham’s Multiple Justifications) [10-15-11]

Various Thoughts on Salvation “Outside” the Church [2012]

St. Paul’s Use of the Term “Gift” & Infused Justification [19 passages] [2013]

Salvation: By Grace Alone, Not Faith Alone or Works [19 passages] [2013]

Our Prayers and Souls Ending Up in Heaven or Hell [3-26-14]

St. Peter Sinking (Faith & Jesus’ Expectations) [8-11-14]
*

Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]

“Catholic Justification” in James & Romans [11-18-15]

Catholicism = “False Gospel”?: Exchange with Anti-Catholic [3-18-17]

Is God Alone Holy, According to Scripture? Or Can We Be Too? [5-3-17]

Why Desire Salvation?”: Reply to a Non-Christian Inquirer [National Catholic Register, 7-7-17]

“The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves” [National Catholic Register, 7-19-17]

Biblical Evidence for Salvation as a Process [National Catholic Register, 8-4-17]
*

Biblical Evidence for Catholic Justification [National Catholic Register, 11-2-17]

Seidensticker Folly #29: Repentance: Part of Salvation [10-26-18]

Salvation and Eternal Afterlife in the Old Testament [26 passages] [8-31-19]

Salvation and Immortality Are Not Just New Testament Ideas [National Catholic Register, 9-23-19]

Weekly Mass Attenders Can Still End Up in Hell? Yes! (Attending Mass — Even for an Entire Lifetime — Doesn’t Excuse Us from the Moral Requirements of Christianity, Including Confession of Sin [1-24-20]

Dialogue: Galatians 3 & Justification (vs. Jason Engwer) [5-29-20]

Baptismal Regeneration and Justification (vs. Jason Engwer) [6-4-20]

The Bible Makes It Clear: Religion Means Relationship With God (and good works) [National Catholic Register, 6-18-21]

Ehrman Errors #3: Jesus vs. Paul on Salvation? [3-22-22]

Justification: A Catholic Perspective (vs. Francisco Tourinho) [6-22-22]

Reply to Francisco Tourinho on Justification: Round 2 (Pt. 1) [+ Part 2] [+ Part 3] [7-19-22]

Ongoing Justification and the Indwelling Holy Spirit [National Catholic Register, 8-1-22]

The Great Justification Debate [with Francisco Tourinho] (Waitin’ . . .) [Facebook, 8-22-22]

Biblical Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Round 3, Pt. 1) [10-20-22]

Peter and Paul Distorts Peter’s Life & Paul’s Teaching [2-25-23]

Jeremiah’s Catholic & Very UnProtestant Soteriology [44 passages] [7-31-23]

Isaiah’s Catholic & UnProtestant Soteriology [45 passages] [8-1-23]
*

Minor Prophets: Their Theology of Salvation [107 passages] [8-2-23]

The Prophet Jeremiah Explains the Catholic Teaching on Salvation [National Catholic Register, 8-17-23]
*

Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Round 3, Pt. 2) [8-23-23]

Justification: vs. Francisco Tourinho (Rd. 3, Pt. 3) [8-30-23]

Abraham: Justified Twice by Works & Once by Faith [8-30-23]

Justification in the Book of James (Different from Paul?) [8-30-23]

The Prophet Isaiah Explains How God Saves Us [National Catholic Register, 8-30-23]

Abraham and Ongoing Justification by Faith and Works [National Catholic Register, 9-19-23]

Rescuing Romans from Martin Foord [9-22-23]

Justification is Ongoing, By Analogy Like Salvation (As Ten NT Passages Assert) [Facebook, 9-22-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer on Justification [9-23-23]

Abraham’s Multiple Justifications by Works & Faith: Quick Summary of Biblical Proofs [Facebook, 10-4-23]

Last Day: What Jesus Says To The Elect (Vs. Gavin Ortlund) + Bible Passages On the Organic Relationship of Faith, Works, Grace, Obedience, & Salvation [2-16-24]

Justification: Reply to Jordan Cooper (Highlighting Love as the Fulfilling of the Law & Commandments, in Relation to Justification & Salvation) [4-23-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: Justification [5-3-24]

Grace-Caused Faith is Catholic Teaching, Too! (Please, Someone Tell James Swan and Get Him Up to Speed) [6-12-24]

Millions of Christians Think Baptism Is Unrelated to Justification — Here’s Why They’re Wrong [National Catholic Register, 6-22-24]

Catholic Soteriology (Theology of Salvation) in a Nutshell [Facebook, 9-23-24]

Salvation as a Process: 75 NT Passages [11-16-24]

Catholic Salvation: 2043 Bible Passages [12-27-24; expanded on 11-17-25]

Works & Sanctification Partly Cause Salvation: 34 Passages [1-30-25]

The “Three-Legged Stool” of Salvation (Catholic Soteriology Briefly Explained) [Facebook, 2-13-25]

Hold Fast to Hope: A Biblical Guide to Confidence in Salvation [National Catholic Register, 2-27-25]

VIDEO: NO! Jesus and Paul never taught “FAITH ALONE” [20+ Bible Verses] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-14-25]

VIDEO: What The Bible REALLY Says About Faith and Good Works [20+ Bible Verses; Part 2] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-27-25]

VIDEO Short: Top 15 Bible Passages on Salvation as a Process [see also the transcript] [1-6-26]

VIDEO Short: Justification by Faith: Ten Bible Proofs [see also the transcript] [1-15-26]

VIDEO Short: Salvation by Grace Alone: Fifteen Bible Proofs [see also the transcript] [1-22-26]

Catholic Salvation: Explanation for Protestants . . . With Many Links for Further Study, and Clarification That Catholic Anathemas Against Fellow Christian Protestants Are No Longer in Force [2-25-26]

Salvation by Grace Alone: 25 Passages, Contra Works-Salvation, or Pelagianism, or Semi-Pelagianism [4-30-26]

II. “FAITH ALONE” / FAITH AND WORKS

Justification: Faith Apart From Works is Barren [4-4-94; rev. 1996]

“Doing Something” for Salvation: Dialogue w Evangelical [1996]

Faith Alone & Original Sin: Reply to Smalcald Articles [1-30-01]

Justification in James: Dialogue [5-8-02]

“If You Died Tonight”: Debate w Matt Slick of CARM [5-22-03]

Initial Justification & “Faith Alone”: Harmonious? [5-3-04]

Faith & Works: Oil & Water or Two Sides of a Coin? [2004]
*

Paul vs. Calvin: “Doers of the Law” Will be Justified [2004]

Luther’s “Snow-Covered Dunghill” (Myth?) [10-5-05]

John Wesley (Founder of Methodism), Denied “Faith Alone”? [10-20-05]

Luther’s Projection of His Depression & Crises Onto St. Paul [6-1-06]

Dialogue on Luther’s “Getting to a Gracious God” (vs. Lutheran historian “CPA”) [6-4-06]

Alister McGrath on the Protestant Innovation (Corruption?) of Imputed Justification [Facebook, 8-28-06]

Dialogue w Three Lutherans on Justification & Salvation [2-1-07]

Final Judgment & Works (Not Faith): 50 Passages [2-10-08]

Catholic-Protestant Common Ground (Esp. Re Good Works) [4-8-08]

“Working Out” Salvation & Protestant Soteriology (vs. Ken Temple) [4-9-08]

Martin Luther: Good Works Prove Authentic Faith [4-16-08]

St. Paul on Grace, Faith, & Works (50 Passages) [8-6-08]

John Calvin: Good Works Manifest True Saving Faith [9-4-08]

Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]

Bible on Faith, Works, and Judgment (vs. Jason Engwer) [12-16-09]

Grace, Faith, Works, & Judgment: A Scriptural Exposition [12-16-09; reformulated & abridged on 3-15-17]

Bible on Participation in Our Own Salvation (Always Enabled by God’s Grace)[1-3-10]

Monergism in Initial Justification is Catholic Doctrine [1-7-10]

Martin Luther: Faith Alone is Not Lawless Antinomianism [2-28-10]

Catholics & Justification by Faith Alone : Is There a Sense in Which Catholics Can Accept “Faith Alone” and/or Imputed Justification (with Proper Biblical Qualifications)? [9-28-10]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Salvation & Miscellany [10-14-11]

“Leaven” of the Pharisees: Hypocrisy or False Doctrine? (vs. Lutheran Nathan Rinne) [11-3-11]

The “Obedience of Faith” in Paul and its Soteriological Implications (Justification and Denial of “Faith Alone”) [from Ferdinand Prat, S. J.; Facebook, 2-1-12]

Can Only Regenerate Men Perform Truly Good Works? (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

Catholic & Calvinist Agreement on Justification & Works [2012]

Scripture on Being Co-Workers with God for Salvation [72 passages] [2013]

New Testament Epistles on Bringing About Further Sanctification and Even Salvation By Our Own Actions [7-2-13]

Reply to James White’s Exegesis of James 2 in Chapter 20 of His Book, The God Who Justifies [10-9-13]

Dialogue on Faith and Works and the Relation of Each to the Final Judgment (vs. Bethany Kerr) [10-10-13]
*

Final Judgment Always Has to Do with Works and Never with “Faith Alone” [9-5-14]

Jesus vs. “Faith Alone” (Rich Young Ruler) [10-12-15]

Dialogue: Rich Young Ruler & Good Works [10-14-15]

Philippians 2:12 & “Work[ing] Out” One’s Salvation [1-26-16]

Final Judgment is Not a Matter of “Faith Alone” At All [National Catholic Register, 10-7-16]
*

Reply to a Calvinist on Faith Alone and Works [of God Only?] [4-4-17]

Debate with a Lutheran Pastor on Faith and Works [5-4-17]

Catholics and Protestants Agree on Grace Alone and the Necessity of the Presence of Good Works in Regenerate and Ultimately Saved Persons; Disagree on Faith Alone [5-4-17]

How Are We Saved? Faith Alone? Or the Way Jesus Taught? [National Catholic Register, 5-11-17]

Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #8: Heretical Tobit? (Alms & Salvation) [10-20-17]

Armstrong vs. Collins & Walls #12: Salvation (Soteriology) [10-22-17]

“Faith and Works”: Unbiblical, Semi-Pelagian Terminology? [11-4-17]

Seidensticker Folly #22: Contradiction? Saved by Faith or Works? [10-1-18]
*

“Faith Alone”?: Quick & Decisive Biblical Refutation [1-8-19]

“Faith Alone” & Salvation: Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor (vs. Rev. Ken Howes) [2-18-19]

Calvinist Origin of Luther’s (?) “Snow-Covered Dunghill”? [5-14-19]

‘Doers of the Law’ Are Justified, Says St. Paul [National Catholic Register, 5-22-19]

Jesus on Salvation: Works, Merit and Sacrifice [National Catholic Register, 7-28-19]

Jesus: Faith + Works (Not Faith Alone) Leads to Salvation [8-1-19]

Old Testament Sacrifices: Killing Animals to be Saved? [8-17-19]

David Madison vs. Paul and Romans #3: Chapter 3 (Pauline / Biblical Soteriology: Faith and Works, Grace and Merit / Hyperbole [“No one is good”]) [8-27-19]

Vs. James White #6: Faith & Works, and First John [11-11-19]

First John, Faith and Works, and Falling Away [National Catholic Register, 11-24-19]
*

Good Works and Men, God’s Grace, and Regeneration (vs. John Calvin) [National Catholic Register, 8-6-20]

Defense of Bible Passages vs. Eternal Security & Faith Alone (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-12-20]

Banzoli’s 45 “Faith Alone” Passages; My 200 Biblical Disproofs [6-16-22]

What the Bible Says About Justification by Faith and Works [National Catholic Register, 7-27-22]

Luther’s Translation of “Faith Alone” in Romans 3:28 (Also: Did “Early Erasmus” Agree with Luther?) [12-7-22]

Luther, James, Faith & Works: Additional Relevant Data [3-7-23]

“All Our Righteousnesses Are As Filthy Rags” (Is 64:6, KJV): Does Isaiah 64:6 (“even our best actions are filthy through and through”: GNB) Prove That All Works Whatsoever, Done by Regenerated Persons in Faith and By Grace, Are Absolutely Worthless? [6-30-23]

Dialogue on Meritorious Works & the Gospel [6-30-23]

Dialogue: Rich Young Ruler, Works, & Salvation [7-3-23]

Jesus: Good Works are Meritorious & Salvific: Highlighting the Discourse at the Last Supper and Sermon on the Mount [9-4-23]

The Classic Catholic-Protestant Debate on “Faith Alone” (Sola Fide) in a Nutshell [Facebook, 9-23-23]

Why the Apostles Would Have Flunked Out of Protestant Seminary (original title: “Meritorious and Salvific Works According to Jesus”) [National Catholic Register, 9-28-23]

Bible: Salvation is Not by Works Alone (Pelagianism) [Facebook, 10-17-23]
*

“Catholic Verses” #2: Jerusalem Council (Also: the Ten Commandments in the New Covenant; Church Fathers On the Binding Nature of the Council of Nicaea) [10-25-23]

Sola Fide (Faith Alone) Nonexistent Before the Protestant Revolt in 1517 (Geisler & McGrath) [Catholic365, 10-31-23]

Abraham’s Justification By Faith & Works (vs. Jordan Cooper) + Catholic Exegesis Regarding St. Paul’s Specific Meaning of “Works” in Romans 4 [3-1-24]

Luther’s “Tower” Justification Idea & Catholicism + Early Catholic Church & St. Thomas Aquinas on Grace Alone (Contra Pelagianism) & Justification [5-28-24]

Eck vs. Protestantism Chronicles: Good Works [5-31-24]

Works & Salvation: Luther vs. Scripture [7-4-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [7-15-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Romans 6:22 [7-15-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Acts 26:18 [7-18-24]

Bible vs. Faith Alone: Acts 15:9 [7-19-24]

Quick, Decisive Refutation of “Faith Alone” from Jesus, Paul, and James [Facebook, 8-15-24]

Meaning of “Live By Faith” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Etc.) [8-16-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #1 (Moral Assurance of Salvation / Examination of Conscience / Bible On Apostasy / Initial Justification & Faith Alone) [8-29-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #2: Good Works 1 (“Working Together” with God / Human Striving & Merit / Tridentine Soteriology / David’s & Paul’s Godly “Boasting” / Regenerate Sinners / Romans 7 & 8 & Sin / God is Pleased by Our Meritorious Acts / Colossians 1:28: Imputed Justification?) [8-31-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #3: Good Works 2 (Trent on “Faith” / Meritorious Works / “Trust” in God / How the Error of “Faith Alone” Originated / Mortal Sin / “Faith” in James) [9-3-24]

Philip Melanchthon in Effect Fights with Jesus Over Faith Alone (Rich Young Ruler Passage) [Facebook, 9-4-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #4: Good Works 3 (James Refutes Faith Alone / Faith Without Love is Dead, Too / Love & Justification / Jesus Denies Faith Alone: Rich Young Ruler) [9-5-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #5: Good Works 4 (Isaiah vs. Protestant Soteriology / Absolution, Love, & Remission of Sins / Was Mary Who Wiped Jesus’ Feet with Her Hair, a Believer When She Did So? / Good Works of the Regenerate Rewarded with Heaven) [9-6-24]

Jesus vs. “Faith Alone”: Quick Handy Summary [Facebook, 9-24-24]

Sanctification and Works Are Tied to Salvation [National Catholic Register, 9-26-24]

Salvation Caused by Actions: 80 Bible Passages (. . . Proving That “Faith Alone” is a False Doctrine) [10-5-24]

Bible vs. “Faith Alone”: 120 NT & 30 OT Proofs [from 26 out of the 27 NT Books] [8-26-24; revised and expanded on 1-18-26]

Reply to a Protestant on “Faith Alone” [10-9-24]
*

Bible on Faith / Belief, etc. “Alone” [?] for Salvation (Fifty Bible Passages Stress Faith or Belief, Regarding the Question of Salvation, Compared to a Hundred that Emphasize or Highlight Works: Flowing from God’s Grace Through Our Faith. Who Woulda Thunk it?!) [10-11-24]
*

Reply to Calvin’s Antidote to Trent on Justification (Highlighting “Working Together with God” and Our Grounds for “Boasting” and “Pride” in the Meritorious Work We and Other Christians Do for the Sake of God and Evangelism) [+ Part II] [10-17-24]
*

Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #1 (Psalm 7:10; Isaiah 1:27; 26:2; 32:17; 33:15-16; 48:18-19; 56:1) [10-22-24]
*

Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #2 (Matthew 7:16-21; 10:22; 16:27) [10-23-24]

Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #3 (Matthew 19:16-21: Rich Young Ruler) [10-24-24]

Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #4 (Matthew 19:29; 25:34-46; Mark 16:16; Luke 6:35; Acts 10:34-35) [11-19-24]

Faith Alone? 80 Bible Verses Say Otherwise [National Catholic Register, 10-31-24]

Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #5 (Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-10, 13; 6:22; 8:13, 17; 10:16; Hebrews 11:8-9) [12-4-24]

VIDEO: NO! Jesus and Paul never taught “FAITH ALONE” [20+ Bible Verses] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-14-25]

VIDEO: What The Bible REALLY Says About Faith and Good Works [20+ Bible Verses; Part 2] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 3-27-25]

New Perspective on Paul: Exegesis of “Works of the Law” (Does “Works of the Law” Refer to All Good Works Whatsoever?) [4-4-25]

Reply to Typical Protestant Polemics Regarding “Faith Alone” [Facebook, 5-17-25]

Zwingli vs. John the Baptist & Baptism Re Salvation [6-23-25]
*

Vs. Geisler on Catholicism #9: “Faith Alone” 1 (Including Luther’s Qualified “Faith Alone”; Catholic Soteriology Accurately Presented; Meritorious Works; Bible vs. “Faith Alone”) [7-17-25]

Vs. Geisler on Catholicism #10: “Faith Alone” 2 (Including Sacraments, Grace, & Salvation; Protestants & Salvation Through Baptism & the Eucharist) [7-18-25]

VIDEO: The Three Most “Un-Protestant” NT Passages [Mk 10:17-21: Rich Young Ruler] [see also the initial transcript, minus our spontaneous discussion] [Catholic Bible Highlights, with Kenny Burchard, 10-9-25]

“Do” in the NT vs. “Faith Alone” (40 Passages) [11-16-25]
*

VIDEO: Un-Protestant Bible #4: Matthew 25 vs. Faith Alone [see the transcript of the initial presentation] [Catholic Bible Highlights, with Kenny Burchard, 11-23-25]

1 Corinthians 13:2, 13: Yet Another of the Innumerable Disproofs of Faith Alone [lots of critical combox comments; see my criticism of the “groupthink” behavior] [Facebook, 1-16-26]
*

VIDEO Short: Saved By LOVE Not just “Faith Alone!” [see also the transcript] [Catholic Bible Highlights, 1-27-26]

VIDEO Short: Ten Terrifying, Shocking, “Un-Protestant” Bible Passages [see also the transcript] [Catholic Bible Highlights, 2-16-26]

50 Unanswerable NT Passages Against “Faith Alone” [2-21-26]
*

Defense of 50 Bible Passages Against “Faith Alone” (Part I: 1-16: The Gospels and Acts) [2-23-26]
*

Defense of My 50 Bible Passages Against “Faith Alone” (II) (Part II: 17-50 Romans Through Revelation) [2-24-26]

NT: 70 Specific Good Works Contribute to Salvation [3-6-26]

“Reformation” Debate (vs. Lutheran Nathan Rinne): Featuring Massively Unbiblical “Faith Alone” & St. Augustine’s Opposition to Imputed Justification: Just One Part of His Thoroughly Catholic Soteriology [+ Part 2] [4-17-26]

Big Plans for a New [Free] Book Opposing Faith Alone (Sola Fide) [Facebook, 4-20-26]
*

Catholic-Protestant Disputes About Faith & Works: The Bottom Line (Massive Agreement !!!) [Facebook, 4-21-26]
*

Luther & “Faith Alone”: An In-Depth Examination [4-21-26]

Philip Melanchthon & Imputed Justification [4-28-26]

John Calvin & Calvinists on Forensic Justification [4-28-26]

John Wesley vs. Extrinsic Justification & “Faith Alone” [4-29-26]

Jesus’ Words to the Rich Young Ruler vs. “Faith Alone” [5-1-26]
*

Jesus & the “Sheep” & “Goats” vs. “Faith Alone” [5-1-26]
*

Defense of 50 NT Passages Against “Faith Alone” [+ Part two / three / four / five] [5-13-26 thru 5-21-26]

Works and Fruits Define Who We Are as People, According to Holy Scripture [Facebook, 8-12-26]
*

VIDEO: Can You Be Saved Without Good Works? 20 Verses Say NO [Mark 10:29] [see also the initial transcript] [Catholic Bible Highlights, with Kenny Burchard, 8-21-26]

Faith & Works: Harmonizing the Bible (Dialogue) [8-22-26]

Does Romans 2 Prove “Faith Alone”? (Mini-Debate) [8-22-26]
*

St. Paul Repeatedly Refutes “Faith Alone” in His First Epistle to Timothy [Facebook, 8-23-26]
*

The Next Time a Protestant Cites John 3:16 & Tries to Argue That Works Have Nothing at All to Do With Salvation, Tell Them This [Facebook, 8-26-26]

Exegesis of 75 NT Faith [Alone?] & Works Passages . . . With an Emphasis on Immediate Context [8-27-26]

“Faith Alone” Dialogue with a Calvinist [8-29-26]

The “Inheritance” is Salvation, and We Have to Work for it, as Well as Have Faith: All by God’s Grace [Facebook, 9-23-26]

III. SANCTIFICATION

St. Paul on Justification, Sanctification, & Salvation [1996]

“All Have Sinned” vs. a Sinless, Immaculate Mary? [1996; revised and posted at National Catholic Register on 12-11-17]

Catholic Bible Verses on Sanctification and Merit [12-20-07]

Martin Luther : Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis & Sanctification Linked to Justification [11-23-09]

Jesus Associates Works, Merit, & Heroic Sacrifice w Salvation [11-10-18]

Absolution, Sanctification, & Forgiveness: Reply to Calvin #7 [12-19-18]

Random Thoughts on Justification and Sanctification [Facebook, 6-20-22]

Sanctification: Part & Parcel of Salvation? (vs. Calvin #64) [3-9-23]

Sinless Creatures in the Bible: Actual & Potential (Including a Listing of Many Biblical Passages About Sin, Holiness, Blamelessness, Righteousness, Godliness, Perfection, and Sanctity) [10-20-22; greatly expanded on 7-27-23]

Vs. Turretin #10: Sanctification [5-7-24]

Five Bible Passages That Directly Connect Sanctification with Either Salvation or Faith: Expressly Contrary to “Faith Alone” [Facebook, 7-14-24]

“Blameless” & “Pure” in the Bible (Sinless?): 40 Passages [12-12-24]

Transformation of Believers in the NT: 150 Passages (Regeneration is Only the Beginning . . .) [12-16-24]
*

Is it Possible to Perfectly Keep the Law? [National Catholic Register, 12-31-24]
*

Vs. Lutheran Johann Hülsemann: Sanctification [1-13-25]

IV. THEOSIS / DIVINIZATION / DEIFICATION

Theosis and the Exalted Virgin Mary [7-11-04]

Martin Luther : Strong Elements in His Thinking of Theosis & Sanctification Linked to Justification [11-23-09]

“In Him” An Expression of the Oneness of Theosis? [3-13-14]

Theosis / Deification / Divinization in Western Spirituality [2015]

Vs. Pasqualucci Re Vatican II #1: Gaudium et Spes (Incarnation) [7-11-19]

Banzoli’s 45 “Faith Alone” Passages; My 200 Biblical Disproofs [6-16-22]

V. PRAYER

Prayer for the Dead & Retroactive Prayer (Luther & Protestants) [3-22-05]
*

“The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much” (James 5:16: KJV): What Does It Mean? Dialogue with a Lutheran (vs. Stuart Floyd) [6-8-05]

Prayer to Jesus Alone Documented in the New Testament [6-7-08]
*

Biblical Evidence: Formal Prayer Isn’t “Vain Repetition” [2009]
*

Biblical Evidence for Prayers of the Righteous Having More Power [3-23-11]

Should We Pray for “All Men” (1 Tim 2:1) or Not? (Bible and Calvin Say Yes; Anti-Catholic Calvinist Ron Van Brenk Sez No) [11-16-11]

Our Prayers and Souls Ending Up in Heaven or Hell [3-26-14]
*

Great Catholic Mystics on the “Dark Night of the Soul” [2014]

Limited Atonement, Free Will, & Failed Prayers of Jesus [7-18-14]
*

The Unanswered Prayers of Jesus & Our Free Will [2015]

The Nature & Function of Prayer: Reply to Two Atheists [8-14-18]

Seidensticker Folly #7: No Conditional Prayer in Scripture? [8-16-18]
*

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)? [9-5-18]

Biblical Prayer is Conditional, Not Solely Based on Faith [National Catholic Register, 10-9-18]

We Can’t Demand That God Directly Communicate to Us or Answer Prayer Exactly as We Want Him to (and God’s non-answer is no reason to leave the faith) [blog combox, 2-23-19]
*

Why the Bible Says the Prayers of Holy People Are More Powerful [National Catholic Register, 3-19-19]

Can the Prayers of Jesus Go Unanswered? [National Catholic Register, 6-10-19]

Madison vs. Jesus #10: Universal Answered Prayer & Healing? [8-7-19]

Pearce’s Potshots #61: The Rationale for Prayer [2-5-22]

Review of God Loves the Autistic Mind (Fr. Matthew P. Schneider) [7-26-22]

Bible on Praying Straight to God (vs. Lucas Banzoli) [9-21-22]

Reply to Banzoli’s “Questions for Catholics About Prayer…” [9-23-22]

Bible on the Power of Prayers of the Righteous [11-16-22]

5 Replies to Questions About Catholic (and Biblical) Prayer [National Catholic Register, 11-30-22]

Is All Prayer Necessarily Worship? (vs. Jordan Cooper): Including the Non-Worship Biblical Usage of “I Pray You” (RSV) / “I Pray Thee” (KJV) [3-20-24]

Saints Can Hear “Millions” Of Prayers? (Vs. Jordan Cooper): Including a Summary of the Extraordinary, Unfathomable Characteristics of Redeemed Human Beings in Heaven [3-20-24]

Bible on Seeking Exceptionally Righteous Intercessors (vs. Dr. Lydia McGrew) [11-9-24]
*

Wider Traditional (and Biblical) Use of the Word “Pray” [Facebook, 12-2-25]
*

18-Month Family Nightmare Over / 20 Signs from God [9-19-25]

VIDEO: Is All Prayer Worship? Rev. Jordan Cooper vs. the Bible [see also the transcript] [12-20-25]

VI. SIN / MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

Mortal vs. Venial Sin: Biblical? [1997]

Mortal & Venial Sin: Strong Biblical Support [4-1-06]
*

Dialogue on Mortal & Venial Sin [4-14-06]

Blaise Pascal on Ridicule and Sarcasm Regarding Sin and Folly [12-29-11]

Mortal and Venial Sin (vs. Calvin #56) [2012]
*

Does God “Want” Men to Sin? Does He “Ordain” Sin? [2-17-10 and 3-16-17]

Martin Luther and Lutherans on Mortal & Venial Sins [10-30-17]

What the Bible Says on Degrees of Sin and Mortal Sin [National Catholic Register, 7-6-18]

“Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner”: Biblical & Christlike? [8-21-18]

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)? [9-5-18]

Vs. James White #8: St. Basil on Mortal & Venial Sin [11-13-19]

“Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner” — Quite Biblical! [National Catholic Register, 1-29-20]

Mortal & Venial Sin: Proof from “Unwitting” Passages [10-26-21]

Question on Whether Ignorance of Mortal Sin is a Good Thing [Facebook, 7-8-23]

“Catholic Verses” #4: Sinners in the Church (Including the Biblical Conception of “Saints” and “Sinners”) [10-26-23]

Bible On Mortal & Venial Sin (vs. Anglican Stearns #5) [31 passages] [3-20-25]

VIDEO: Can some sins cause you to LOSE your salvation? (Mortal & Venial Sin) with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 4-5-25]

Mortal Sin & the Classic Protestant Criticism [2-25-26]

Bible & Catholicism on Mortal Sin (vs. John Anderson) [10-8-26]

VII. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION / ETERNAL SECURITY / FALLING AWAY / APOSTASY / EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Luther and the Origin & Nature of “Instant” Salvation [1991]
*

Assurance of Instant Salvation? / Apostasy / Falling Away (Bible passages) [c. 2000]

“Certainty” of Eternal Life? (1 Jn 5:13 & Jn 5:24) [5-8-02]

St. Paul on Falling Away from Grace and Salvation [2004]

Dialogue on Luther’s “Getting to a Gracious God” (vs. Lutheran historian “CPA”) [6-4-06]

Ecclesiological Certainty (?) & the “Infallibility Regress” [5-22-03 and 10-7-08]

Examination of Conscience: Biblical (Pauline) Evidence [7-14-08]
*

Bible on the Moral Assurance of Salvation (Persevering in Faith, with Hope) [10-21-08]

Dialogue with a Calvinist Regarding Falling Away from Grace or Salvation [7-28-09]
*

Baptism, Regeneration, Assurance? of Salvation (vs. Calvin #39) [11-16-09]

St. Paul: Two-Faced Re Unbelief? (Romans 1 “vs.” Epistles) [7-5-10]

Novelist Anne Rice’s Deconversion: Straw Men & “Baby / Bathwater” (conversion to humanism but not atheism) [7-30-10 and 8-9-10]

Absolute Assurance of Salvation?: Debunking “Prooftexts” [Oct. 2010]

Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]

“Once Saved, Always Saved”: Is it Biblical? Antinomian? [8-18-15]

My “Review” of Martin Scorsese’s Silence (+ Facebook Discussion #1 / Facebook Discussion #2) [1-13-17]

Some Nagging Questions About Scorsese’s Silence [National Catholic Register, 2-19-17]

Seidensticker Folly #3: Falsehoods About God & Free Will [8-14-18]

Should We Pray for All People or Not (1 John 5:16)? [9-5-18]

Madison vs. Jesus #7: God Prohibits Some Folks’ Repentance? [8-6-19]

Vs. James White #4: Eternal Security of Believers? [9-19-19]

Vs. James White #7: My Refutations of Calvinism & His Non-Replies [11-12-19]

Reply to Protestant Challenges Re Eternal Security (vs. Jason Engwer) [7-26-20]

Defense of Bible Passages vs. Eternal Security & Faith Alone (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-12-20]

The Bible is Clear: ‘Eternal Security’ is a Manmade Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 8-17-20]

Eternal Security vs. the Bible [National Catholic Register, 8-23-20]

Seidensticker Folly #64: A Saved Dahmer & Damned Anne Frank? [11-24-20]

Perseverance of the Saints: Reply to a Calvinist [5-17-21]

Westminster vs. Bible #1: Assurance of Salvation [5-19-21]

Is True Faith Always Permanent? (vs. Calvin #62) [3-7-23]

No “Eternal Security” in 1 and 2 Timothy (Contra Jason Engwer) [Facebook, 9-25-23]

Reply to Jason Engwer Re Eternal Security [9-26-23]

Reply to a “Reformation Day” Lutheran Sermon [Vs. Nathan Rinne] (Including St. Augustine’s View on the Rule of Faith & the Perspicuity of Scripture; Luther & Lutherans’ Belief in Falling Away) [10-31-23]

Debate: Catholic Assurance of Salvation [10-1-24]

What the Bible Says About Moral Assurance of Salvation [National Catholic Register, 11-13-24]

Falling Away (Apostasy): 150 Biblical Passages (+ Catalogue of Sixty Traits That Apostates Formerly Possessed When They Were in God’s Good Graces) [11-19-24]

VIDEO: “Once Saved Always Saved” REFUTED! – [20+verses] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 11-22-24]

Why Examination of Conscience Is Biblical [National Catholic Register, 11-25-24]

Biblical “Hope” & Catholic Moral Assurance of Salvation [2-11-25]

Dialogue on Eternal Security / Absolute Assurance [9-16-26]

VIII. PREDESTINATION / GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Catholic Teaching: Predestination of the Elect (Ludwig Ott) [1996]
*

Dialogue on God’s Middle Knowledge & Foreknowledge (vs. Dr. Alexander Pruss) [1997]

Calvin: Only God Knows Who is Elect [1-5-06]

Dialogue on Molinism and on How God Predestines (+ Part II) [4-15-06 and 4-24-06]
*

Predestination & the Ingenious “Solution” of Fr. Most [4-22-06]

Dialogue: Molinism & How God Predestines (Pt. III) (+ Pt. IV) [5-2-06 and 5-14-06]
*

Do Catholics Believe in Predestination? Yes! But . . . [8-29-06]
*

Reply to a Calvinist: Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart (vs. Colin Smith) [10-14-06]
*

Catholic Predestination, Molinism, & Thomism in a Nutshell [3-27-08]

Luther: God Predestines Reprobation of the Damned [2-27-10]

Dialogue: Double Predestination, Total Depravity, & Limited Atonement [4-14-10]

Bible vs. Double Predestination (No Reprobate Parallels) [4-22-10]

Romans 9: Plausible Non-Calvinist Interpretation [4-22-10]

God’s “Punishing” of Descendants: Unjust? [7-8-10]

Fallen-Away Catholics: They Never Were in the Fold? [Facebook, 10-27-16]

God “Hardening Hearts”: How Do We Interpret That? [12-18-08; expanded on 1-4-17]

“Reply to Calvin” #1: The Elect [3-3-17]
*

“Reply to Calvin” #3: Synergism, Grace Alone, & the Elect [4-3-17]

Luther (Unlike Lutheranism) Taught Double Predestination [1-11-18]

Predestination and Salvation: Q & A with an Atheist [7-24-18]

Predestination Mysteries: Dialogue with an Atheist [7-24-18]

Predestination to Hell? (vs. Calvin #61) [1-20-21]

Perseverance of the Saints: Reply to a Calvinist [5-17-21]

Short Description of Biblical / Catholic Predestination [Facebook, 9-1-25]
*

IX. LIMITED VS. UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT

Gospel = Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace? [4-6-10]
*

Dialogue: Double Predestination, Total Depravity, & Limited Atonement [4-14-10]

Bible vs. the Reformed Doctrine of Limited Atonement [2010]

Limited Atonement, Free Will, & Failed Prayers of Jesus [7-18-14]
*

Limited Atonement Refuted? (John 12:32) [10-19-15]

Dialogue: Does the Bible Teach Limited Atonement? [2-23-19]

Calvinist Hems and Haws with Regard to Answering My Biblical Refutation of Limited Atonement, Then Flatly Refuses [Facebook, 2-26-19]

There Never Will Be a Single Human Being for Whom Christ Did Not Suffer [National Catholic Register, 4-28-21]

Limited Atonement: Refutation of James White [9-1-21]

Biblical Reasons Why Catholics Don’t Believe in ‘Limited Atonement’ [National Catholic Register, 10-27-21]

More Biblical Reasons Why Catholics Don’t Believe in ‘Limited Atonement’ [National Catholic Register, 10-30-21]

John Calvin: God Hates Sinners / God: I Love All People and Desire That None Perish [Facebook, 11-19-24]

Limited Atonement Biblical Arguments Refuted (33 NT Passages Against Limited Atonement and in Favor of Universal Atonement) [11-21-24]

X. ERROR OF UNIVERSALISM

*
Dialogue on Hell & the “Possibility” of Universalism [May 2004]
*

Biblical Annihilationism or Universalism? (w Atheist Ted Drange) [9-30-06]
*

Did Pope St. John Paul II Teach Universalism? [4-26-11]

Did Julian of Norwich Teach Universalism & Deny Hell? [3-24-14]

Analysis of “Hoping All Will be Saved” / “…Hell is Empty” [8-20-15]

Book of Revelation Annihilates Universalism [8-31-15]

Argument for How Many Are Saved, Based on Two of Jesus’ Parables [Facebook, 1-27-24]

Wishing & Desiring For All To Be Saved, Like God Does [1-29-24]
*

We Desire That All Be Saved — But Only in the Way God Desires It [National Catholic Register, 2-28-24]

XI. THE GOSPEL, DISCIPLESHIP, REVIVAL, “RELIGION”, “PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS”

New Testament Passages on Love: A Collection [3-16-81; rev. 10-3-21]

“In You I Hope” (Poem of Mine from 1982) [about trusting God and waiting on Him with confidence]

Good News: Evangelical & Catholic Gospel Presented [June 1982; rev. 7-17-02]
*

Gospel: Defined by the Earliest Christian Preaching [January 1988; rev. 7-8-02]
*

What is the Gospel? Catholic-Protestant Agreement [12-3-96 and 1-4-97]

Galatians and the Gospel: Dialogue with a Calvinist [1997]
*

Do Catholics & the Catholic Church Preach the Gospel? [2002]

Catholics Never Hear About the Gospel or Jesus at Mass? [6-4-07]

“Knowing Jesus as we Ought to”: A Catholic Perspective [7-10-09]

“Why Desire Salvation?” Reply to a Non-Christian Inquirer [12-7-09]

Trusting God as an Element of Faith & Discipleship [1-8-10]
*

Gospel = Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace? [4-6-10]
*

Loving Ourselves (Since God Loves Us So Much!) [4-26-10]

Dialogue: Definition of “Christian” (vs. Reformed Pastor) (+ Did Trent Anathematize all Protestants?) [6-5-10]

“The Harvest is Ready”: Tips on Catholic Evangelism [7-21-10]

God’s “Valentine”: His Love, Mercy, & Compassion [2-13-11]

Great Catholic Mystics on the “Dark Night of the Soul” [2014]

“Shake the Dust Off of Your Feet”: Mean? [10-4-14]

Was Jesus “Spiteful” When He Said, “Shake the Dust Off of Your Feet”? [8-13-15]

“Personal Relationship with Jesus”: Good Catholic Phrase? and Practice? [8-15-15]

“Personal Relationship” vs. “Join the One Church”? [2-3-16]

Dialogue: Pope Francis Doesn’t Evangelize? (and on the Nature of Dialogue vs. (?) the Gospel; with a Traditionalist) [4-29-16]

Gandhi on Christian Hypocrisy: Some Truth But More Falsehoods [Facebook, 11-12-16]

Christianity = Love (Orthopraxy) + Correct Doctrine (Mormonism?) [1-16-17]

Catholicism = “False Gospel”?: Exchange with Anti-Catholic [3-18-17]

“The Harvest is Ready”: 14 Tips for Catholic Evangelism [National Catholic Register, 7-12-17]
*

Thankfulness as Our Model in Holy Scripture [11-23-17]
*

“Personal Relationship with Jesus” — A Catholic Concept? [National Catholic Register, 2-19-18]

Christianity, Depression, Peace, Comfort, Hope, & Joy [6-9-18]
*

Swearing and Sharing the Faith Don’t Mix Very Well! [National Catholic Register, 7-16-18]

Some Thoughts on Evangelism and Being “Hated by All” [National Catholic Register, 7-20-18]

Seidensticker Folly #30: Small vs. Great Commission? [10-26-18]
*

Biblical Evidence: Personal Relationship with Jesus [14 passages] [2013; expanded on 1-18-19]
*

“Spiritual” Kingdom of God: Old Testament Precursors [8-18-19]

Isaiah Foretells the Gospel & the Suffering Messiah [8-20-19]

Salvation and Eternal Afterlife in the Old Testament [26 passages] [8-31-19]

C. S. Lewis: A Life of Extraordinary Charity & Selflessness [10-21-19]

Is Pope Francis Against Apologetics & Defending the Faith? [11-26-19]

Debate: Pope Francis on Doctrine, Truth, & Evangelizing (vs. Dr. Eduardo Echeverria) [12-16-19]
*

Estranged Friendships: Lessons from Kobe Bryant’s Death (Don’t Put Off What Needs to be Done Now; What is Right to Do) [1-29-20]
*

Dialogue: the Relation of Christian Apologetics & Testimony [1-31-20]

Lessons in Reconciliation from Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson [National Catholic Register, 2-10-20]

Question from Inquiring Atheist: “Why Were the Incarnation and Atonement Necessary?” [Facebook, 3-23-20]

“God Provides”: Another Recent Example of a Thousand in My Life [Facebook, 3-31-20]

Abp. Viganò Whopper #289: Pope Forbids All Evangelism (?) [4-8-20]

Pope, Peter, & Paul: Evangelize; Don’t Proselytize [4-28-20]

Pope Francis vs. the Gospel? Outrageous & Absurd Lies! (Anti-Catholic Protestant James White and Catholic Reactionary Steve Skojec Echo Each Other’s Gigantic Whoppers) [5-26-20]

On Whether Jesus’ “Brothers” Were “Unbelievers” [National Catholic Register, 6-11-20]

“Love Your Enemies”: Old Testament Teaching Too? [9-7-20]

Seidensticker Folly #54: “Neighbor” in OT = Jews Only? [9-12-20]

Dialogue on Biblical Views Re Following Jesus & Riches (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-21-20]

John Lennon: Christian Right Before His Death? [3-27-07; rev. 12-8-20]

Who Must Renounce All Possessions to Follow Jesus? [National Catholic Register, 1-21-21]

Is “Religion” Against “Relationship” in Scripture? [5-31-21]

The Bible Makes It Clear: Religion Means Relationship With God [National Catholic Register, 6-18-21]

God’s “Fellow Workers” Help Spread Salvation & Grace (We “Impart Grace”, “Save” Others, Win Souls, Help Them “Obtain Salvation”, Etc., In Our “Work of the Lord”) [55 passages] [10-29-21]

Explicit Biblical Instruction on Saving Souls [1-24-22]

Seidensticker Folly #77: Free Will & the Bible [1-25-22]

Explicit Biblical Instruction on Saving Souls [National Catholic Register, 2-28-22]

C.S. Lewis vs. the Bible & Newman Re “Religion” [8-19-22]

What Percentage of Human Beings Will Be Saved (i.e., Will Make it to Heaven)? Two Parables Possibly Provide Clues [Facebook, 10-18-22]

“Asbury Revival”: So Far So Good, But Be Watchful [2-20-23]

Asbury Revival & My Many Predictions of Revival Since 2000 [2-23-23]
*

“Jesus Revolution” Film & the Sacrament of Baptism [3-1-23]

Which is Greater?: Love or Faith? [Facebook, 3-20-23]
*

Is it Biblical to Say That We Are Saved & Redeemed by Jesus’ Blood? [Facebook, 6-6-23]

Dialogue on Meritorious Works & the Gospel [6-30-23]

“Catholic Verses” #1: 1 Tim 3:15 (Church) (Also, the Biblical Definition of the Gospel) [10-24-23]

Biblical “Gospel” 0101 [Facebook, 10-24-23]
*

James Swan & His Standard Anti-Catholic Erroneous and Unbiblical Definition of the “Gospel” [Facebook, 6-16-24]

Must the Gospel be Preached at Every Time & Place? (The Latest Bum Rap Against Pope Francis) [9-20-24]

What is the Gospel? (The Actual Biblical Definition) [Facebook, 11-23-24]
*

Should We Forgive Charlie Kirk’s Murderer? (15 Biblical Passages on Forgiveness & Willingness to Forgive / Also, Biblical Teaching on Civil Justice) [9-24-25]

Reply to “Gospel” Preaching Directed to Catholics [4-20-26]
*

St. Thérèse’s Personal Devotion to Jesus: Copiously Documented from Her Widely Read and Admired Autobiography: Story of a Soul [6-15-26]

XII. GRACE, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, CATHOLIC ANTI-PELAGIANISM, AND SYNERGISM

Dialogue on Grace (vs. Anti-Catholic Phil Johnson) [1996]
*

Romans 2-4 & “Works of the Law”: Patristic Interpretation [2-16-01]
*

Man’s Grace-Enabled Cooperation w God (1 Cor 3:9) [5-8-02]
*

Salvation by Works in the Catholic Catechism? [5-8-02]

Semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism: An Introduction [1997 and 12-4-02]
*

John Calvin Misunderstood Trent’s Doctrine of Grace [2-28-03]
*

“The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much” (Jas 5:16: KJV) [6-8-05]

Dialogue w Three Lutherans on Justification & Salvation [2-1-07]
*

Distribution of Divine Graces by Mary & Other Human Beings [5-23-07]
*

My Daughter (at 5) on Heaven & Salvation [5-24-07]

Were the “Judaizers” Jewish Christians (“Messianic Jews”)? [6-7-07]

Merit and Cooperating with God for Salvation [7-8-07]
*

Ecumenical Dialogue: Protestant & Catholic Soteriology [7-8-07]

Catholic Bible Verses on Sanctification and Merit [12-20-07]
*

Will We See Our Pets in Heaven? [3-12-08]

“One Mediator” (1 Tim 2:5) vs. All Human Mediation? [10-14-08]

Grace Alone: Perfectly Acceptable Catholic Teaching [2-3-09]

Merit & Human Cooperation with God (vs. Calvin #35) [10-19-09]

Judaizers: “Proto-Catholics”? (Alleged Works-Salvation) [12-14-09]

Bible: Some Sins More Serious Than Others [2009]

Bible: God Shares Glory with His Creatures [1-3-10]

Gospel = Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace? [4-6-10]
*

Calvinist Irresistible Grace vs. the Bible [October 2010]

Biblical Evidence: Prayers of Righteous Have More Power [3-23-11]

Indulgences & Distribution of Grace (vs. Calvin #58) [2012]

Calvinist Irresistible Grace: Biblical? [2013]

Scripture on Being Co-Workers with God for Salvation [72 passages] [2013]

Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]
*

Are Folks in Hell Because We Didn’t Pray Enough? [8-19-15]

John Calvin: All Fathers But One Wrong Regarding Free Will [8-22-15]

Grace Alone: Biblical & Catholic Teaching [12-1-15]

“No Ritual Can Make One’s Heart Right with Jesus”. False! [2-12-16]

“Reply to Calvin” #3: Synergism, Grace Alone, & the Elect [4-3-17]

Reply to a Calvinist on Faith Alone and Works [of God Only?] [4-4-17]

Catholics and Protestants Agree on Grace Alone and the Necessity of the Presence of Good Works in Regenerate and Ultimately Saved Persons; Disagree on Faith Alone [5-4-17]

Degrees of Grace / Quantifiable Differences in Grace [5-4-17]
*

Is Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) Also Catholic Teaching? [National Catholic Register, 2-5-18]

Seidensticker Folly #29: Repentance: Part of Salvation [10-26-18]
*

Does God Use Even Lowly Apologists to Help Save Folks? (Reply to False Caricatures of Apologists Over Against Documented Biblical Views) [10-28-21]

Semi-Pelagianism & Catholicism (vs. Francisco Tourinho) [8-5-22]

No Secondary or “Mini” Mediators of Grace and Salvation? Think Again [Facebook, 3-22-23]
*

VIDEO Short: Degrees of Grace in the Bible (vs. Jordan Cooper) [see also the transcript] [1-7-26]

“More Grace”: Protestant Commentary (vs. Jordan Cooper): Is “Quantitative Grace” Only a “Weird Catholic Thing” or Do Protestant Theologians & Commentators Also Accept Some Form of It? [1-9-26]

Jesus the Unique Mediator + “Mini-Mediators” (Human Beings on Earth & in Heaven, & Angels Help to Spread God’s Grace & Salvation, Including Through Intercession) [3-4-26]

Workers with God to Save Ourselves & Others: 22 Passages [5-4-26]
*

XIII. MERIT AND REWARDS / HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE

Catholic Merit vs. Distorted Caricatures (James McCarthy) [1997]
*

Merit: Dialogue w Two Protestants on Catholic Soteriology [4-2-06]

Does Catholic Merit = “Works Salvation”? [2007]

Merit and Cooperating with God for Salvation [7-8-07]
*

Catholic Bible Verses on Sanctification and Merit [12-20-07]
*

Merit: Clarification of the Catholic Doctrine: Condign and Congruous Merit, Prevenient Grace, Etc. [2-2-09]

Our Merit is Based on Our Response to God’s Grace [2009]

Merit & Human Cooperation with God (vs. Calvin #35) [10-19-09]

Indulgences & Distribution of Grace (vs. Calvin #58) [2012]

Scripture on Being Co-Workers with God for Salvation [72 passages] [2013]

Is God Alone Holy, According to Scripture? Or Can We Be Too? [5-3-17]

Does Pope Francis Deny the Catholic Doctrine of Merit? No [7-1-19]

Lucas Banzoli’s Mindless Denigration of an Imagined “Mary” (Including Extensive Biblical Analyses of Exceptionally “Righteous” and “Holy” People, and Merit) [9-11-22]

The Bible Is Clear: Some Holy People Are Holier Than Others [National Catholic Register, 9-19-22]

Dialogue on Meritorious Works & the Gospel [6-30-23]

24 Biblical Passages on Meritorious Works [National Catholic Register, 9-30-24]

Meritorious Works: 50 Biblical Proofs (Bible Passages On God’s Rewarding and Being Pleased by Grace-Originated Meritorious Works of the Regenerate) [10-4-24]

Explicit Biblical Argument for Merit: St. Paul’s “Boasting” and “Pride” in the Work He and Other Christians Do for the Sake of God and Evangelism [Facebook, 10-12-24]
*

Merit in a Nutshell [Facebook, 10-24-24]
*

“Bl ameless” & “Pure” in the Bible (Sinless?): 40 Passages [12-12-24]

Perfectly Keeping the Law: 15 Bible Passages [12-12-24]
*

Transformation of Believers in the NT: 150 Passages (Regeneration is Only the Beginning . . .) [12-16-24]
*

Is it Possible to Perfectly Keep the Law? [National Catholic Register, 12-31-24]
*

Zwingli’s Blindness Regarding Biblical Merit / The Ten Clearest Biblical Passages on Merit [Facebook, 6-26-25]
*

Use of the Word “Saint” in the Bible in a “Catholic” Sense [Facebook, 9-1-25]
*

VIDEO Short: Perfectly Keeping the Law: Top Ten Bible Proofs [see also the transcript] [1-20-26]

XIV. ORIGINAL SIN AND TOTAL DEPRAVITY

Calvinist Total Depravity vs. Catholic Concupiscence [1996]
*

Judgment of Nations: A Collection of Biblical Passages [9-21-01]

Judgment of Nations: Biblical Commentary and Reflections [9-21-01]
*

Faith Alone & Original Sin: Reply to Smalcald Articles [1-30-01]
*

Biblical Evidence for Original Sin [6-26-02]

Protestant “Reformer” Zwingli Denied Original Sin [5-27-06]

God’s Judgment of Humans (Sometimes, Entire Nations) [2-16-07]

Total Depravity: Reply to James White: Calvinism and Romans 3:10-11 (“None is Righteous . . . No One Seeks For God”) [4-15-07]
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Calvinist Total Depravity: Does Romans 1 Apply to All Men? [4-10-08]
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Dialogue: Original Sin, Jesus, & Mary’s Immaculate Conception [9-4-08]
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2nd Council of Orange: Sola Gratia vs. Total Depravity [1-5-09]
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Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]
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Gospel = Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace? [4-6-10]
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Dialogue: Double Predestination, Total Depravity, & Limited Atonement [4-14-10]

Bible vs. the Reformed Doctrine of Total Depravity [2010]

Historicity of Adam and Eve [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]

St. Francis de Sales: Bible vs. Total Depravity + Biblical Evidence for the Indefectibility of the Church (from the Psalms) [11-24-11]

Total Depravity & the Evil of the Non-Elect (vs. John Calvin) [10-12-12]

Adam & Eve of Genesis: Historical & the Primal Human Pair [11-28-13]

St. Augustine, Calvin, & Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity [1-7-14]

Group Discussion on Eastern vs. Western Conceptions of Original Sin (with Eastern Catholics and Orthodox) (+ discussion on a second continuing Facebook thread) [Facebook, 6-28-14]
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Salvation, Eternal Security, & Grace: Dialogue w Bethany Kerr [4-13-15]
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Gandhi on Christian Hypocrisy: Some Truth But More Falsehoods [Facebook, 11-12-16]

Is God Alone Holy, According to Scripture? Or Can We Be Too? [5-3-17]

Does God Ever Judge People by Sending Disease? [10-30-17]

G. K. Chesterton on Original Sin [Facebook, 11-23-19]

Jesus vs. James White on Who Can be Saved [10-12-21]

Could Jesus Have Possibly Inherited Original Sin? (Was Mary’s Immaculate Conception Necessary to Prevent Such a Scenario, or Only “Fitting”? Jesus’ Two Natures & Impeccability) [11-11-21]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: God / Original Sin (Agreement Regarding God’s Nature, But Differences Concerning the Rule of Faith & Concupiscence) [5-2-24]

John Calvin: God Hates Sinners / God: I Love All People and Desire That None Perish [Facebook, 11-19-24]

Zwingli’s Watered-Down Original Sin and Rejection of Baptismal Regeneration as its Antidote [6-24-25]
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VIDEO: Total Depravity Debunked by the Bible [see also the transcript of the initial presentation] [with Kenny Burchard at Catholic Bible Highlights, 1-21-26]

Reply to a Calvinist Defender of Total Depravity [related to the video immediately above] [1-23-26]

Unregenerate Good Works in the Old Testament . . . Over Against the Calvinist Notion of Total Depravity [2-2-26]

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Practical Matters: This is the most comprehensive and multi-faceted Catholic apologetics blog: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT. I offer more than 5,000 free online articles, fifty-nine books, and many scores of videos at the Catholic Bible Highlights YouTube channel (please subscribe!). If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider financially supporting it. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. You’ll see the term “Dave Armstrong Bookstore”. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million!

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Last updated on 8 October 2026

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