Did Paul and James Disagree on Justification?

Did Paul and James Disagree on Justification?

Do James and Paul contradict one another on the subject of justification? Paul writes, “We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28). God justifies the believing sinner on the basis of “the righteousness of God without the law” (Rom. 3:21). In Galatians he is equally emphatic: “A man is not justified by the works of the law … by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16). Moreover, Paul proves the doctrine of justification by appealing to the example of Abraham: “if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God” (Rom. 4:2). About Abraham Paul writes, “but to him that worketh not but believeth …” (Rom. 4:5) and points out that Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised! (Rom. 4:10).

Justified by Faith Alone

Justified by Faith Alone

If you know anything about the Reformation of the Church in the 16th Century you will have heard of "Justification by faith alone." The Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin and others) taught that we are justified before God by faith alone without works.

Justification depicts God as the Judge and sinners as defendants or the accused.

What About Mary?

What About Mary?

In Ireland many religious people are devoted to Mary. If you visit many homes you will see statues and pictures of Mary. The Rosary, a prayer to Mary, is very popular. In many villages and on country roads there are grottos and shrines dedicated to Mary. Reformed Christians do not have such devotion to Mary. Because of this, we are sometimes asked, "Do you hate Mary? Are you not devoted to Our Lady?"

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord")

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine is a systematic doctrine class aimed at older teenagers, but adapted in Ireland for adults who want to learn all the doctrines of Christianity.

Lesson 29 is "The Second Coming of the Lord."

The main subjects covered in this Lesson are:

Part 1: An introduction to Millennial views; Amillennialism; Postmillennialism.

Part 2:  Premillennial Dispensationalism: its eschatology; a critique of its separation of Israel and the church, and its false view of the kingdom.

Part 3: Premillennial Dispensationalism: the rapture, the 70 weeks of Daniel 9; interpreting the book of Revelation.

Part 4: The precursory signs in the world, among the nations and in the church.

Part 5: The Antichrist: prophesied in the OT; prophesied in the book of Revelation; his characteristics.

Part 6:  The one glorious future coming of Jesus Christ.

Part 7: (extra handout) texts on the Second Coming; A Brief Outline of Revelation.

The LRF runs an adult reformed doctrine class in which we work through the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine catechism booklet published by the PRCA.

Below you will find the lesson outlines based on Lesson 29.

Each lesson outline comes as a handy PDF formatted to be printed as a single double-sided page with narrow margins. Download the attachments below.

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord"[2])
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord" [1])
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord" [4])
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord"[3])
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord" [5])
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 29 (“The Second Coming of the Lord" [6])
Texts on the Second Coming; A Brief Outline of Revelation