As many Protestants remember the unofficial start of the Reformation back on this date in 1517, you may want to read this excellent Themelios article by Scott Manetsch. The focus is on “John Calvin, Roman Catholicism, and Contemporary Ecumenical Conversations.” What I find most helpful is Manetsch’s evaluation of recent ecumenical attempts to bridge the Catholic-Protestant divide on justification.
Manetsch sets the table:
Toward the end of the article, Manetsch returns to these developments, arguing that even if some Catholics use the phrases “by grace alone” and “by faith alone” this does not, by itself, mean we have come to agreement on justification.
In his conclusion, Manetsch draws out the pastoral implications of getting the doctrine of justification right (or wrong):
Read the whole thing. Scott Manetsch is a fine scholar and one of TEDS most well respected professors. Get acquainted with his stuff. Better yet, get acquainted with the biblical doctrine of justification, especially on Reformation Day.
