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→Faith and works: important interpretive distinction between two mutually exclusive Christian views of "works" - that of every kind of human effort to produce a result, versus the ceremonial ritual works of sacrifice commanded by the law of Moses
==Faith and works==
==Faith and works==
In [[Christianity]] an important [[Hermeneutics|interpretive]] distinction is made between two mutually exclusive Christian views of "works"''':'''
* (1) that of every kind of human effort intended to produce a result by means of the [[corporal and spiritual works of mercy]]
* (2) versus the ceremonial ritual works of [[Leviticus|levitical]] sacrifice commanded by the law of Moses as acts of obedient righteousness.
The divergence between these two [[Semantics|semantical]] understandings of the essential meaning of the word "works" in the Bible has been the cause of much theological contention, leading to both patient [[Christian apologetics|apologetic]] and bitter [[polemic]]. Some interpret faith and works as utterly opposed in [[salvation]]; others interpret them as complimentary, mutually interdependent, and inseparably necessary for salvation.
===Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28 and John 3:5; John 20:21-23===
===Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28 and John 3:5; John 20:21-23===
"Regenerative baptism" has been condemned as a "work" that is done to merit salvation in contradiction of the doctrine of salvation ''[[sola fide]]''. Apologists for regenerative baptism respond that God, "not willing that any should perish", ordained baptism as a gift which bestows grace ''[[Ex opere operato and ex opere operantis|ex opere operato]]'' "from the work performed", not by man but by Christ working in the sacrament, for "''even'' baptism doth also now save us".<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 3:21]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A&version=RSVCE John 3:5].</ref> Nowhere in the New Testament is anyone seen baptizing himself in the name of the Lord. Always it is others who baptize those who are baptized. All Christian churches that practice any form of baptism accept by a universal consensus the ''[[sensus fidelium]], [[sensus plenior]], [[sensus Christianorum]]'' that no one can be self-baptized but each one must be baptized by another. It is not a work performed by the baptized person in order to merit salvation. Human beings cannot save themselves.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+49%3A7-9&version=RSVCE Psalm 49:7-9].</ref> According to Catholic doctrine Baptism is a sacramental gift of unmerited mercy bestowed by the Lord, and performed on behalf of the Lord, who is the one accomplishing the work of salvation,<ref>Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17-21&version=RSVCE 2 Corinthians 5:17-21].</ref> in which his blood alone works unmerited salvation in the soul of the one he himself baptizes through the faith ministry of his Church which is his body.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A4-28&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:4-28].</ref> This is '''[[Ontology|ontological]] salvation''', affecting the whole being of a person. According to apologists for ontological "regenerative baptism", faith in the promise of God, that man is truly born again by water and the Spirit, is exercised by the whole Church on behalf of the one baptized, through faith in the operation of the saving power of God by the washing of water with the word, that the one being baptized might be truly saved, cleansed of all unrighteousness, even if the person, adult or infant, is unconscious and in immanent danger of death during an emergency, by "baptism which saves you now".<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 3:21]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A25-27&version=RSVCE Ephesians 5:25-27].</ref> The baptized person does not perform the baptism, and does not do the work of salvation in being born of water and the Spirit. It is Christ alone in his own body the Church which saves. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of ''his'' good pleasure."<ref>[http://biblehub.com/philippians/2-13.htm Philippians 2:13].</ref> And God is "not willing that any should perish."<ref>[http://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-9.htm 2 Peter 3:9].</ref> Outside of Christ there is no salvation. Those he saves are his workmanship;<ref>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-10.htm Ephesians 2:10].</ref> they are not their own work.<ref>Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A19-20&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 6:19-20].</ref> The faith bestowed by the Holy Spirit of Christ in baptism <ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A9-11&version=RSVCE Romans 8:9-11].</ref> is a gift which must be exercised to bear fruit in good works <ref> [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+2%3A8&version=RSVCE Ephesians 2:8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-10&version=RSVCE John 15:1-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A15-19&version=RSVCE Romans 5:15-19].</ref> which God ordained to be done by those who are his workmanship.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=RSVCE Ephesians 2:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=RSVCE James 2:14-26].</ref>{{cquote|<sup>10</sup> And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:<br><sup>11</sup> In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:<br><sup>12</sup> Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with ''him'' through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.<br><sup>13</sup> And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;<br>—Colossians 2:10-13 (KJV)}}
"Regenerative baptism" has been condemned as a "work" that is done to merit salvation in contradiction of the doctrine of salvation ''[[sola fide]]''. Apologists for regenerative baptism respond that God, "not willing that any should perish", ordained baptism as a gift which bestows grace ''[[Ex opere operato and ex opere operantis|ex opere operato]]'' "from the work performed", not by man but by Christ working in the sacrament, for "''even'' baptism doth also now save us".<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 3:21]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A&version=RSVCE John 3:5].</ref> Nowhere in the New Testament is anyone seen baptizing himself in the name of the Lord. Always it is others who baptize those who are baptized. All Christian churches that practice any form of baptism accept by a universal consensus the ''[[sensus fidelium]], [[sensus plenior]], [[sensus Christianorum]]'' that no one can be self-baptized but each one must be baptized by another. It is not a work performed by the baptized person in order to merit salvation. Human beings cannot save themselves.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+49%3A7-9&version=RSVCE Psalm 49:7-9].</ref> According to Catholic doctrine Baptism is a sacramental gift of unmerited mercy bestowed by the Lord, and performed on behalf of the Lord, who is the one accomplishing the work of salvation,<ref>Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17-21&version=RSVCE 2 Corinthians 5:17-21].</ref> in which his blood alone works unmerited salvation in the soul of the one he himself baptizes through the faith ministry of his Church which is his body.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A4-28&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 12:4-28].</ref> This is '''[[Ontology|ontological]] salvation''', affecting the whole being of a person. According to apologists for ontological "regenerative baptism", faith in the promise of God, that man is truly born again by water and the Spirit, is exercised by the whole Church on behalf of the one baptized, through faith in the operation of the saving power of God by the washing of water with the word, that the one being baptized might be truly saved, cleansed of all unrighteousness, even if the person, adult or infant, is unconscious and in immanent danger of death during an emergency, by "baptism which saves you now".<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 3:21]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A25-27&version=RSVCE Ephesians 5:25-27].</ref> The baptized person does not perform the baptism, and does not do the work of salvation in being born of water and the Spirit. It is Christ alone in his own body the Church which saves. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of ''his'' good pleasure."<ref>[http://biblehub.com/philippians/2-13.htm Philippians 2:13].</ref> And God is "not willing that any should perish."<ref>[http://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-9.htm 2 Peter 3:9].</ref> Outside of Christ there is no salvation. Those he saves are his workmanship;<ref>[http://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-10.htm Ephesians 2:10].</ref> they are not their own work.<ref>Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A19-20&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 6:19-20].</ref> The faith bestowed by the Holy Spirit of Christ in baptism <ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A9-11&version=RSVCE Romans 8:9-11].</ref> is a gift which must be exercised to bear fruit in good works <ref> [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+2%3A8&version=RSVCE Ephesians 2:8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-10&version=RSVCE John 15:1-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A15-19&version=RSVCE Romans 5:15-19].</ref> which God ordained to be done by those who are his workmanship.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=RSVCE Ephesians 2:10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=RSVCE James 2:14-26].</ref>{{cquote|<sup>10</sup> And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:<br><sup>11</sup> In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:<br><sup>12</sup> Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with ''him'' through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.<br><sup>13</sup> And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;<br>—Colossians 2:10-13 (KJV)}}