Where Catholics Go Wrong on Justification

Are Catholics really teaching salvation by works? The answer is more nuanced—but there are still serious theological problems that often go unaddressed. In this video, Dr. Karlo Broussard and Dr. Stephen Boyce walk through five key issues where contemporary Catholic explanations of justification create confusion or depart from the biblical framework, even when appealing to grace. 🔹 ISSUE #1: “We’re Justified by Works” (James 2:24) Catholic arguments frequently fail to distinguish initial justification from ongoing or final justification, collapsing different biblical categories into one. 🔹 ISSUE #2: Works and Initial Justification Catholics often say “our works have nothing to do with initial justification.” That’s misleading. The Council of Trent explicitly teaches that the sinner must be prepared and disposed by the movement of the will prior to justification (Canon IX). While these movements are attributed to actual grace, they still introduce pre-justification cooperation, which raises serious biblical and theological questions. 🔹 ISSUE #3: “We Must Cooperate with Grace” This is true—but incomplete. Yes, cooperation itself is enabled by grace (Philippians 2:13). The problem is how that cooperation is then folded back into the grounds of justification, blurring the line between grace received and righteousness counted. 🔹 ISSUE #4: Romans 3:28 and the Meaning of “Works” Catholics often limit Paul’s argument to “works of the Law.” But Romans 4 shows that Paul establishes a general principle about works as such—not merely ceremonial boundary markers. Abraham is justified apart from works, not merely apart from Mosaic law-keeping. Moral effort, checkbox obedience, or religious performance—none of these justify apart from faith-trust in God. 🔹 ISSUE #5: Sanctification Passages Misapplied to Justification ⸻ Related Article: 👉 https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/catholics-and-protestants-agree-kind-of https://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/dialoghi/sezione-occidentale/luterani/dialogo/documenti-di-dialogo/1999-dichiarazione-congiunta-sulla-dottrina-della-giustificazion/en.html @Dr-Karlo channel for more information about Dr. Karlo Broussard.