A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism, Question #5: Is Faith Greater Than Love?

Thanks for joining us today as we continue our Friday series examining Catholic apologist, John Martignoni’s book, “A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism: Catholic Questions Protestants Can’t Answer” (2023). This week, Martignoni continues his 30-part “Questions Protestants Can’t Answer” section with Question #5, Is Faith Greater Than Love?

Questions Protestants Can’t Answer #5: Is Faith Greater Than Love?

With this question, Martignoni continues his assault on the doctrine of Sola fide, the Biblical teaching that salvation is through faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior. Four of Martignoni’s first five questions have been attacks on Sola fide. Like his “What’s Love Got To Do With It” chapter in the first section of this book, Martignoni argues that “love of God and fellow man” that is expressed by obeying the Ten Commandments (aka works righteousness) is just as important, strike that, even more important than “faith.” He cites 1 Corinthians 13:13 as his proof-text:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Martignoni’s Argument

Martignoni’s argument proceeds as follows:

A. Evangelical Protestants claim Sola fide, faith in Jesus Christ alone, is the only requirement for salvation.

B. Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that love of God and fellow man (expressed by obeying the Ten Commandments and performing acts of charity) is greater than faith.

C. Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 13:13 proves that evangelicals’ doctrine of Sola fide, faith in Jesus Christ alone, as the only requirement for salvation is fallacious.

My Rebuttal

As any first-year Bible college student knows, in 1 Corinthians 13, Apostle Paul is addressing the believers in Corinth specifically in regards to the gifts of the Spirit. Paul is not addressing salvation here, but Christian living. Martignoni is guilefully using an “apples” Christian-living proof-text for an “oranges” salvation argument. Instead, let’s refer to a passage that actually addresses salvation. Below we have Acts 16:30-34 recording Paul and Silas’ encounter with the Philippian jailer:

³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

When the jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, did they answer, “You must love God and love your fellow man by obeying the Ten Commandments and performing acts of charity over the course of your lifetime and hopefully merit Heaven at the moment of death” as Martignoni and the RCC teach? Absolutely not! They told him he must believe (Greek, pisteuō: to believe, to put one’s faith in, to trust in) in Jesus Christ as Savior through faith alone. In a potential drowning situation, does the lifeguard ask the near-death struggling swimmer to jump through hoops? No, the lifeguard only tells the swimmer to trust him and the wise swimmer gladly does so. We are all drowning in our sinfulness and deserve eternal condemnation. God the Son, Jesus Christ, conquered sin and death with His perfect sacrifice on Calvary and His glorious resurrection. Christ offers the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life to all those who repent (turn from their rebellion against God) and place their trust in Him as their Savior through faith alone.

Martignoni is putting the cart before the horse. A person can’t genuinely love God until they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior through faith alone.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him…” – Hebrews 11:6

After a person has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior through faith alone, they will joyfully draw near to God and seek to please Him in obedience.

Many people are familiar with John 3:16, God’s Good News! in a single verse: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes (pisteuō: put one’s faith in, trust in) should not perish but have eternal life.”

If Martignoni and the RCC had their way, they would re-write John 3:16 to read something like this: For God mandated that all those who show love for him by obeying the Ten Commandments and by performing acts of charity may hopefully merit eternal life at the moment of death.

Martignoni and Catholics are like the self-righteous Pharisee in the parable of Luke 18:9-14 who pointed to his supposed good works as his basis for meriting salvation. In contrast, Jesus Christ, noted the repentant tax collector who humbly reached out to God his Savior through faith alone. Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.” Like the Pharisee in the parable, so it is with all those who seek to enter Heaven through their self-righteousness and sin-tainted merits.

Martignoni boasted that we Protestants would not be able to answer Question #5, Is Faith Greater Than Love?, however, we answered with great joy and assurance in God’s free gift of salvation through faith in Christ alone.

⚠️ Important note: A Catholic’s understanding of “faith” is entirely different from that of a Gospel Christian. For Catholics, “faith” is their trust in their institutional church and its sacraments to help them merit Heaven.

Next week: Question #6: Was the Prodigal Son Saved before He Left His Father’s House?