A works based Salvation? Eph 2:8-9

[josiah]

Eph 2:8** For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is**** the gift of God:**

Eph 2:9** Not of works, lest any man should boast**.

Out of curiosity, what is the Catholic hermeneutic on this piece of scripture? I don’t see how works is apart of attaining salvation. Although I think verse 10 makes it clear that the result of salvation is having good works that naturally flow.

The other problem I have with a works based salvation is because of what Isaiah saidIsa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Even our good works are stained with sinful motives! Thus even my good works are like a woman’s menstration rag (literal meaning).

Josiah

 

[RSiscoe]

It is a common misconception that Catholic believe we are saved by our works. We are saved by grace. Grace is the supernatural life of God that he infuses into our soul, which causes us to be “born again”. When a person possesses “grace” they become a “partaker of the Divine Nature”, “temple of the Holy Ghost who dwells in” them, and a “member of the Body of Christ”, as the Bible teaches. Just as the body seperated from the soul is dead, so too the soul seperated from “grace” (the supernatural life of God) is dead. When a person is born again, they receive an infusion of this supernatural life of God within their soul. The one who dies with this “eternal life” (1st John) in their soul will live forever; the one who departs from this life without “grace” in their soul will be eternally seperated from God.

That is how a person is saved. We beleive that a person receives this “grace” when they are baptized - or "born again by water and teh Holy Ghost (Jn 3), as the Bible puts it. That is how a baby, or a mentally retarded person, who has never “believed” can still be saved. Our salvation is by grave, not works.

However, after a person has received the free gift of grace, they must cooperate with God -“only those who do the will of my Father will enter into the Kingdom of heaven”, said Jesus (Mt. 7). This is where the “works” part comes in. It is not so much “works” as it is doing God’s will, which is necessary. Doing the will of God is the “good work” that we must do. If you read James, Chapter 2, starting at around vs. 14, you will see that “faith without works is dead” and will not save a person. You can also read Matthew, chapter 25, starting at around vs. 31, to see that “works” does play a part in salvation.

Again, it is not that we are saved by works, but to be saved, we must cooperate with God by doing His will: thus we must do good works.

The reason most Protestant denominations do not teach this is because Luther, Calvin, and the other “reformers” did not believe in free will. They falsely believed that man did not have the ability to chose, and therefore was not responsible for his actions. Since they believed that man has no control our his actions, they concluded that it would be unjust of God to require anything of him, except for “faith”. Therefore, they taught that we are saved by “Faith Alone” (Sola Fide). But it is important to realize that this teaching is based on the erroneous belief that man does not have free will, which is what the communists teach.

So it is not that the Catholic Church teaches a “works based salvation” as you will sometimes hear, but that the reformers denied that a person must “do the will of God” to be save, which is what Jesus clearly taught in Matthew, chapter 7.

I hope this helps a little.

God Bless

 

[Church_Militant]

Let me suggest that you read the passages on salvation in the Catechism of the Catholic Here: nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.htm

and perhaps see the folowing tracts here on this very site. Why didn’t you look at all this before you came in here with another (same ole same ole) mistaken attack on what we believe (according to whoever it is that you’ve been listening to or reading).
catholic.com/library/salvation.asp
after reading this you should have a better idea of what we really do believe and perhaps your questions will be answered.

 

[aridite]

There are many passages from Scripture that give the balanced, Catholic view that it is not faith alone, but faith through works (in God’s grace) by which we are redeemed and sanctified. I’m sure many will post them, and links to excellent articles explaining the truth for you.

One Scripture I especially like is Galatians 5:4-6 : “You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

I like this because it shows in a few verses (1) that those who have been “saved” might lose God’s grace through sinful works, (2) that our hope of righteousness is not something over and achieved once we are baptized, but that (3) final salvation is only had when faith works itself out in love (good works). Anyway, this is how the Catholic Church understands this, since she has the same faith that St. Paul had. I’m sure a protestant will give a different (personal) interpretation. Unfortunately, “there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation” (2 Pet 1:20).

 

[Descipleof1]

Church Militant:

Let me suggest that you read the passages on salvation in the Catechism of the Catholic Here: nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.htm

and perhaps see the folowing tracts here on this very site. Why didn’t you look at all this before you came in here with another (same ole same ole) mistaken attack on what we believe (according to whoever it is that you’ve been listening to or reading).
catholic.com/library/salvation.asp
after reading this you should have a better idea of what we really do believe and perhaps your questions will be answered.

ChurchMilitant. When you die will you go to purgatory or Heaven with the Lord?

 

[michaelp]

Descipleof1:

ChurchMilitant. When you die will you go to purgatory or Heaven with the Lord?

Wow! He is kinda Militant isn’t he?

 

[Vincent]

This might be surprising to some non-Catholics:

The Council of Trent considers the proposition that “man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ” to be **incompatible **with the Catholic faith.

 

[luv_pis]

Vincent:

This might be surprising to some non-Catholics:

The Council of Trent considers the proposition that “man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ” to be **incompatible **with the Catholic faith.

Wow, I learn something new everyday. Thanks Vincent!

I’ve looked into the site you’ve pointed out, and I am posting what I think are the salient points of the document related to this question:

---

The Council of Trent
The Sixth Session

Celebrated on the thirteenth day of the month of January, 1547.

DECREE ON JUSTIFICATION CHAPTER I.
On the Inability of Nature and of the Law to justify man. The holy Synod declares first, that, for the correct and sound understanding of the doctrine of Justification, it is necessary that each one recognise and confess, that, … [all men] were so far the servants of sin, and under the power of the devil and of death, that not the Gentiles only by the force of nature, but not even the Jews by the very letter itself of the law of Moses, were able to be liberated, or to arise, therefrom; although free will, attenuated as it was in its powers, and bent down, was by no means extinguished in them.

…

ON JUSTIFICATION CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.

 

[Maccabees]

Vincent:

This might be surprising to some non-Catholics:

The Council of Trent considers the proposition that “man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ” to be **incompatible **with the Catholic faith.

Not only that the catholic church has always condemend the concept of saved by works as early 529 at the Council or orange the church preached against Pelagianism, Luther exagerrated a catholic truth that we are saved by grace through faith to an invention that we are saved by faith alone which is condemed in the total understanding of scripture.

Here is what the catholic encyclopedia said:

Much more important was the second council (held on 3 July, 529), the first in Gaul to publish a decision in matters of faith. The occasion was the dedication of a church built at Orange by Liberius, the pretorian prefect of Narbonensian Gaul. It was attended by fourteen bishops with St. Cæsarius of Arles as president, and its deliberations bore on the current errors concerning the doctrine of grace and free will, i. e. Semipelagianism. Cæsarius had informed Felix IV (III) of the pernicious activity of the Semipelagians in Gaul and had applied to him for support. The pope, in response, sent him a series of “Capitula”, i. e. propositions or decrees drawn almost in their entirety from the works of St. Augustine and the “Sententiæ” of St. Prosper of Aquitaine. These “Capitula” became the basis of the twenty-five issued by the Synod of Orange, and these in turn were freely used by the Council of Trent in its condemnation of Luther. The acts of the Synod of Orange contain, after a preamble:

• (a) eight canons or anathematisms;
• (b) seventeen merely declaratory propositions (both of these classes are known as “Capitula”);
• (c) a sort of demonstration of the defined doctrine against the objections of the Semipelagians.

The subjects of the “Capitula” are thus logically grouped by Portalié in “Dict. Théol. Cath.” (I, 2526).

• (1) Causes of the necessity of grace. They are:
• (a) original sin which cannot be wiped out without it (can. ii);
• (b) the weakness of the will resulting from the fall of man (i);
• (c) the very condition of creature (xix).
• (2) Operation of grace before justification. It precedes every effort conducive to salvation. From it proceed:
• (a) prayer (can. iii);
• (b) the desire of justification (iv);
• (c) the inception of faith (v);
• (d) every effort towards faith (vi);
• (e) every salutary act (vii);
• (f) every preparation to justification (viii, xii);
• (g) all merit (xviii).
• (3) Operation of grace in initial justification or baptism. It restores (xiii), justifies (xiv), improves (xv), confers the justice of Christ (xxviii).
• (4) Work of grace after justification in the just. It is necessary for good actions (ix); perseverance (x); the taking of vows (xi); Christian fortitude (xvii); the life of Christ within us (xxiv); the love of God (xxv).
• (5) Universal necessity of grace. This need of grace to do good and avoid evil is expressed in propositions ix, xx, and the variously interpreted proposition xxii.

In the demonstration which follows the “Capitula” the fathers also reject the doctrine of predestination to evil and declare salvation within the reach of all baptized.

 

[martino]

Eph 2:8** For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:**

Eph 2:9** Not of works, lest any man should boast**.

Out of curiosity, what is the Catholic hermeneutic on this piece of scripture? I don’t see how works is apart of attaining salvation. Although I think verse 10 makes it clear that the result of salvation is having good works that naturally flow.

The other problem I have with a works based salvation is because of what Isaiah saidIsa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This is the verse that you happened to skip over. It clearly states that our good works are from God Himself which is the reason we should not boast and exalt ourselves.

If you think Catholicism teaches that works is the basis of salvation then you do not understand Catholicism. The Church does teach that faith and works and inseparable, that is to say you cannot have true faith without also having good works.

James 2: 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

---

James 2:20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?

Out of curiosity, what is the non Catholic interpretation of these Scriptures, I dont see how works in not apart of salvation. James seems to clear up any confusion regarding faith and works.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith…for good works… " (Eph 2:8-10)

Although good works should supplement faith, the idea that good works somehow effortlessly or “naturally flow” from faith is not indicated in this or other Scripture texts. Jesus and the Apostles were constantly calling believers to love, i.e., good works:

Peter said, “…make every effort to supplement your faith with … love [good works]. For if these things [good works] are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet 1:5-11)

Paul said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love [good works].” (Gal 5:6)

Paul said if he has faith without love [good works], he is “nothing.” (1 Cor 13:2)

John said a believer without love [good works] is “a liar” (1 John 4:20)

James said, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:17, 26)

Jesus said, “Every tree [every believer] that does not bear good fruit [good works] is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt 7:19)

Jesus said, “But when the king came in to look at the guests [at the marriage feast for his son], he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt 22:11-14) (Wedding garments = righteous deeds [good works] of the saints, see Rev 19:8)

Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus, “…I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the [good] works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Rev 2:4-5)

 

[Todd_Easton]

josiah:

The other problem I have with a works based salvation is because of what Isaiah saidIsa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Even our good works are stained with sinful motives! Thus even my good works are like a woman’s menstration rag (literal meaning).

Whatever the fallen state Israel was in when Isaiah made the remark you quote, Jesus says that “the righteous deeds of the saints” are like “fine linen, bright and pure.” (Rev 19:7-8)

 

[Church_Militant]

Descipleof1:

ChurchMilitant. When you die will you go to purgatory or Heaven with the Lord?

Do you even KNOW what we believe about Purgatory…or do you still think of it as some get out of hell free card?
See this : catholic.com/library/Purgatory.asp
and this: catholic.com/library/Roots_of_Purgatory.asp

As for your question: I’ll go wherever the Almighty in His love & mercy chose to send me and Praise Be To God the jury’s still out on that. Meanwhile I have to be about my Father’s business…like my Master.

As for my “militancy”… It’s not my intent to be offensive (defensive maybe… ), but it does get sort of old havin’ the same ole questions asked…the same ole tired allegations made…when there is more than ample clear, concise, and charitably presented info on this very site. I like discussing these things w/you non-Cats, so long as you’re not A/C, and are honest.
I WAS Prot for over 30 years after leaving the Church and I know that most people will not read or seriously consider Catholicism because we “just can’t be right. Catholicism is the whore of Babylon…yadda yadda yadda” BUT I didn’t return to this faith because I was raised in it…I returned because a dishonest A/C non-Cat attacked it saying that we worshipped Mary and I KNEW that to be incorrect. my research into the things that the Catholic Church really does teach & believe led me to the realization that ,in all honesty, it IS the NT Christianity.

The very title of this thread shows that it’s author has not availed himself of the fine tracts and articles listed on the home page here. Why ask a bunch of random dork Catholics who often don’t know what we believe any better than you do (or we wouldn’t be on this forum either …Yeah I mean me too) when the real scholarly types have posted the answers to your questions on the home page for easy access and nobody even passes a collection plate!

“Church Militant” is actually a term we use for those Christians still alive here on the earth because we are caught up in the spiritual warfare.

Don’t get me wrong…I love you guys, and in general I love talking all this over with you, but as my precious wife says: I’m passionate about my faith.

 

[Church_Militant]

michaelp:

Wow! He is kinda Militant isn’t he?

As for you Mike…

 

[Wil_Peregrin]

KSiscoe, some of the time Luther didn’t believe people had free will. . . Yet the Lutheran Church I attend teaches that we must daily repent, have faith, and obey. Hmm. And that that is the meaning of sola fide. Hmmm. What does that mean to you? That just perhaps we mean faith in a way different than Trent thinks we do? The Reformers did not deny that one must be one who does good works to be one who has the faith through which the grace of justification is received. That one who only intellectually believes, does not have this faith.

Aridite, there is no faith which has not works. But we are not saved by atoning for our own sins by performing the works of the Law - ergon nomou. We cannot atone for our own sins, it would take literally time without end for us to do that. So we are saved by what Christ did for us alone, that is Grace alone, through the means of faith alone. Which is where I get hung up on baptismal regeneration, because I don’t see in Scripture where the infant can understand the words and believe at baptism. Instead I see Paul writing to the Galatians saying over and over “akouae pistew” - “hearing with faith”. The Lutheran view apparently is that babies hear with faith when they are baptized. Pous gegraptai? It would make things so much easier if there were a clear teaching passage teaching this. Well, that is a different thread.

Maccabees, what the bishops at Trent, and you also, misunderstand is that by “faith” Luther did not mean intellectual assent alone, but the total commitment and allegience of the individual. You cannot have that without good works necessarily following. Or so I understand the case to be.

 

[aridite]

Wil

You know, the World Lutheran Federation and the Catholic Church have reached agreement on a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

Moreover in their Common Official Statement, they make clear,

“The teaching of the Lutheran Churches presented in the Declaration does not fall under the condemnations from the Council of Trent. The condemnations in the Lutheran Confessions do not apply to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church presented in this Declaration“ (JD 41).

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-official-statement_en.html

If your Lutheran Church is part of this Federation, we agree, on this point, at least.

 

[dirtydog]

Wil Peregrin:

Maccabees, what the bishops at Trent, and you also, misunderstand is that by “faith” Luther did not mean intellectual assent alone, but the total commitment and allegience of the individual. You cannot have that without good works necessarily following. Or so I understand the case to be.

If you think Luther believed faith to be defined as faith working in love, I think you need to look some more at his writings. He wouldn’t have called himself a pile of dung covered by the snow of Christ or said he could commit any number of sins without affecting his salvation and then claim total commitment and allegience.

 

[Berean]

RSiscoe:

It is a common misconception that Catholic believe we are saved by our works. We are saved by grace. Grace is the supernatural life of God that he infuses into our soul, which causes us to be “born again”. When a person possesses “grace” they become a “partaker of the Divine Nature”, “temple of the Holy Ghost who dwells in” them, and a “member of the Body of Christ”, as the Bible teaches. Just as the body seperated from the soul is dead, so too the soul seperated from “grace” (the supernatural life of God) is dead. When a person is born again, they receive an infusion of this supernatural life of God within their soul. The one who dies with this “eternal life” (1st John) in their soul will live forever; the one who departs from this life without “grace” in their soul will be eternally seperated from God.

That is how a person is saved. We beleive that a person receives this “grace” when they are baptized - or "born again by water and teh Holy Ghost (Jn 3), as the Bible puts it. That is how a baby, or a mentally retarded person, who has never “believed” can still be saved. Our salvation is by grave, not works.

However, after a person has received the free gift of grace, they must cooperate with God -“only those who do the will of my Father will enter into the Kingdom of heaven”, said Jesus (Mt. 7). This is where the “works” part comes in. It is not so much “works” as it is doing God’s will, which is necessary. Doing the will of God is the “good work” that we must do. If you read James, Chapter 2, starting at around vs. 14, you will see that “faith without works is dead” and will not save a person. You can also read Matthew, chapter 25, starting at around vs. 31, to see that “works” does play a part in salvation.

Again, it is not that we are saved by works, but to be saved, we must cooperate with God by doing His will: thus we must do good works.

The reason most Protestant denominations do not teach this is because Luther, Calvin, and the other “reformers” did not believe in free will. They falsely believed that man did not have the ability to chose, and therefore was not responsible for his actions. Since they believed that man has no control our his actions, they concluded that it would be unjust of God to require anything of him, except for “faith”. Therefore, they taught that we are saved by “Faith Alone” (Sola Fide). But it is important to realize that this teaching is based on the erroneous belief that man does not have free will, which is what the communists teach.

So it is not that the Catholic Church teaches a “works based salvation” as you will sometimes hear, but that the reformers denied that a person must “do the will of God” to be save, which is what Jesus clearly taught in Matthew, chapter 7.

I hope this helps a little.

God Bless

 

[Berean]

RSiscoe:

It is a common misconception that Catholic believe we are saved by our works. We are saved by grace. Grace is the supernatural life of God that he infuses into our soul, which causes us to be “born again”. When a person possesses “grace” they become a “partaker of the Divine Nature”, “temple of the Holy Ghost who dwells in” them, and a “member of the Body of Christ”, as the Bible teaches.
“One does not possess “Grace” God gives grace to humanity and they either accept it or reject it. Grace is of God and we can’t possess it. It is his disposition towards mankind” Just as the body seperated from the soul is dead, so too the soul seperated from “grace” (the supernatural life of God) is dead. When a person is born again, they receive an infusion of this supernatural life of God within their soul. The one who dies with this “eternal life” (1st John) in their soul will live forever; the one who departs from this life without “grace” in their soul will be eternally seperated from God.

That is how a person is saved. We beleive that a person receives this “grace” when they are baptized - or "born again by water and teh Holy Ghost (Jn 3), as the Bible puts it. That is how a baby, or a mentally retarded person, who has never “believed” can still be saved. Our salvation is by grave, not works.
Baptism is not the same as being born again. Being born again is being born from above and only God can provide this spiritual birth. The condition of being “born again” is dependent upon the individual to accept the grace provided by God.

However, after a person has received the free gift of grace, they must cooperate with God -“only those who do the will of my Father will enter into the Kingdom of heaven”, said Jesus (Mt. 7). This is where the “works” part comes in. It is not so much “works” as it is doing God’s will, which is necessary. Doing the will of God is the “good work” that we must do. If you read James, Chapter 2, starting at around vs. 14, you will see that “faith without works is dead” and will not save a person. You can also read Matthew, chapter 25, starting at around vs. 31, to see that “works” does play a part in salvation.

Again, it is not that we are saved by works, but to be saved, we must cooperate with God by doing His will: thus we must do good works.

The reason most Protestant denominations do not teach this is because Luther, Calvin, and the other “reformers” did not believe in free will. They falsely believed that man did not have the ability to chose, and therefore was not responsible for his actions. Since they believed that man has no control our his actions, they concluded that it would be unjust of God to require anything of him, except for “faith”. Therefore, they taught that we are saved by “Faith Alone” (Sola Fide). But it is important to realize that this teaching is based on the erroneous belief that man does not have free will, which is what the communists teach.
The mere fact that Luther and Calvin reformed was evidence of their ability to think for themselves. What you have said is contrary to history. If any thing the Roman Catholic Church has exhibited periods of not wanting the lay person to be knowledgeable and have a mind of their own. Check out the history of forbidden books by the Catholic Church and you will see that the bible was one of the books the Church did not want the lay person to read. This took place in 1229 during the Council of Toulouse. Talk about not wanting the people to have a mind of their own and free will.

So it is not that the Catholic Church teaches a “works based salvation” as you will sometimes hear, but that the reformers denied that a person must “do the will of God” to be save, which is what Jesus clearly taught in Matthew, chapter 7.
If it is not works based why must you say penance for absolution of sin? Pennance =payment and Jesus paid your debt in full. If there were any amount of works you could do to save yourself, Jesus came in vain. You can’t pay for it with penance it is free, just accept it and be born again.

I hope this helps a little.

God Bless

 

[awalt]

I think the Bible says it quite clearly –

Eph 2:8 ** For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

• This, to me, means that God’s unboundless love for means he gives us the gift of salvation through grace. God is rich in grace (Eph. 2:4)
  -It is a gift, to be accepted, or not, and we accept it through faith.
• Our deeds have nothing to do with it, hence the act of accepting a gift is not something that should be bragged about as an accomplishment of ours. Also, there are a number of other passages in the bible, (for example Ro 11:35, Ro 3:27), which show examples of where salvation based on our own works would be in contradiction of God’s word.

So is it just about saving us, is that the goal?

Eph 2:10 - **10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. *-*This is part of God’s plan for us from the beginning - so there must be more to it than just saving us…first, we are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)
-Being saved is the beginning not the end!
-There is more –

James 2:26 - 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

• So, if we do no good needs, we must not have any faith, which indicates we have not been saved. There is no faith without good deeds, it is what proves that faith exists.

OK, so it’s important for us to do good work. Why?

Ro 8:29-30 ** 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

• It also fulfills God’s plan for us to be like Christ for eternity. This is the part that contradicts those that say “I only have to truly believe in Jesus Christ and I am saved”. - True, but your FAITH in Jesus is what saves you, and if you truly have faith, good deeds will come.

So how does our faith produce good works then, since it’s not us doing it?

Phil 2:13 - **13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

• So once we are saved, it is the Holy Spirit inside us that is the foundation of our efforts to do good work and be like Christ.

So in summary, God loves us which cause him to bestow a wonderful gift of grace of salvation, that we accept by our faith in Jesus Christ. God gives us the Holy Spirit, so our faith and the Holy Spirit, which continue to grow in power (there are verses about this), cause us to live like Christ which fulfills God’s eternal plan for us.

It’s all in the Bible, while there are other verses that promote these same thoughts I know of these the best. More importantly, there is no need to look at other sources for the answer.