Catholics believe that we start the Christian life freely, without regard to works, and that we are sustained in our faith wholly by God’s grace. But does that obviate the need for good works? Is it enough to “just believe”? After we are saved, what role do good works play in the process of “working out” our salvation? If we turn to the Bible, we’ll see that it is by our God-enabled works that we become like Christ. They are the mechanism by which God conforms us to the image of His Son (see
Rom. 8:29). The Bible is clear that we must be united with Christ in order to be saved, for “he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Cor. 6:17):
I know it can be confusing
if you hold the doctrine of OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) and it may sound as a back tracking in doctrine, but it does not… remember our differences that I mentioned above.
According to the Bible, we are saved by grace, through faith (
Eph. 2:8-9). But obedience to God is a crucial element of faith. Paul wrote that he had been sent to call people “to the obedience that comes from faith” (
Rom. 1:5). Peter wrote that we Christians had been “chosen . . . for obedience to Jesus Christ” (
1 Pet. 1:2). Indeed, it is not too much to say that God has covenanted to save those who, by His grace, obey Him:
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love (John 15:10).
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given
to those who obey him (Acts 5:32).
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.
Keeping God’s commands is what counts (1 Cor. 7:19).
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).
Although [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation
for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9).
We know that we have come to know him
if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him (1 John 2:3-5).
We have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask,
because we obey his commands and do what pleases him . . . Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them (1 John 3:22-24).
This is love for God:
to obey his commands (1 John 5:3).
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Rev. 14:12).
When, enabled by God’s grace, we first turn to Him, He gives us the gift of faith, and He saves us gratuitously. There is nothing we can give Him, no deeds we can do to earn His favor. Through Christ, He gives us freely what we could otherwise never attain. Then, having saved us in this initial sense, He works in us to will and to act, in order to conform us to the image of His Son. As we practice righteousness, we become like Him. All of this, both faith and works, is by grace. It is God who sustains us in the Christian life. Therefore, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (
Heb. 12:1). And let us “pursue . . . the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (
Heb. 12:14).
I have come to a conclusion and you can disagree or agree with me if you like. Unless we grasp the fact that our faith and our works, which are ultimately rewarded with eternal life, are both gifts of grace, we will never be able to make sense of the New Testament.
What kills me is they feel like being deceptive is okay:nope:
” well…maybe we won’t do THAT, but anyway…
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I guess when you are used to “easy” salvation, you don’t want “difficult” reading.
