By grace alone through faith alone - why this is true and we should not fight this. Advice from Pope Benedict

[Cathoholic]

tgGodsway:

. . . . you’re going to have to decide where you’ll place your faith. Will it be in God’s holy and inerrant word, written by holy men of God who were the eye witnesses to Christ? Or, in the traditions of the Roman Church . . .

As Charlie Brown would say . . . “Good grief”.

tgGodsway:

There is no justification by God found in Genesis 12 . . . . Why would you say there is?

Just look at Genesis 12 and see Abraham’s faith tgGodsway.

Remember. You are the one who is proclaiming justification by faith ALONE.

So if Abraham exhibits faith in Genesis 12 we know he is justified there (according to your own principles).

QUOTE:

GENESIS 12:1-4a 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves. " 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him . . . .

This clearly shows Abraham’s faith (AND obedience incidentally).

If Abraham had faith here (and he obviously did), then even according to your theology (justification by faith ALONE), he is justified here and that’s WHY I’d “say there is” justification in Genesis 12.

So if Abraham is justified in Genesis 12 AND Abraham is justified in Genesis 15, this illustrates just what I am talking about. This illustrates a moment followed by a PROCESS of justification.

 

[Cathoholic]

tgGodsway:

You never answered my last letter but still came up with more questions, to which I answered. But I’m getting to think that you are not interested in actually reasoning with the facts.

Fine. I’ll try to “answer” your “last letter”.

But there were no real questions in it except your rhetorical questions (bolded) and one other which I thought I answered.

But I will try to expound more. (I am glad you are hanging around here to discuss this most important issue by the way tgGodsway).

Here is your post that you are alluding to . . . .

Hello Cathoholic, I read your statements and respond here.

I will try to word it differently with the hopes that I can be understood. On the narrow subject of how one receives eternal life, I believe it is a one-time for all-time –act of faith –in the message of the gospel, in a moment of time when that faith is expressed through the divine doorway of grace. When you hear the salvation message and believe it, you enter a spiritual place seated with Christ (Eph. 1:20) called eternal life. You are saved!

This eternal life begins for you from heaven, but in the here and now life. When Jesus spoke of how one receives eternal life in John’s gospel . . .

. . . . With that said, I acknowledge and agree that there is an “on going” work AFTER eternal life is received. This on-going work of God’s Spirit is NOT a justifying work, (as you on this sight suggested,) but a Sanctifying one. For instance Paul wrote to the Church at hilippi and said, “for it is God who WORKS in you both TO WILL and to do for His good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13 When Paul said God works in YOU! He was talking to a specific group of people, the Philippian Church. Who were they? They were people who had eternal life. What was Paul saying to them? He was saying, it is God who works in You (Philippian believers) both to will and do for His good pleasure. This passage, and so many like it, are similar to what the great Catholic Reformer, Luther saw from scripture when he read Rom. 1:17, “… the JUST shall live by FAITH.” The justified believers should not refuse to walk by faith, They will need their faith to finish their course in the here and now life.

You asked, and I quote, “Are these works in us and through us worthless concerning ongoing justification?” No! they are not worthless if the justification is the kind that “men” will credit you when they see you do them. This is James’ point of view in James 2.

You went on with the question I thought I addressed . . . .

However, YES! they are worthless IF you are trying to earn a justification before God’s eyes for eternal life. This was Paul’s point in Ro. 4:2 Why cannot anyone see this distinction? God’s eyes or Men’s eyes…

I answered that question (here).

You went on with more questions (but these were rhetorical questions too that YOU answered) . . . .

Here’s a question: Why can’t we be a participant in justification before God? … Two reasons: (1) This kind of justification was earned by Christ alone when He died a sinner’s death. In other words, His sacrifice on the cross 2000 years ago paid in full (our sin debt) when He said, “It is Finished!”

But I will try to expound on it anyway . . . .

That’s a partial truth tgGodsway.

Jesus DID die on Calvary for us to give us MORE than the forgiveness of sins (He gives us Divine sonship too).

And that WAS earned by Christ ALONE here on Calvary.

But your point assumes Calvary was the END of justification or at least its completion.

No way! THAT is un-Biblical.

Jesus was RAISED for our justification too (Romans 4:25).

ROMANS 4:25 25 who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Why?

So we can have life IN Him and through Him.

And that’s WHY St. Paul tells us we need to live with Christ. We NEED to suffer with Christ (notice you can live and suffer with Christ).

ROMANS 6:4b so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

ROMANS 8:17 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

And if we do this, we will reign with Christ in glory.

And if we REJECT it, we will not.

 

[tgGodsway]

I was Just looking over your last words, I missed this last statement Cathoholic.

You said, “You are rhetorically asking this to me, to ostensibly show me you CANNOT participate in your justification in any way (correct me if I am wrong here on my interpretation of your question please). This astonishes me that you would say such a thing tgGodsway!

Don’t you “participate” in “faith”? Or do you think faith is ONLY of God, and you cannot reject faith?”
Want I meant is, God is the justifier, and we are the justified. We cannot add to, or participate in, the act of justifying one’s self with or by good works before God. His declaration of JUSTIFICATION upon us is His call alone. He slams the gavel down with a verdict when we believe in Him.

 

[James248]

I was Just looking over your last words, I missed this last statement Cathoholic.

You said, “You are rhetorically asking this to me, to ostensibly show me you CANNOT participate in your justification in any way (correct me if I am wrong here on my interpretation of your question please). This astonishes me that you would say such a thing tgGodsway!

Don’t you “participate” in “faith”? Or do you think faith is ONLY of God, and you cannot reject faith?”
Want I meant is, God is the justifier, and we are the justified. We cannot add to, or participate in, the act of justifying one’s self with or by good works before God. His declaration of JUSTIFICATION upon us is His call alone. He slams the gavel down with a verdict when we believe in Him.

Yet Abraham was justified by works, and his works made his faith perfect.

 

[Cathoholic]

Want I meant is, God is the justifier, and we are the justified. We cannot add to, or participate in, the act of justifying one’s self with or by good works before God.

So are you saying you don’t need faith (because you DO “participate” in faith)?

 

[Cathoholic]

His declaration of JUSTIFICATION upon us is His call alone.

I agree with what you are affirming here tgGodsway.

The problem is . . . You are not affirming enough Scripture.

There is MORE to affirm.

Like what?

Like when God “declares” something, by virtue of Him being God, He DOES what He “declares”.

OK. Like what else?

Like God’s justification isn’t reducible down to being “upon us”. That is classic and incomplete “reformation tradition”.

God’s justification IS “upon us”, but it is also within us. It is transformative. God’s Divine life is now within us upon our justification moment.

Then when you are empowered by the Holy Spirit . . . You MUST work.

To whom mych is given much is REQUIRED.

Would you say tgGodsway, that getting the Holy Spirit . . . is “much” or “not so much”?

He slams the gavel down with a verdict when we believe in Him.

This is classic reformation theology too and is likewise incomplete.

This focus upon the forensic or courtroom aspect is true in what it asserts, but false in that it stops there.

As Scott Hahn has said, the Catholic view is the judge declaring you not guilty (but that is mere forgiveness of sins and not enough), then the judge takes you home with Him and adopts you as His child (Divine sonship). That is the complete Scriptural Catholic view.

 

[Cathoholic]

tgGodsway. I showed you Abraham exhibited faith in Genesis 12 (long before Genesis 15).

I showed that to you in post 121 (here).

Yet so far you have been silent on Abraham being justified in Genesis 12.

Why?

You said Abraham was justified in Genesis 15 (which I affirm too).

 

[tgGodsway]

I am not silent Cathoholic, I’ve got a family and business to take care of also.

But I did read those statements. And it is true that Abraham did exactly what the Lord told him to do. Though the word faith or faith alone is not mentioned in the Gen. 12 passage, we can assume he obeyed because he believed what God said to do and then he did it.

I agree with all of that. But justification in Genesis 15:6 is unique (despite what can be inferred in Genesis 12, or 22) because the bible says Abraham “believed” (in that context) what God had said, which was that He would make many descendants come from his loins. Abraham was very old and so was his wife. For her to get pregnant was an impossibility, humanly speaking. As a matter of act, when Abraham told her about what God said, she laughed him to scorn. But the bible says that Abraham, nonetheless and in-spite of all impossibility) believed God’s promise and because of that belief, God imputed or accredited him with RIGHTEOUSNESS.= this Hebrew word also translates into the word JUSTIFICATION, a legal term when a judge will render a verdict. This one event was recognized by all of the New Testament writers as a spiritual JUSTIFICAITON before God without Abraham’s works. see, Rom. 4:3; 4:9; see Galatians 3:6,7,8,9; 3:14, 18, 3:29 It is imperative that you actually take the time to read through these scriptures to understand where I am coming from.

In other words, the New Testament writers interpreted what Abraham did in Genesis 15:6 specifically. All of them were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to say that we are now the seed of Abraham, but the seed is a spiritual seed and not natural. We became the seed of Abraham by faith alone. This is the crux of Paul’s argument in Romans.

Yes we can find implications where Abraham obeyed the Lord to do this or to do that, but the New testament writers, did not see those instances in the way you want to use them.
Not that the way you look at them doesn’t not matter. but simply not part of the narrow subject of how faith and works are understood in various context. Abraham, from God’s point of view was made righteous as a gift. It is a position of righteousness. yet Abraham’s condition in Genesis 16 and following didn’t seem to match his faith in Genesis 15. In other words His carnal side fought against his spiritual side. But eventually he arrived at a mature place in God by Genesis 22. His journey between those two chapters was his faith worked out into maturity.

I hope this makes sense to you. I’m getting tired bro.
tgGodsway.

 

[tgGodsway]

To Cathoholic,

So are you saying you don’t need faith (because you DO “participate” in faith)? I have never said I don’t need faith. God will only respect faith- Hebrew 11:6 But if eternal life
was all about crossing a bridge of faith to get to the other side. I would not need to, and neither would you if you believe Jesus is the Christ. Why? Because I’ve already crossed. But certainly I need faith for so many other reasons.

The problem is . . . You are not affirming enough Scripture.

There is MORE to affirm.

Like what?

Like when God “declares” something, by virtue of Him being God, He DOES what He “declares”.
I’m not sure what you were getting at here.

OK. Like what else?

Like God’s justification isn’t reducible down to being “upon us”. That is classic and incomplete “reformation tradition”. I’m not sure what you mean by justification upon us. It is a spiritual position in God’s economy.

God’s justification IS “upon us”, but it is also within us. It is transformative. God’s Divine life is now within us upon our justification moment. AGREED!

Then when you are empowered by the Holy Spirit . . . You MUST work. YES I MUST! But for what purpose should I?

To whom mych is given much is REQUIRED. AGREED. THAT IS A GOOD REASON

Would you say tgGodsway, that getting the Holy Spirit . . . is “much” or “not so much”?

You are right I have not considered how the Holy Spirit plays his part in this whole issue. But He does. I will answer that tomorrow or the next day. Tomorrow is a very busy day. But let’s just say that to receive the Holy Spirit is to receive the very essence of God Himself. We become the sanctuary to house His very presence, and our human spirit becomes the very holy of holies tabernacle found in the book of Exodus.

 

[Cathoholic]

tgGodsway:

Though the word faith or faith alone is not mentioned in the Gen. 12 passage, we can assume he obeyed because he believed what God said to do and then he did it.

Actually, you can assert Abraham had faith in Genesis 12, because the author of Hebrews explicitly tells us.

HEBREWS 11:8 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.

If you are justified by faith as you assert tgGodsway, then Abraham WAS justified in Genesis 12.

Yet you said Abraham was justified in Genesis 15 (which I agree with).

Yet you DENIED Abraham was justified in Genesis 22 (which is wrong).

Abraham Was Justified in Genesis 12

Abraham was justified in Genesis 12 (Hebrews 11:8 citing Genesis 12) . . . .

HEBREWS 11:8a 8 By faith Abraham obeyed . . .

Abraham Was Justified in Genesis 15

Abraham was justified in Genesis 15 (Romans 4:3-5 citing Genesis 15) . . .

ROMANS 4:3-5 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. 5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Abraham Was Justified in Genesis 22

Abraham was justified in Genesis 22 (James 2:21-24 citing Genesis 22) . . . .

JAMES 2:21-24 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

So we have Abraham being justified in Genesis 12, 15, and 22.

Which Bible passage to you believe tgGodsway?

If you were a Catholic you would affirm ALL the Bible passages and not pick and choose.

For Catholics we affirm Abraham was justified in Genesis 12, Abraham was justified in Genesis 15, and Abraham was justified in Genesis 22.

• Abraham was justified in Genesis 12
• Abraham was justified in Genesis 15
• Abraham was justified in Genesis 22

Justification is a moment followed by a lifelong PROCESS

You cannot affirm these passages at face value tgGodsway.

Why?

Because if you do affirm ALL the verses . . . . you will be tacitly admitting that justification is a moment followed by a PROCESS—a LIFELONG process. (That will not sit well with your minister)

Our justification is a LIFELONG process. That’s WHY Jesus said things like you are to take up your cross EVERY DAY (“daily” in some translations) and follow me.

LUKE 9:23-24 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.

NOT LUKE 9:23-24 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross initially just one moment alone and follow me.

That’s WHY St. Paul can say . . . . .

1st CORINTHIANS 9:25-26 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; 27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

And “disqualified” here is “adokimos” (the Greek word for someone who is not going to receive salvation as they are of “sterile soil” or “failing to pass the test”).

biblehub.com/greek/96.htm

That’s WHY St. Paul warns the Galatians . . . .

GALATIANS 6:8-9 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Your straw-man indictment of the Catholic Faith earlier was directed at men who “sow to his own flesh”.

Yet all this time I have told you, that’s not what Catholics (Catholics including St. Paul) think or teach about “works”.

By the power of the Holy Spirit we “sow in the Spirit” as St. Paul warns us to do. And St. Paul says (not merely me but St. Paul) if we DO this, we will “reap eternal life”.

You don’t believe that tgGodsway. I do.

 

[tgGodsway]

Cathoholic, I’ve read your post this morning, but cannot respond today, Work.

But I will gladly respond. You make yourself out to be an expert on the scriptures but actually use them poorly. You claim that I make indictments against the Catholic Church, to which I do not, but you make those indictments against me in almost every post. You have no leverage over me.

I will answer your flimsy rendering of scripture, but not today.

Be blessed ,
tgGodsway

 

[Cathoholic]

1st TIMOTHY 1:8 8 If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

tgGodsway:

I’ve got a family and business to take care of also. (Here)

cannot respond today, Work. (Here)

I think taking care of your family (directly taking care of family . . . . and . . . . work or indirectly taking care of family) is the appropriate priority here tgGodsway.

Good on ya’.

Much more important than dialoguing with Cathoholic. (That can take place in due time too)

Keep up the good work and I’ll check back whenever.

---

St. Paul would say if you did otherwise you could be disowning your faith.

I think St. Paul is referring to that process of justification we have been discussing (that process of justification comes after the moment of justification because he is talking to people who HAVE the faith here in 1st Timothy 1, but are now “disowning” it).

“If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family”. . . .

St. Paul would agree with your priorities that you are living out in this case tgGodsway.

For the guy who has faith presumably a saving faith, (notice Paul is addressing guys who have faith. He is talking to people who are probably justified) that doesn’t prioritize family St. Paul warns them concerning their process of justification . . . .

. . . . “he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Since you and I both don’t think “unbelievers” can get to Heaven unless they repent of their unbelief . . . . and since this apparent justified guy who . . . . HAS faith . . . . who is now “disowning” his faith (because you can’t “disown” what you don’t have to begin with) this taking care of family is considered a necessary work by St. Paul) is falling into a state WORSE than unbelief, I suspect St. Paul is alluding to the PROCESS of justification here.

1st TIMOTHY 1:8 8 If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

You tgGodsway are living out what we are discussing. And living it out in a salutary way.

Thanks for the good example you set as a hard working family person.

 

[Cathoholic]

tgGodsway.

You said my Scripture analysis was “flimsy”.

Yet I affirmed Hebrews 11:8, Romans 4:3-5 (Galatians 3 that you cited merely has St. Paul saying the same thing as in Romans 4—which again I affirm), and James 2:21-24 DIRECTLY.

I affirmed the verses for just what they say (and didn’t “add” words like “alone” to them).

You are the one who says we are justified by “faith” so Hebrews 11:8 would point to Abraham being justified there too (according to your own principles).

So I believe and affirm Scripture for what it says, and you call it “flimsy”.

tgGodsway:

I will answer your flimsy rendering of scripture

You assert as the foundation of the Reformation justification by “faith ALONE.”

Faith ALONE isn’t mentioned anywhere in Scripture yet you affirm it as the foundation of your theological tradition.

Hold it. Check that.

“Faith ALONE” IS mentioned ONCE in Scripture.

JAMES 2:24 24 You see that a man is justified by works and NOT by faith ALONE.

But you hold a doctrine diametrically opposed to the verse.

I am willing to show the exact same doctrine from St. Paul ALONE.

I don’t need St. James’ statement to refute justification by faith ALONE (but the Protestant denial of Scripture here is so obvious that it is helpful to lurkers here that may not otherwise know these things).

But allegedly MY Scripture exegesis is “flimsy” (yet I affirm ALL the verses just as they are stated).

OK. I will await and see what you have to say later.

One more thing . . . .

 

[Cathoholic]

One more thing tgGodsway . . . .

You said in post 129 (here) . . . .

You are right I have not considered how the Holy Spirit plays his part in this whole issue. But He does.

Earlier you called “grace” God’s favor. I said that was correct (CCC 1996) but incomplete as long as you deny saving grace as God’s Divine life within us.

CCC 1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an “adopted son” he can henceforth call God “Father,” in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.

I want to give you just a few Scriptural examples of God working IN and through Christians so you can better contemplate this (because if your minister is anything like my Baptist ministers were, you will NOT hear this concept preached to you in the context of justification and rarely at all in any context).

Biblical Examples of God’s Divine Life Within Christians

Here are some Scriptural examples of Jesus working in us and through us (“Grace works” as Steve Wood refers this concept as)

PHILIPPIANS 2:12a 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation . . . !!!

HOW can we possibly WORK out our own salvation??

Fortunately St. Paul tells us in the very next sentence how we can do this. (By God WORKING within us.)

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2nd CORINTHIANS 6:1 1 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

GALATIANS 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

HEBREWS 13:20a, 21 20 “Now may the God of peace . . . . 21 equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

ROMANS 8:8-11 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact
the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin,
your spirits are alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.

1st THESSALONIANS 2:13 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is,
the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1st CORINTHIANS 9:1 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord

2nd CORINTHIANS 9:8-10 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

There are other verses. Many others.

TRENT Session 6 Chapter 8 we are therefore said to be justified freely, because that
none of those things which precede justification—whether faith or works—merit the grace
itself of justification.
For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works,
otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace.

TRENT Canon 1 Session 6 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.

thecounciloftrent.com/ch6.htm

 

[OrosiRiley]

Remember when Paul talked about our salvation, God made sure that salvation is not by our own works less we would boast. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Why? So all the glory would go to God.
We are saved unto good works and not by good works.

 

[Cathoholic]

Welcome to CAF OrosiRiley.

OrosiRiley:

you have been saved through faith . . .Why? So all the glory would go to God.

Does the need for “faith” detract from the glory of God too OrosiRiley?

Presumably not.

WHY not?

WHY would God working in and through you detract from the glory of God? (I think it helps manifest the glory of God)

What do you do with the verses that call for salvation through working too?

How about Romans 8:24 where it tells us by hope we are saved? Does “hope” detract from the glory of God too? Or is “hope” optional?

Why can’t you affirm that works under your own power are worthless regarding salvation?

And affirm “works of law” such as circumcision are worthless regarding salvation?

And affirm works sown in the Spirit matter. That our sanctification is part of our process of salvation?

WHY can’t I just affirm ALL the verses?

 

[TaylorDonBarret]

i recently came to a new understanding about this question.

the reason why we as Catholics must be careful about “faith alone” is because we, rightly, make a distinction between faith, hope, and love

and faith must be united to love in order for it to be salvific

now, the best Protestant theologians these days will certainly affirm that the “faith” they are speaking of, when they speak of “faith alone,” is not a faith devoid of love, but is a “saving faith” that does indeed work through love…

and IMO it is absolutely vitally important for us to agree with this BIblical, Catholic teaching: faith united to love justifies us, with absolutely no merit on our part and no need for good works. the moment we have faith and love, we are justified. period.

 

[twf]

Those who convert while dying repent. Repentance is a good work.

Repentance is an act of the will- a response to grace. Feeding the hungry is an act of the will - a response to grace.
Evangelicals may get hung up here, but kneeling down and reciting “the sinner’s prayer” is also an act of the will… a work… an effort.

 

[Cathoholic]

“Works of law” (such as circumcision in Romans 3 and Galatians 2) cannot save you.

Works on your OWN apart from grace as being unable to save you too (such as Ephesians 2:8-9 discusses).

But works after initial salvation, moral works (not mere ritual works) sown united to Christ, ARE necessary for our salvation (at least according to your state in life). More properly speaking, the grace of “charity” is necessary and if you refuse to utilize that grace, you risk having it withdrawn from you (sinning against charity mortally).

Sometimes some people falsely portray ALL WORKINGS as works done on your own. But this equivocation of ALL WORKS as being the same goes against the teachings of St. Paul.

GALATIANS 6:7-8 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Here are some examples of God WORKING in us and through us with our cooperation.