Catholic Soteriology:Heresy?

[itsjustdave1988]

… I think Catholics try to seperate works from faith. works are the proving of the faith that is given by God.

On the contrary, Catholicism teaches that we are justified by “faith that worketh charity.” Neither Scripture nor the Church professes “faith alone” or “works alone.” Protestants are the one’s fond the “alone” emphasis.

Nonetheless, in your view, why does one have to prove their faith, and who are they proving it to?

Do you agree that: supernatural merit is only an effect or fruit of the state of grace. (cf. Council of Trent, Sess. VI, cap. xvi)?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Holy Writ demands that we…“repent (Gk metanoeo) and turn (Gk epistrepho) to God and perform deeds worthy (Gk axios ergon)** of their repentance.**” (Acts 26:20).
Meritorious works (axios ergon) do indeed have soteriological value, as without them, we would be disobedient to the Word of God. And disobedience is the opposite of belief, according to the Bible…
“He who believes (Gk pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey (Gk apeitheo) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.” (John 3:36)
Thus, Catholic soteriology includes the need for …

1. metanoeo (repentence)
2. pisteuo (belief, obedience)
3. *epistrepho *(turning back toward God)
4. axios ergon (meritorious works)

Any soteriology which claims “faith alone” is contradictory to the Bible.
“So faith (Gk pistis) by itself, if it has no works (Gk ergon), is dead.” (Jam 2:17)
The Bible asserts:“he that is just (Gk dikaios), let him be justified (Gk dikaioo) still**” (Rev 22:11).
And so Catholics assert that those who are already just can indeed be justified still, through “faith that worketh by Charity” (Gal 5:6)

Along with James 2:17, this is what St. Paul teaches regarding “faith alone”…
“if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” (1 Cor 13:2)