Countering Sola Fide/Sola Scriptura

[Wm777]

In the title to this post, I don’t mean “countering” as arguing with faith or debating over scriptural interpretations.

The passages I am contemplating right now are: “Faith without works is dead”; and, “unless your works exceed those of the Scribes and Pharisees…”.

So I have two questions…

1.) What are the works we are to do? I’m assuming they mean acts of faith, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, serving at mass, etc?

And - beyond modes of expression…

2.) What are the opportunities to do these kind of works? How to get involved? The intention here is to associate the works with some greater cause… like not to be self-righteous or self-justified, but to “stay on the vine” and let “the Lord build the house”…

Most of my own efforts fail… I’d like to do something truly meaningful…

 

[Michael16]

The way I’d answer your question is a twofold response.

1: Have an interior conversion of heart. The circumcision of the heart that Saint Paul speaks of in Romans.

Remember: The Pharisees and Scribes that Jesus had a serious problem with were the kind of rules lawyering, observe the letter and not the spirit of the Law types that would punctiliously observe the precepts of the Law without an interior disposition that would please God.

2: You can always do a good work, big or small; for the love of God and love of neighbor. That makes a work meritorious in the eyes of God. That comes from the Catechism. From the Jesuits; you could also do a good work, again big or small; for the Greater Glory of God. Also meritorious in God’s eyes.

Hope this helps.

 

[EndTimes]

In the title to this post, I don’t mean “countering” as arguing with faith or debating over scriptural interpretations.

The passages I am contemplating right now are: “Faith without works is dead”; and, “unless your works exceed those of the Scribes and Pharisees…”.

So I have two questions…

1.) What are the works we are to do? I’m assuming they mean acts of faith, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, serving at mass, etc?

And - beyond modes of expression…

2.) What are the opportunities to do these kind of works? How to get involved? The intention here is to associate the works with some greater cause… like not to be self-righteous or self-justified, but to “stay on the vine” and let “the Lord build the house”…

Most of my own efforts fail… I’d like to do something truly meaningful…

Anyone can claim, “I HAVE FAITH!”

However, those who actually possess Faith - would indeed Love Their Neighbor in Action.

Charity/Love? Supersedes (not eliminates) Faith and Hope

Faith is as the Key…

Any familiar with the Bible - should know by now that God rewards people in accordance to their works with respect to His Command to Love thy Neighbor in Action - shown in Teachings concerning How Do We Inherit Eternal Life - along with those connected w/Judgement Day - Sheeps and Goats.

It’s our ACTIONS which reveal where our FAITH Lies.

That said, of course we cannot work our way to Heaven in the manner believed by those who sought Salvation via their actions connected with the Mosaic Law…

FAITH? Opens the Door - And from that - we must continue to assent to what we Learn
and thus Grow - in the direction of the perfection of God the Father…

 

[Daniel27]

Most of my own efforts fail… I’d like to do something truly meaningful…

To quote Saint Francis of Assisi, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

It’s a misconception and well-crafted lie that to do a “good work” there needs to be some grandiose result, like saving a person’s life from being hit by a car. It’s also easy to think that if a person you help out doesn’t seem very thankful or “changed” that you didn’t really do a good work. You don’t need to hear a “Thank you!” for it to be a good work. Remember, Jesus said whatever was done to the least of us was also done to Him.