Do Catholics 'Merit' Heaven ? ....

[guanophore]

That was 4 months ago … !! And, my answer didn’t use word ‘merit/merits’.

I’m revisiting the concept of ‘merit’ … because I never fully felt comfortable with the way most Catholics use it. As if we ‘work’ to ‘earn’ our ‘merits’ … that get us into heaven.

But, I like what the CCC says on ‘merit’. It clearly attributes all ‘merit’ to God. We don’t earn them. So, IMO … we can’t merit heaven. It must start with God, and we just respond.

The two are not mutually exclusive, brb3. It starts with God, is worked out from God, and is consummated in God. It is by grace that we merit (become deserving) of heaven. When you say “we just respond” this is no minor thing. The start and completion from God does not happen without our response, our participation.

Phil 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence,** work out your own salvation **with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

There is a world of difference between “working out” and “working on”. In the former, the Apostle admonishes us to cooperate with the grace that is at work in us, which enables us to be conformed to his will. This is a response to His grace, and movement in and toward grace. Many Catholics, myself included, were poorly catechized about this concept, and were taugth instead to “work on” our salvation, such that doing good works would somehow cancel out our bad works, but this is not how God’s economy of salvation works.

 

[brb3]

The works are the result of the Holy Spirit working in us but do not earn salvation because apart from Christ we can do nothing … That is why it has to be a gift. We can choose to reject that gift through serious sin or apostasy, but if we receive it we can not help but be changed by it through grace.

… Certainly works can have merit in God’s eyes and thus rewards. That is he regards them as good and a necessary part of our growth and sanctification. But I think these works flow out of our relationship with the Lord and the grace he give us, and not from us striving on our own.

God’s good works flow out of his nature, his goodness. We are new creatures in Christ.

So then, … the works we do … are gifts, ‘talents’ on loan from God ? Some receive more talents than others, and we are ‘expected’ to use our talents … per Christ in Gospel scriptures.

Now, if we fail to use our talents … what happens ? Do we forfeit heaven …or just lose our rewards ?

Christ told the Churches in Revelation … that if they didn’t produce, their lamp would be removed. And in another Church, that was neither ‘hot nor cold’ … they would be ‘spewed out’. Does that mean their ‘branch’ was being cut off … and another ‘grafted in’ ?

 

[brb3]

Also … the CC teaches the Church has ‘merits’ in its treasury, that can be applied to redeem souls in Purgatory. Do we know this for sure ?

Can we really count on this idea … when Christ taught that it’s what happens in this life that counts. When we die … the opportunity for others to ‘pray’ us out of Purgatory seems fanciful, and not very scriptural. Benedict’s recent discussion on idea of ‘purgatory’ … doesn’t seem to fit the ‘old’ idea of Purgatory as a ‘penalty’ box.

 

[guanophore]

So then, .... the works we do ... are gifts, 'talents' on loan from God ?  Some receive more talents than others, and we are 'expected' to use our talents .... per Christ in Gospel scriptures.

I think that it might be more accurate to say that our gifts and talents are a reflection of the image of God in which we are created. They are not meant to be a “loan” (in the sense that we will give them back and not have them anymore" but are part of what He created us to be and to do . When we use them in His service, they help to bring us to perfection in holiness, and His grace works in and through us for the service of others, through which process we are also sanctified and “merit” heaven (become worthy of the high calling to which we have been called).

Now, if we fail to use our talents … what happens ? Do we forfeit heaven …or just lose our rewards ?

The image of God in which we are created does not reflect His glory, as He intended. People that deny God also are made in His image and likeness, and they can also use their gifts and talents He gave them to serve themselves, or worldly goals.

 Christ told the Churches in Revelation ... that if they didn't produce, their lamp would be removed.  And in another Church, that was neither 'hot nor cold' ... they would be 'spewed out'.   Does that mean their 'branch' was being cut off .... and another  'grafted in' ?

A life walking in the Spirit naturally produces good fruit. If the tree is not producing fruit, something is wrong.

 Also ..... the CC teaches the Church has 'merits' in its treasury, that can be applied to redeem souls in Purgatory.  Do we know this for sure ?

Because Scripture states that everything has been given to Christ, and Christ is the Head of the Church. He desires that all be saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth.

Can we really count on this idea … when Christ taught that it’s what happens in this life that counts. When we die … the opportunity for others to ‘pray’ us out of Purgatory seems fanciful, and not very scriptural. Benedict’s recent discussion on idea of ‘purgatory’ … doesn’t seem to fit the ‘old’ idea of Purgatory as a ‘penalty’ box.

I think this is an issue for another thread. I do recommend that you search “purgatory” threads and the library here on the topic before you start posting questions. It is a topic that has been covered extensively.

The part that may pertain to this thread is: Can our good works benefit other members of the Body of Christ?

 

[fisherman_carl]

I think we need to make a distinction between merit and earning. Earning is where we work and receive wages that are owed to us. The church is very emphatic that we can’t earn our way into heaven. There is nothing we can do to make God owe us heaven. It has to be a gift.

However, can’t we often confuse the two? Merit can sound a lot like earning. I think from a practical perspective we can see how it works.

1. We can not earn or merit being in a state of grace. There is no amount of works we can do to move us into grace. It is freely given.
2. This gift of grace is given at baptism.
3. It is also given in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
4. Mortal sin cuts us off from this grace. Reconciliation restores this grace. We can not earn it back.
5. We need to be in a state of grace to enter heaven.

Therefore, we can not earn heaven since we can not earn being in a state of grace. Therefore the Catholic Church does not teach pelagianism.

We can think of meriting as doing a good work in faith and by grace. Such a work is pleasing to God because God is righteous. Therefore God rewards us like a Father rewards his son for doing something that pleases him. However the son did not buy his way into the family. It was a gift through being born into it. So he does not earn all the rights and privileges of his sonship. To claim one earned them would be an act of pride.

Likewise we can not earn our membership into God’s family. And we can not earn his undeserved favor (grace). It is an act of mercy on God’s part through the blood of Christ.

The grace working in us produces the fruit God is looking for. Otherwise we would think we are doing it ourselves and so become prideful. So God allows us to do good things that please him by enabling us to do so by giving us the gifts of the Spirit and then he rewards us for doing what pleases him. Isn’t God great?

In the end no one will be able to boast before God and whatever crowns we have will be cast before him.

 

[Tomster]

That was 4 months ago … !! And, my answer didn’t use word ‘merit/merits’.

I’m revisiting the concept of ‘merit’ … because I never fully felt comfortable with the way most Catholics use it. As if we ‘work’ to ‘earn’ our ‘merits’ … that get us into heaven.

But, I like what the CCC says on ‘merit’. It clearly attributes all ‘merit’ to God. We don’t earn them. So, IMO … we can’t merit heaven. It must start with God, and we just respond.

Taken in context with the Church being the Mystical Body of Christ, man, enriched by this complex organism of holiness, supplied with the principle of life and supernatural activity, is consequently capable of doing those acts which are above the forces of all created and creatable nature… These acts are in true proportion to their divine end and are meritorious. For this end is to be won and must be merited. Eternal blessedness is pictured for us by Holy Scripture as a crown of justice, awarded by a just judge (2 Timothy 4:7-8) as a recompense for our good works, as a salary proportioned to labor done (Matthew 5:12; Matthew 16:27; Luke 6:23; 1 Corinthians 3:8)

 

[brb3]

I think we need to make a distinction between merit and earning. Earning is where we work and receive wages that are owed to us. The church is very emphatic that we can’t earn our way into heaven. There is nothing we can do to make God owe us heaven. It has to be a gift.

However, can’t we often confuse the two? Merit can sound a lot like earning. I think from a practical perspective we can see how it works.

1. We can not earn or merit being in a state of grace. There is no amount of works we can do to move us into grace. It is freely given.
2. This gift of grace is given at baptism.
3. It is also given in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
4. Mortal sin cuts us off from this grace. Reconciliation restores this grace. We can not earn it back.
5. We need to be in a state of grace to enter heaven.

Therefore, we can not earn heaven since we can not earn being in a state of grace. Therefore the Catholic Church does not teach pelagianism.

We can think of meriting as doing a good work in faith and by grace. Such a work is pleasing to God because God is righteous. Therefore God rewards us like a Father rewards his son for doing something that pleases him. However the son did not buy his way into the family. It was a gift through being born into it. So he does not earn all the rights and privileges of his sonship. To claim one earned them would be an act of pride.

Likewise we can not earn our membership into God’s family. And we can not earn his undeserved favor (grace). It is an act of mercy on God’s part through the blood of Christ.

The grace working in us produces the fruit God is looking for. Otherwise we would think we are doing it ourselves and so become prideful. So God allows us to do good things that please him by enabling us to do so by giving us the gifts of the Spirit and then he rewards us for doing what pleases him. Isn’t God great?

In the end no one will be able to boast before God and whatever crowns we have will be cast before him.

Fisherman Carl…

I think you are onto something here … making distinction of earning and merit.

Explain this in terms of the talents God gives us ----- where we are to take God’s ‘money’ or ‘property’ and invest it for Him, until he returns to claim the talents and ‘earnings’.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I think we can not judge others. We just need to be faithful to God and what he is calling us to do. We don’t need to worry about how many works or what others think. We can not be the judge of someone else’s relationship with the Lord or even ourselves. We don’t know what they are capable of or what healing they need. And I think we are all in different stages of our walk with God. It is a process. Wasn’t it the one in the bible who knew he was a sinner and not good enough more justified than the one who thought he was better than the other and tithed?

Who’s judging? I am simply suggesting that we should examine our lives and see if they show that we are living engaged, caring lives, or if we are sitting back complacent in the idea that we are saved? The Bible does say that works are evidence of our faith. *But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. * The Bible story you are talking about was about the man who liked to appear religious, but really did not have a contrite heart. That is altogether different. You don’t have to blow your own horn when you do good works. In fact, it’s better if you do them in secret if you can. Rather than judge others, I am saying that we should judge ourselves to see if we really do measure up to what a Christian should be in the light of the Scriptures. Do you think that verse above from James 2:18 might have had a little judging in it? Works is the measure of faith. Faith alone is so many words if it has no works. Again, I’m not saying those who preach salvation by faith alone have no works, I’m just saying as the Bible does, that if they have no works, they have no faith, and if they have few works, they have some work to do. Me, I have some work to do.

 

[fhansen]

If so, — how ?

If not, — then by what non-meritorious way ?

Well, we can certainly manage to not merit it-as the Parable of the Talents aptly depicts.

 

[brb3]

Well, we can certainly manage to not merit it-as the Parable of the Talents aptly depicts.

So the Parable of the Talents is about ‘meriting’ rewards … no ‘earning’ rewards involved ?

 

[fhansen]

So the Parable of the Talents is about ‘meriting’ rewards … no ‘earning’ rewards involved ?

My understanding of the parable is that, if we don’t “invest” what we’re given, and advance God’s kingdom in some way or another as a result, increasing our own justice in the meanwhile as well, we risk losing our place in the kingdom. It’s a matter of what we do with what we’re given. We aren’t responsible for obtaining the gift; that part is free. We are responsible for what we do with it once we have it, however. We can bury/reject/deny it, or, alternatively, invest it, let it shine, express it, increase it. A principle to be found in Luke 12:48 applies here as well, I believe.

 

[guanophore]

I think you are onto something here … making distinction of earning and merit.

Explain this in terms of the talents God gives us ----- where we are to take God’s ‘money’ or ‘property’ and invest it for Him, until he returns to claim the talents and ‘earnings’.

And on the contrary, if a person does not take what God has given, they will never be transformed by grace, and become worthy to enter heaven.

 

[catholictiger]

we don’t merit heaven in any way because it is only by the grace of God that we can enter haven. We are sinners and do not in any way deserve heaven. The only we merit heaven is how open to God’s grace. If we are docile to God’s grace we will obtain salvation if we are closed to God’s grace we will well you know.

 

[fhansen]

we don’t merit heaven in any way because it is only by the grace of God that we can enter haven. We are sinners and do not in any way deserve heaven. The only we merit heaven is how open to God’s grace. If we are docile to God’s grace we will obtain salvation if we are closed to God’s grace we will well you know.

But we can grow in righteousness/justice-and this doesn’t happen without our cooperation in it. The problem with the Reformed position is that it maintains that we’re filthy sinners who’re merely declared just-for some reason-rather than made just.

 

[catholictiger]

But we can grow in righteousness/justice-and this doesn’t happen without our cooperation in it. The problem with the Reformed position is that it maintains that we’re filthy sinners who’re merely declared just-for some reason-rather than made just.

ofcourse

but every good thing is because of God’s grace

 

[brb3]

And on the contrary, if a person does not take what God has given, they will never be transformed by grace, and become worthy to enter heaven.

Did any of ECF’s write on the Parable of Talents ? What were their conclusions ? This would seem very critical for us to fully understand, and not have err.

As Protestants, we always looked at this Parable as ‘optional’… not ‘essential’. And, not in any way related to one’s salvation. It was kind of like, available to the superachievers … those who wished to try out for the ‘Merit’ Scholar awards in Heaven.
Kind of like those who wished to sit at Christ’s right hand position, or be high up in the heavenly roles.

 

[thenobes]

Did any of ECF’s write on the Parable of Talents ? What were their conclusions ? This would seem very critical for us to fully understand, and not have err.

As Protestants, we always looked at this Parable as ‘optional’… not ‘essential’. And, not in any way related to one’s salvation. It was kind of like, available to the superachievers … those who wished to try out for the ‘Merit’ Scholar awards in Heaven.
Kind of like those who wished to sit at Christ’s right hand position, or be high up in the heavenly roles.

Non-essential?? How do they explain this:

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

And he was a bond-servant like the others!

peace
steve

 

[fhansen]

ofcourse

but every good thing is because of God’s grace

Something that I think the reformers missed in a somewhat priggish over-emphasis on man’s sinfulness is that man, while fallen, is still a ‘good thing’, a creation of God, an expression of His or even emanation of Him, even if we don’t live up to it, even if this goodness is still potential to a great deal at this point, much of it unrealized, poorly expressed. Its important to be convicted of sin-but there’s much more to Christianity and the New Covenant-God’s will for man-than that.

 

[Daniel_Lysinger]

The answer is no. We cannot merit heaven by ourselves, by our own power

 

[PRmerger]

That was 4 months ago … !! And, my answer didn’t use word ‘merit/merits’.

I’m revisiting the concept of ‘merit’ … because I never fully felt comfortable with the way most Catholics use it. As if we ‘work’ to ‘earn’ our ‘merits’ … that get us into heaven.

But, I like what the CCC says on ‘merit’. It clearly attributes all ‘merit’ to God. We don’t earn them. So, IMO … we can’t merit heaven. It must start with God, and we just respond.

Merit here does not mean “earn”. Merit in the Catholic sense equals “reward”.

And there is no doubt that merit in the Catholic sense of “reward” is referred to all over the Scriptures.