I wish to say something in response to this:
j9house:
The one topic we tried to dicsuss in depth was salvation and sola fide. It seemed to me that we pretty much agreed, but were just using different wording. I argued the point fpr faith and works. She agreed with me, but said the works would come out of the faith, so works were not a requirement, but more of a natural extension of faith. I’m not very familiar with Calvinist theology. Is this a typical viewpoint? And if so, aren’t we both kind of arguing the same point?
Actually, the difference isn’t merely terminological, but perhaps your Protestant friend did not realize this. In Protestantism, it is held that good works have no saving efficacy and are merely byproducts of faith; it is the faith
alone which has saving efficacy. But according to Roman Catholicism, good works (prompted by grace) really do causally contribute to salvation. Thus the Catechism (1994) says that theological virtues evoked by God’s infused grace “make [men] capable . . . or meriting eternal life” (no. 1813). This is a claim to which no strict Protestant would agree. It is crucial to see the difference, for if there is no difference, the Reformation and Council of Trent were in vain. Calvin states that “we must not suppose that subsequent grace is paid to [man] as a reward, as though by using the earlier [grace] well he has merited it” (
The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, 5.353). The Catholic would say in contrast that we merit for ourselves and for others the grace needed to attain eternal life (cf.
CCC, no. 2027).
To bring out the difference more clearly, suppose a Christian engages in a mortal sin but later repents. To demonstrate his remorse, he engages in acts of penance such as fasting, prayer, almsgiving and weeping. Under certain circumstances (i.e., the priest prescribed these acts of penance), the Catholic would interpret this state of affairs by claiming that the actions of the sinner played a role in converting his heart to God and obtaining forgiveness of sins. Thus his works contribute to his salvation. The Reformed Protestant, on the other hand, believes that forgiveness of sins is part and parcel of justification and that, since justification is by faith
alone, the good works do not causally bring about forgiveness of sins and conversion. They are mere
evidences of faith and repentance; they do not have any intrinisic, saving worth.
So there really is a difference, and it is a very important one. I hope this helps.
