Yes, we as Catholics, believe that we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ, but not by faith alone, and this is scriptural. But, if someone were to say that we are justified by Faith Alone, It must be shown in scripture where this is said, not implied, but specific scripture that say’s a person is saved or justified by faith alone, the only place it is said in scripture is in James 2:24, “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”. Hear are a few other means by which scripture say’s we can gain salvation, eternal life, new birth, justification.
By Believing in Christ (Jn 3:16; Acts 16:31)?
By Repentance (Acts 2:38; 2 Pet 3:9)?
By Baptism (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21; Titus 3:5)?
By the work of the Spirit (Johnn 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6)?
By declaring with our mouths (Luke 12:8; Rom 10:9)?
By coming to a knowledge of the Truth (1 Tim 2:4; Heb 10:26)?
By Works (Rom 2:6, 7; James 2:21, 24-25)?
By Grace (Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8)?
By His blood (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:22)?
By His righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Pet 1:1)?
By His cross (Eph 2:16; Col 2:14)?
Can we cut any one of these out of the list and proclaim it alone as the means of salvation? Can we be saved without faith? without God’s grace? without repentance? without baptism? without the Spirit? These are all involved and necessary; not one of them can be dismissed as a means of obtaining eternal life. Neither can one be emphasized to the exclusion of another. They are all involved in salvation and entry into the Church. The Catholic Church does not divide these various elements of salvation up, overemphasizing some while ignoring others; rather she holds them all in their fullness.
agreed. belief alone does not save us. if you define faith as being one the same as belief. I don’t. nor do I think protestants such as Martin Luther defined faith that way either - but many protestants do - and they are wrong. Faith is not simply belief. Faith requires a response - it requires action. it requires obedience. those who obey God have never seen God, they are not compelled to obey God, except perhaps by peer pressure - instead they obey God and seek Him out because they really believe - and it is this belief which is expressed by what they do.
faith therefore is defined not by what we believe or say but rather what we do. because simply put – talk is cheap. this what I think st. james was trying to say - faith is not faith if it is not accompanied by works because talk is cheap.
We believe Christ died for us and opened the gates of heaven for us, He alone bridged the gap between our sinful state and a holy God. and this belief expresses itself in our works - in our obedience - without the works and obedience, where is this faith? I would submit it is non-existent, if you are not obeying God and so did st. john in his first letter
1 john 2:2 - "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for[a] the sins of the whole world.
3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love** is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
catch verse 6 it says we must walk as Jesus did. its right there and this is from the NIV. catholics and protestants we believe the same thing.
we obey God not because He is physically compelling us but because we believe - because we have faith - so therefore it is in the end our faith which saves us.
the whole misunderstanding is about how we define the word ‘faith’ - faith requires action - an obedient faith for it to be a real faith which is a saving faith
the same st. john who wrote down the words of Jesus:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
also wrote down these words:
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Burned - wow… serious business indeed.!! and scary. but…
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
this is not from a catholic bible but from the NIV but it is catholic teaching. because God’s word backs up what the catholic church teaches regardless of the translation - faith requires obedience.**
