Faith Without Works?

[Kevan]

Another Protestant way of interpreting it would be to say that works are the necessary product of real faith in the same way that exhaust is the necessary product of a running engine. The exhaust doesn’t propel the car at all, but stopping up the tailpipe will cause the engine to die. Likewise, if a Christian isn’t careful to maintain good works, faith will die.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

If that’s all there is to your definition of justification, then that’s a protestant definition. The Catholic definition goes something like this…

That’s not all. That is the succinct version. But you are correct in that the Catholic and traditional Protestant understandings of Justification aren’t necessarily separated by a chasm of difference.

CC 1992. Justification is conferred in [water] Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life:

That paragraph only says when justification occurs. It happens at Baptism (which is why the hymn “Amazing Grace” is heretical, from a Catholic perspective). Read the rest of the section of the Catechism:

Grace and Justification

and also:

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

 

[Techno2000]

I wish that were true because the world would be a better place if it were. Even the devil has faith.

The people who passed the beaten traveler had faith. The good Samaritan had faith and works.

I know plenty of people of all denominations who are in church every time the doors open for services or Bible study. They certainly have faith. Some of them are never to be found, though, when we paint the widow’s house or put together and deliver food baskets to the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I believe. The Holy Spirit can lay it on my heart to get up on Saturday morning, go downtown, and help in the soup kitchen. Still, despite my faith, I can resist His calling and sleep in, play golf or mow the lawn. The faith would still be there, such as it is, but it takes an act of our own will to properly demonstrate it.

Right the Rich Man didn’t want to do a Good Deed for the Begger
and he went to Hell because of it.