Good works vs. faith alone. I ain't get it!

[seansmom]

As someone raised in an apostolic faith I was taught “once saved, always saved.” Just believing in Christ is all it takes to insure a spot in the Kingdom. Faith alone, no works, could get me into heaven. I was even told that I could “backslide” but I was still saved.

As a Catholic I now feel that we are all saved by Grace, but actions speak louder than words. It’s very meaningful to me when my husband tells me he loves me. I can also see the evidence of his love in the works he does for me and our family. His love and faithfullness is demonstrated. Once we said “I DO” we were married but now we establish that statement in our actions towards one and other. He could tell me all day long he loves me but if he showed no affection or did no acts of kindness I would begin to question if he really loved me after all. Yet, we would still be married.

Non- Catholics point to a Catholic doing good works because they have been told we think we will only get into heaven because we are doing good works. Not that Grace saved us but that we can be “good” enough to get there. What I say to that is what was the point of entering into this “marriage” with our saviour and our church if we just want to proclaim our salvation and then do nothing to show our appreciation and the love for others that we were commanded to show?
After all he said “If you love me keep my commandments.” If we aren’t walking the walk are we still showing the love?

 

[Magicsilence]

Paris Blues:

What’s the REAL Catholic view of doing good works and faith alone? I know there were probably a billion threads on this forum with this question but I just have to ask again.

It’s my understanding that Protestants believe that Salvation is for grace and faith alone. To Catholic, Salvation is with grace, faith and works?

This is where it gets confusing because I heard some Catholics say it’s grace and works, then they say, grace, faith, works, etc. while Protestants say, it’s grace, then they say it’s grace, faith, etc. etc.

WHAT IS IT?

Talk is cheap. And protestants throw a lot of it about.

The saints have shown us what is needed for entrance to heaven, no?

Do not worry about specifics. You will know when what you are doing is correct.

But, for the record.

Having faith in God brings grace. Grace brings good works.

The good works therefore are not of your own doing, but of God through you, thus, no amount of good works can earn salvation. But having faith (cooperating with Gods grace and thereby showing works) is all that is needed.

So technically “good works get us into heaven”, but what we have to realise is that good works show whether we are cooperating with Gods grace or not. Thus it is.

Faith is all that is needed.

But faith IS works. (but not of your own doing)

Any good Paris?

In Christ.

Andre.