Having trouble with James 2:24 today

[Lampo]

For some troubling reason today, I am now
confused on the Catholic understanding of James 2:24. I’ve just read the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” between the Catholic Church and Lutherans. In it it says, "The Joint Declaration thus stresses that good works are a consequence of entering a state of justification, not the cause of entering it: "We confess together that good works-a Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love-follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. . . . "

Justification is another way of saying we are in a state of sanctifying grace, no? Is James 2:24 saying the way we can tell that we are in the state of sanctifying grace is by the good works we are doing? And that we can’t tell that we are in a state of sanctifying grace just by our faith alone?

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea1.asp

 

[ERose]

For some troubling reason today, I am now
confused on the Catholic understanding of James 2:24. I’ve just read the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” between the Catholic Church and Lutherans. In it it says, "The Joint Declaration thus stresses that good works are a consequence of entering a state of justification, not the cause of entering it: "We confess together that good works-a Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love-follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. . . . "

Justification is another way of saying we are in a state of sanctifying grace, no? Is James 2:24 saying the way we can tell that we are in the state of sanctifying grace is by the good works we are doing? And that we can’t tell that we are in a state of sanctifying grace just by our faith alone?

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea1.asp

The problem that I think a lot of people have especially the “faith alone” protestant communities is that they try to separate the term faith(or belief) from works. James is trying to point out that they are insepable. You cannot have one without the other. If you truly believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings then your **works **must reflect that belief.

So the best way to view the teaching of the church is “your works are the barometer of your belief or faith”.

If you evalute the passages concerning the final judgement they all pretty much say that each individual will be judged by their works. Why? Because their works is the best determinator of their level of faith.

 

[MarcoPolo]

In it it says, "The Joint Declaration thus stresses that good works are a consequence of entering a state of justification, not the cause of entering it: "We confess together that good works-a Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love-follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. . . . "

It is true, nothing we do apart from Christ can result in our justification. But this being a “joint” document and not just a Catholic one…I’d review the Catholic position without shared language. Check out CCC paragraph #1815 and surrounding #'s. Maybe this post I did last month may also help.

 

[Nita]

For some troubling reason today, I am now
confused on the Catholic understanding of James 2:24. I’ve just read the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” between the Catholic Church and Lutherans. In it it says, "The Joint Declaration thus stresses that good works are a consequence of entering a state of justification, not the cause of entering it: "We confess together that good works-a Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love-follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. . . . "

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea1.asp

I think it was a point that needed to be clarified since many Protestants were/are under the misunderstanding that Catholics believe good works are the means by which we are justified. Have never been able to figure out why they would think such a thing since we have infant baptism! And, if they know anything at all about Catholicism they know we believe a baptized infant has been “justified”.

Nita