How could GOOD WORKS be necessary?

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catholic1seeks

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1987 The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” and through Baptism
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)​

If grace is what is needed for salvation, and we already have sanctifying grace within the soul, WHY are good works necessary?

The Catholic Church teaches we are saved by grace alone. On the other hand, we are saved by faith and good works. So, what is necessary for our salvation is the sanctifying grace, which is initially “given” to our souls at Baptism. Faith is the foundation and beginning of justification, and it is what allows adults to approach the sacrament of Baptism. Good works allow us to grow in sanctifying grace; they allows us to grow in holiness. That’s just it! Good works allow us to grow in holiness(sanctification). We already have sanctifying grace (obtained from Baptism or if grace is lost, through the sacrament of Reconciliation).
So, sanctifying grace transforms the soul. Whether this occurs at Baptism or later in the sacrament of Reconciliation, the grace “renovates the soul interiorly”. Good works allow us to grow in this grace. Why, then, are good works necessary for our salvation? Even if the Bible explicitly says so, still, why?
 
**Is it just me?

Has anyone else every stumbled on this?**
 
because Jesus said so
Matthew 25:31-46
those who did not feed me, give me drink, clothe me, visit me will be cast into the fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his minions.
 
Canon 24 of the Sixth Session of Trent:
“If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, let him be anathema.”

Good works preserve and increase justification. IOW, if I just sit there like a bump on a log after Baptism then I run the risk of falling into mortal sin.
 
puzzleannie said:
because Jesus said so
Matthew 25:31-46
those who did not feed me, give me drink, clothe me, visit me will be cast into the fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his minions.
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Yes. If we take Jesus at his word, here in this parable of the Last Judgment, Jesus himself seems to make entrance into heaven dependent on how we have treated one another here on earth. We have to take his words seriously. The ones who followed his commands to take care of his least brothers, are admitted into heaven; those who did not follow his commands to take care of his least brothers, are sent off to hell.
 
Imagine that a baby is born and baptized, and this person lives to be 80 years old and during that lifetime this person doesn’t do a single “good work”, not one. Do you think that person will end up in heaven or in hell?
 
Fight your way in through the narrow door.

Sit back relax yourself the narrow door will come to you.
 
How good a work is Baptising someone or making sure someone gets Baptised?

Peace,

Gail
 
Because faith without good works is dead, as St James had said.
 
JimG said:
Yes. If we take Jesus at his word, here in this parable of the Last Judgment, Jesus himself seems to make entrance into heaven dependent on how we have treated one another here on earth. We have to take his words seriously…
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there is no “seems” about it, his statement is incontrovertible
 
Thanks for the posts. :rolleyes:
I still don’t get it!

I didn’t necessarily want Bible verses as explanations. I understand the BIBLE says we need good works for Heaven. You may think this should be a good enough reason for my belief in faith+good works. Well, I want to understand the logic and Church teaching of it…

But the Church *explains *it (as someone posted):

Canon 24 of the Sixth Session of Trent:
“If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, let him be anathema.”

Notice the above words in red.

I still need someone to explain the importance of good works. Taking a step from the exact Biblical proof of good works, let’s go directly into genuine Church teaching. You need to be in the state of grace when you die. I always though this was the only requirement. But the idea of the necessity of good works brings in another requirement: a certain increase of grace is necessary for Heaven, too.

PLEASE help me understand.🤷

Thanks!!
 
Good works are not absolutely necessary for salvation.

Someone who dies immediately after baptism, such as a deathbed convert, would go straight to Heaven despite having performed no good works while in a state of grace.

However, anyone who lives any length of time above the age of reason is culpable not only for sins of commission but for sins of omission. To deliberately refuse to do good when you know the Lord has given you the opportunity to do so would be a mortal sin, and thus place you in danger of Hell.

Even if you don’t sin directly by the failure to perform good works, the works help us to increase in virtue and sanctity, and therefore those who diligently pursue the Christian life will be less in danger of falling into sin from other sources.

No Christian church teaches that our works actually earn us salvation, though. No one deserves Heaven for what they have done. Thus, good works cannot be strictly necessary. But in practical terms, presuming on the grace one has recieved and not actually doing anything with it is going to result in slowly turning away from that grace. Some Protestants would conclude that you were never really saved in the first place. Catholics would say that you truly had sanctifying grace, but threw it right back in God’s face. Either way, the ultimate result without repentance is a ticket to the Other Place.

Usagi
 
Usagi said:
Good works are not absolutely necessary for salvation.

Someone who dies immediately after baptism, such as a deathbed convert, would go straight to Heaven despite having performed no good works while in a state of grace.

However, anyone who lives any length of time above the age of reason is culpable not only for sins of commission but for sins of omission. To deliberately refuse to do good when you know the Lord has given you the opportunity to do so would be a mortal sin, and thus place you in danger of Hell.

Even if you don’t sin directly by the failure to perform good works, the works help us to increase in virtue and sanctity, and therefore those who diligently pursue the Christian life will be less in danger of falling into sin from other sources.

No Christian church teaches that our works actually earn us salvation, though. No one deserves Heaven for what they have done. Thus, good works cannot be strictly necessary. But in practical terms, presuming on the grace one has recieved and not actually doing anything with it is going to result in slowly turning away from that grace. Some Protestants would conclude that you were never really saved in the first place. Catholics would say that you truly had sanctifying grace, but threw it right back in God’s face. Either way, the ultimate result without repentance is a ticket to the Other Place.

Usagi
Click to expand...
Thanks for the post. If anyone can add on, please do!
Usagi: the works help us to increase in virtue and sanctity
…
good works cannot be strictly necessary
Click to expand...
*See, That’s just *what I’m thinking. And the Church teaches we are justified by faith AND good works.

Usagi, your reply was good but soft. It makes it seem as though good works are not very critical to salvation, in that they only help prevent us from committing mortal sin.

Basically, my current view comprises of the description you posted. Good works don’t seem to be necessary. They are beneficial. Nothing more.**
 
Were there talents given out, one increased his share twofold and His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The one who did not increase his had everything taken from him, …and the unprofitable servant was cast out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Increase?
 
Works do not further justify you.

You don’t gain holy points based on works.

Good works are merely the natural actions of someone who is in a state of grace.

You don’t do works to become holy, you are holy and therefore you do works.

At least, that’s how it’s been explained to me.
 
catholic1seeks said:
Thanks for the posts. :rolleyes:
I still don’t get it!

I didn’t necessarily want Bible verses as explanations. I understand the BIBLE says we need good works for Heaven. You may think this should be a good enough reason for my belief in faith+good works. Well, I want to understand the logic and Church teaching of it…

But the Church *explains *it (as someone posted):

Canon 24 of the Sixth Session of Trent:
“If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, let him be anathema.”

Notice the above words in red.

I still need someone to explain the importance of good works. Taking a step from the exact Biblical proof of good works, let’s go directly into genuine Church teaching. You need to be in the state of grace when you die. I always though this was the only requirement. But the idea of the necessity of good works brings in another requirement: a certain increase of grace is necessary for Heaven, too.

PLEASE help me understand.🤷

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if I can help or not but I’ll take a stab.🤷

Overall, I think works are to be looked at as
  1. Confirmation of what we are taught to believe. (Our works demonstrate that our faith is not dead)
  2. A way to strengthen build our faith. (Our works confirm teaching and reinforce good habits that build faith)
I’d like to look at three words - Faith, Belief and Works.
In order for our works to have any merit, we are told to have faith. Believe and Repent, we are told. However Belief and Faith can be quite different from person to person.
Faith, to me, is a stronger, more emotional, and encompassing than belief. It involves the ability act in pure confidence.
Belief can be, and often is, more of an intellectual process. We can be quite convinced that the parachute will open, but to jump from the plane requires a certain faith.

Many people who believe and accept Christ can continue to struggle with the issue of the “all encompassing” faith (like a small child). For those who struggle with this (myself included) works become a way to confirm and strengthen believe and build faith.
For People who have a strong full blown faith, works are something that pour naturally from that full and all encompassing acceptance. This becomes the way to know that their faith is not dead as James says.

It is hard to explain what I mean. I hope this makes some sense.

Peace
James
 
As another poster has stated, doing God’s will is part of our ongoing sanctification, and we must be perfectly sanctified before we enter heaven. These good works are a part of the regimen by which we, through God’s grace, actually transform ourselves into holy and perfect creatures. And if that process is not completed on earth then God finishes the process in purgatory.
 
catholic1seeks said:
1987 The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” and through Baptism
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)​

If grace is what is needed for salvation, and we already have sanctifying grace within the soul, WHY are good works necessary?

The Catholic Church teaches we are saved by grace alone. On the other hand, we are saved by faith and good works. So, what is necessary for our salvation is the sanctifying grace, which is initially “given” to our souls at Baptism. Faith is the foundation and beginning of justification, and it is what allows adults to approach the sacrament of Baptism. Good works allow us to grow in sanctifying grace; they allows us to grow in holiness. That’s just it! Good works allow us to grow in holiness(sanctification). We already have sanctifying grace (obtained from Baptism or if grace is lost, through the sacrament of Reconciliation).
So, sanctifying grace transforms the soul. Whether this occurs at Baptism or later in the sacrament of Reconciliation, the grace “renovates the soul interiorly”. Good works allow us to grow in this grace. Why, then, are good works necessary for our salvation? Even if the Bible explicitly says so, still, why?
Click to expand...
This argument traces its roots from Reformation period, Sola Fide, the sister of Sola Scriptura. Many theologians used this to justify schism from the Magisterium. But that is not the main point here.
My take on this is simple:
Let’s say for the sake of argument that they were right and therefore we all forget good works. That means after obtaining grace you continue by committing both sins of omission and comission. But when you die unexpectedly (the parable of the 10 virgins, remember?), you believe that with grace and with a few sins, you can enter heaven. So now you have to argue that sin is admissible in heaven. But where is that in the Bible?
 
2744* Prayer is a vital necessity*. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin.38 How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him?
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This is the type of thinking that I think you are hearing from people. If you don’t pray, don’t spend time with God, don’t live a Christian life, but just go on as if nothing ever happened, don’t set your eyes on the prize, don’t share your excitement with someone else, don’t put Christ in the center of your life or even some dim corner, but just refuse every invitation the Father gives you, don’t set your mind on things of the Spirit, don’t something, well, then over time you are going to have separated yourself from those things that are life for you, those things that nourish you.

For example, it seems clear to me that your average instructed Catholic isn’t going to make it much above a week before trouble sets in if they refuse to go to mass. I know, a sacrament is not a good work, but this is an example of living a Christian life or of responding to the things the Father offers you or of corresponding with grace. God gives you the grace to walk to mass. If you don’t, you are actively ignoring his grace. So, if you do walk to mass, you are stuck. You have interacted with his grace in a decent manner. For your average Catholic, an encounter with grace won’t take very long. (Yes, I know, it takes seconds, even our every breath is sustained by grace, but I thought this concreteness might help). Once you get to mass, you are going to receive grace to get involved in prayer, worship, love, etc. And you are likely to end up cooperating with a few of those graces. “Good works” seem hard to avoid, IMO. I mean, you can avoid some of them, but all of them is difficult, unless you grab the bit instantly after your baptism and never look back. That is going to get you in a heap of trouble real fast, though.

Is this what you mean?
 
Hi Catholic1Seeks,
catholic1seeks said:
*See, That’s just ***what I’m thinking. And the Church teaches we are justified by faith AND good works.
…
Basically, my current view comprises of the description you posted. Good works don’t seem to be necessary. They are beneficial. Nothing more.
Click to expand...
Strictly speaking, the Church teaches that we are justified by the grace of God. The CCC says:
1996: Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.
1997: Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an “adopted son” he can henceforth call God “Father,” in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.
Click to expand...
You’ll note that grace is a participation, which implies activity. The reason that the Church doesn’t separate faith and works is because they shouldn’t be separated. Salvation does not come from faith without works, nor works without faith. The two go hand in hand. The Church is very emphatic that works alone are insufficient for salvation, as Canon 1 of the Council of Trent tells us:
CANON I. - If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
Click to expand...
I’m no expert on the matter, but the way I see it, good works are absolutely necessary, as it is our response to God’s grace. I don’t mean, as some Protestants contend, that good works are merely proof to others of our justification. I mean that our good works is what makes our faith a participation in the life of God.
I wrote an presentation on this topic a while back that may perhaps show the relationship between faith and works.

Everything is grace. We can choose to respond to God’s grace through baptism (normal, by desire or by blood) but first God moves us, stirs us towards Him. We do nothing to earn this offer of reconciliation from God; it is entirely His free gift. If we choose to accept this gift, then we respond with faith that is active, i.e. we obey His commandments and do good works to become more closely united with Jesus. Yet the works that we do are not anything that we could do ourselves were it not for the grace of God. It is God moving and coaxing us (never forcing) through His grace to act and think and behave in a certain way and we but choose to respond positively or negatively. So it is entirely necessary that we do good works (without it, our faith is dead), yet the works are not our own; they are God’s. The initiative is all from Him. It is Christ living in us that prompts us to obey His Father, just as He did. Thus we say that we are saved sola gratia (by grace alone) and by Christ living in us.

Gal 2 (ESV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Heb 13 (KJV)
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

…

Jesus said that we must be perfect, just like His Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48). We know how hard it is to keep all of God’s commandments. We frequently fall short of the glory of God. Yet God would not ask us to do something that is impossible. He has given us a way to become perfect. It’s like a children’s story … (sometimes we must put on the mind of a child in order to understand). Jesus has invited us to His wedding feast. Jesus is like a king who loves a common maiden … and we are that common maiden. The commoner needs to be lifted up to a queenly status before she can become His bride and she cannot do that on her own. So Jesus lowered Himself to our level and gave Himself completely to us so that we could be lifted up to a royal status befitting a king. He gives us everything that we need to become royalty. All we need to do is respond to His call. Through God’s grace we can become perfect, for perfection is what is required for Heaven. Jesus has left us mechanisms to receive His grace here and now in this world through the Sacraments. Through our frequent participation in His Sacraments, we can grow in grace and become more and more suitable to be the perfect Bride of the perfect Heavenly Bridegroom.

All this is so amazing. We have done nothing to deserve such complete and utter love. Yet we have it. It is always there, down to the last second of our lives. So how do we gain eternal life? We are saved by God’s grace alone, through our active faith (which is inspired by His grace). We have but to love and obey Jesus. And on the last day, when Jesus sits on His throne surrounded by His angels and separates all of us to His right and to His left … and those on His right He invites to spend eternity with Him in Heaven, but those on His left He casts into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels and you ask Jesus why, He will say to you: “For as much as you did this to the least of my brothers, you did this to me” (Matt 25).

I hope this helps.
 
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