Infinite Regress: the one pathway to salvation

[Mick_Taylor]

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Well there is merit on the part of the individual, that does not equate to the ability to boast to God. Any one who would do that is a fool and will definitely not be humble enough to enter heaven.

Is individual merit required for entry into heaven?

 

[paul_c]

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
Mick, you are very confused about this. The church is a conduit for worshiping Jesus Christ. We don’t worship the church.

No, Absolutely not. They were worshiping an idol in direct opposition to the first commandment. However, we are not worshipping the Church. We worship in a Church and as a church. You do the same.

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c Forget the stereotype of Catholics being idol worshippers… It has no merit. It is only the claim of people who are predisposed to hate the church because they are separated from it…

Enough of this already. This is a pure strawman. We worship the Trinity. We do not worship the Catholic Church. Don’t bring this up again unless you are prepared to back up the statement with an example of what we do that is worshiping the church that you don’t also do in your church.

 

[paul_c]

Is individual merit required for entry into heaven?

Yes. I think so. Perhaps there are exceptions, but as a rule, there is merit in following Jesus and that is required to get to heaven

 

[Mick_Taylor]

The point I’m making is that the ones who get to heaven will KNOW they have no reason to boast before God, who gave them everything and made their entrance into heaven possible. That is the point brought out scripture. No one has a reason to boast before God. Well there is merit on the part of the individual, that does not equate to the ability to boast to God. Any one who would do that is a fool and will definitely not be humble enough to enter heaven.

Originally Posted by Mick Taylor
Is individual merit required for entry into heaven?

Yes. I think so. Perhaps there are exceptions, but as a rule, there is merit in following Jesus and that is required to get to heaven

Hi Paul,

Then you believe, contrary to the bible, that those people who “make it” into heaven, as a rule, merited it, since, as a rule, individual merit is REQUIRED for entry into heaven. If this isn’t reason for boasting, then what is?

 

[Mick_Taylor]

No, Absolutely not. They were worshiping an idol in direct opposition to the first commandment. However, we are not worshipping the Church. We worship in a Church and as a church. You do the same.

Enough of this already. This is a pure strawman. We worship the Trinity. We do not worship the Catholic Church. Don’t bring this up again unless you are prepared to back up the statement with an example of what we do that is worshiping the church that you don’t also do in your church.

Fine, Paul, I will back it up. You only need to go through this entire thread and compare all of the instances in which you praise or worship the Trinity vs all of the praising or worshiping of your religion. What you will find is almost no honor for God, and enormous love, honor, praise, and devotion for your religious institution. As Scripture says, where your treasure is, there your heart is as well.

 

[paul_c]

Fine, Paul, I will back it up. You only need to go through this entire thread and compare all of the instances in which you praise or worship the Trinity vs all of the praising or worshiping of your religion. What you will find is almost no honor for God, and enormous love, honor, praise, and devotion for your religious institution. As Scripture says, where your treasure is, there your heart is as well.

Try this again. This is just a generic statement without a single example. Show me one quote where I worshipped the Church. Saying that the Church teaches the truth about Jesus and administers the sacraments he proscribed that lead you to heaven is simply a statement of fact. It is not worship.

Is it worshipping the Bible when you say the bible leads you to Jesus?

 

[paul_c]

Hi Paul,

Then you believe, contrary to the bible, that those people who “make it” into heaven, as a rule, merited it, since, as a rule, individual merit is REQUIRED for entry into heaven. If this isn’t reason for boasting, then what is?

Mick, the fact that people need to do works of mercy to get to heaven is certainly not contrary to the bible. Have you read Matthew 25: 31-46?
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,
32 and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
44 Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’
45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

How about Romans 2: 5-10:
5 By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God,
6 who will repay everyone according to his works:
7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works,
8 but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness.
9 Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek.

There are many more examples. Again, the point in scripture is that we can’t boast before God. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth, right? Any one who would brag to their creator about how good they are is completely ignorant of the circumstances and would deserve whatever condemnation they get.

But by the way, think about the alternative you are proposing. You are implying that man can’t do anything positive toward salvation without failing the " man can’t boast" statement. Do you really think God doesn’t want us to do Good deeds because that might give us cause to brag?

 

[Dancelittleewok]

Hi Dancelittleewok,

I disagree. The way I see it, genuine conversion is a change within, brought about by the grace of God, at His appointed time, for His purpose, which is the salvation of specific people (His elect). In the grace of regeneration (being born of the Spirit), elect sinners are brought to the knowledge of their own desperate need for Jesus because of their own sinfulness, and the knowledge of God’s wonderful mercy. Because this kind of grace (the regeneration of the soul) changes the sinner’s entire attitude toward God, they no longer WANT to resist Him. Sinners who now see themselves for what they really are (vile sinners who deserve God’s eternal wrath) don’t want to continue in rebellion and sin against God, they want to change. They want His mercy. See Luke 18:9-14, Luke 23:40-43.

From the initial regeneration, the desire to good or do good works flow from the same source: since it flows from the same source, then these things must be saving and necessary as indicators of a “saving faith” or “true conversion.” Using the word “want” suggest there’s an act of will involved and since you’ve agreed that God cannot force Himself on anyone, that said choice must be free.

 

[Dancelittleewok]

No. I believe that God only allowed our evil into His creation to reveal His glory to us more clearly. For example, without evil, we humans would not have the ability to fully comprehend God’s goodness. If there is no injustice, then we can’t comprehend His perfect justice. If there is no condemnation, then we can’t comprehend His wonderful mercy, etc.

Human justice certainly can’t compare to God’s justice. Do these “if, then” examples you’ve said, apply to the elect as well?

If you are saying that there is no conflict between His justice and His mercy, then I agree.

There’s no conflict between His justice and mercy–these qualities are the same in the same God. If God condemns a sinner whom he misused his free will and chosen sin over God, God is merciful because He redeemed that same sinner upon the Cross and throughout that sinner’s lifetime, given him graces to choose Him and repent of his sins. God is both just and merciful for both the saint and sinner.

God not only foreknew that we would fall into sin, it was His intention to use our evil for His own glory. If God had wanted, He could have created creatures resembling human beings…incorruptible creatures who never could and thus never would sin. But God wanted to create human beings instead of incorruptible creatures that resemble human beings.

Did God will the Fall? We both agree that God uses evil for the greater good.

What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Since God favors neither Jew or Gentile, why does He only choose to die for a select group and not die for the rest?

It is true that God, who is merciful, doesn’t take any delight in the fact that most people will spend eternity in horrible suffering, but God also desires to demonstrate His perfect justice. I see no conflict between these two desires.

How is it perfectly Just to only die for a select few and then damned the rest for their sins which they had no choice but to do?

True. Adam and Eve truly had free will before the fall. They were created with free will but they lost it in the very first sin. All of their offspring are born in a state of hostility toward God. There is no neutral attitude toward God. Every individual is either for Him or against Him. We are born into sinful rebellion against God. The Pelagian view is a denial of the universal falleness of mankind. I love God, not because He forced me to love Him, but because He supernaturally–through regeneration of the Spirit, caused me to want what is truly good (God).

Catholic don’t deny Original sin but total depravity. Man’s will is impaired, and needing God’s grace, to desire good.

To be continued…

 

[Dancelittleewok]

Mick said:

The only thing that is “free” about our (post fall) will, is that we have the ability to choose in accordance with our desires. But that is not good news if we no longer desire (want or will) that which is truly good. If fallen mankind is born into rebellion and hostility toward God, then how can it be consistent to say that our will (our wants, our desires), are still free? No, we are born into slavery to our own sinful desires–the desires of the flesh.

“The ability to choose” is a will; God will not save us without our consent, or force Himself upon us since that would violate His Love hence why this will must be free. Man’s will is impaired but not gone; man’s will needs God’s grace to desire good. I think the difference between Catholics and Reformed are the consequences of the Fall and if Adam and any OT saints were given grace to aid free will.

If total depravity is true, then what about the saints mentioned in Heb 11 and Book of James?

True. And thus we sin without excuse, for we KNOW that we do evil when we break His laws.

Who we–the elect, the damned or everyone?

I see it differently. I don’t think that God ever gives grace that is to no avail. The grace of regeneration always accomplishes the purpose for which it is given–a changed and regenerated soul that wants what is truly good (God).

You mean “irresistible grace”? Do you ever sin?

No, Adam and Eve didn’t fully comprehend the loss of freedom. The concept of being in slavery to their own flesh was not really comprehensible to them before they ate the fruit. They had no experience with losing freedom, so they couldn’t comprehend what that loss would be like. No frame of reference existed by which to understand it.

My question wasn’t if Adam and Eve comprehended it but rather if Adam “unmade” God’s creation by removing his free will from his immortal soul?

There are good evidences that conversion is genuine, but we can have no proof. Only God has certainty. We must live by faith. The best evidence for genuine conversion is the kinds of changes in one’s life that follow genuine conversion.

These changes are visible to humans as well, but God only has certainty?

 

[Mick_Taylor]

Try this again. This is just a generic statement without a single example. Show me one quote where I worshipped the Church. Saying that the Church teaches the truth about Jesus and administers the sacraments he proscribed that lead you to heaven is simply a statement of fact. It is not worship.

Hi Paul,

I’m not going to drag out your specific quotes in order to dignify your denials. My assumption is that anyone who bothers to read through this thread will know where your treasure is. You haven’t exactly kept it a secret that it is your RELIGION that is your primary love, instead of God. Just read what you’ve stated here in this thread.

Is it worshipping the Bible when you say the bible leads you to Jesus?

No.

 

[Mick_Taylor]

Mick, the fact that people need to do works of mercy to get to heaven is certainly not contrary to the bible. Have you read Matthew 25: 31-46?
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,
32 and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
44 Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’
45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

How about Romans 2: 5-10:
5 By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God,
6 who will repay everyone according to his works:
7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works,
8 but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness.
9 Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek.

There are many more examples. Again, the point in scripture is that we can’t boast before God. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth, right? Any one who would brag to their creator about how good they are is completely ignorant of the circumstances and would deserve whatever condemnation they get.

But by the way, think about the alternative you are proposing. You are implying that man can’t do anything positive toward salvation without failing the " man can’t boast" statement. Do you really think God doesn’t want us to do Good deeds because that might give us cause to brag?

Does the bible contradict itself? Or is it more likely that you misinterpret it? In the passage from Matt. 25, the sheep and the goats are being characterized by their deeds, or their lack of them. But contrary to the clearest biblical teachings, you infer that the cause of the sheeps’ salvation is their good works, and the cause of the goats damnation is their lack of good works.

In the passage from Romans 2, you disregard the teachings of Paul on justification by faith apart from works, and end up having Paul contradict himself on WHAT it is that makes sinners righteous before God! Does Paul teach conflicting doctrines of WHAT it is that justifies sinners? Does he teach justification by faith apart from works AND justification by faith plus works?

 

[paul_c]

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
Try this again. This is just a generic statement without a single example. Show me one quote where I worshipped the Church. Saying that the Church teaches the truth about Jesus and administers the sacraments he proscribed that lead you to heaven is simply a statement of fact. It is not worship.

The fact is you have never given one example to prove this point. In fact, the point is simply not true. We worship AS a church, We don’t worship the Church.

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
Is it worshipping the Bible when you say the bible leads you to Jesus?

You simply dont get it do you?. The church leads me to Jesus just as the Bible leads you to Jesus. Yet in your mind, I worship the Church, yet YOU don’t worship the bible.
Well, it is pointless to have this discussion further unless you give an example that justifies your point.

 

[paul_c]

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
Mick, the fact that people need to do works of mercy to get to heaven is certainly not contrary to the bible. Have you read Matthew 25: 31-46?

You are mistaken. This passage clearly says that the those who did works of mercy in their life would be rewarded with eternal life while those that didn’t will be condemned. Since its clear that they are being characterized as saved (sheep) or condemned (goats by their deeds or lack of them, how can you come to the conclusion that their salvation is based on anything else?

In the passage from Romans 2, you disregard the teachings of Paul on justification by faith apart from works, and end up having Paul contradict himself on WHAT it is that makes sinners righteous before God! Does Paul teach conflicting doctrines of WHAT it is that justifies sinners? Does he teach justification by faith apart from works AND justification by faith plus works?

I didn’t disregard anything. I quoted Paul directly and he says in no uncertain terms, that God will repay everyone acording to his works, eternal life for those that persever in good works and eternal damnation for those that do evil. There really isn’t any room for an alternative interpretation of what he says. Now as to your confusion about how he could say that we will be judged based on our works while you have been led to believe that Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works. Well he never says that. He says that we are justified by faith apart from works of the Jewish law because he is making the distinction that works alone without the proper intent are insufficient. This is consistent with the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches that prayer, fasting and almsgiving are good, but if you do them for public acclaim, you will have had your reward and will get no recompense from God. But if you do these things humbly and out of love, then you will be rewarded by God.

 

[Mick_Taylor]

From the initial regeneration, the desire to good or do good works flow from the same source: since it flows from the same source, then these things must be saving and necessary as indicators of a “saving faith” or “true conversion.” Using the word “want” suggest there’s an act of will involved and since you’ve agreed that God cannot force Himself on anyone, that said choice must be free.

Hi Dancelittleewok,

You said, “since it flows from the same source, then these things must be saving…”

I don’t see why it necessarily follows that, if A) the desire to do good works flows from the same source (God), then B) these things must be saving.

And I don’t agree that God cannot force Himself on anyone. Did you use your free will to decide that you will be a human being instead of an ant? Did God rely on your free will to get your consent to create you as anything, ant or human being? Did God rely on the free will of Saul before converting him? I have never understood where this silly belief comes from, that “God cannot force Himself on anyone” or “God cannot violate anyone’s free will”.

 

[paul_c]

Hi Dancelittleewok,

You said, “since it flows from the same source, then these things must be saving…”

I don’t see why it necessarily follows that, if A) the desire to do good works flows from the same source (God), then B) these things must be saving.

And I don’t agree that God cannot force Himself on anyone. Did you use your free will to decide that you will be a human being instead of an ant? Did God rely on your free will to get your consent to create you as anything, ant or human being? Did God rely on the free will of Saul before converting him? I have never understood where this silly belief comes from, that “God cannot force Himself on anyone” or “God cannot violate anyone’s free will”.

The question is not whether he can violate anyone’s free will. He can obviously do anything he wishes. The question is whether he DESIRES to give man free will or not. I think the evidence we have, both scriptural and experientially, is that he does indeed give man free will. Not infinite free will, by any means, because you can’t wish you were an Ant to use your example but free will within a set of parameters. Paul certainly had the capability of not carrying out his mission. He said so himself. But he chose to be true to his calling. We too have the option of loving God or not, of following the teachings of Christ or not. To believe that we do not have this choice is to believe that we are no more than automatons. Nothing htat I see would suggest that this is the case

 

[Mick_Taylor]

I didn’t disregard anything. I quoted Paul directly and he says in no uncertain terms, that God will repay everyone acording to his works, eternal life for those that persever in good works and eternal damnation for those that do evil. There really isn’t any room for an alternative interpretation of what he says.

So what you’re saying is, every person will get exactly what they deserve based on their own works. I can see how God’s justice might be revealed in this, but where is God’s mercy if we must earn our way to salvation by our own good deeds?

Now as to your confusion about how he could say that we will be judged based on our works while you have been led to believe that Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works. Well he never says that. He says that we are justified by faith apart from works of the Jewish law because he is making the distinction that works alone without the proper intent are insufficient. This is consistent with the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches that prayer, fasting and almsgiving are good, but if you do them for public acclaim, you will have had your reward and will get no recompense from God. But if you do these things humbly and out of love, then you will be rewarded by God.

Where in the bible do we find that we are justified by faith AND our own works… just not from works of the Jewish law?

 

[paul_c]

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
I didn’t disregard anything. I quoted Paul directly and he says in no uncertain terms, that God will repay everyone acording to his works, eternal life for those that persever in good works and eternal damnation for those that do evil. There really isn’t any room for an alternative interpretation of what he says

God’s mercy is revealed in the fact that he will forgive us our sins and give us a new chance any time we request it through the sacraments (initially though baptism, subsequently through reconciliation). What could be more merciful than giving us infinite chances to repent, right up until the point of death? We are only held accountable for what we do or don’t do since our last cleansing, so to speak. Of course, if you never repent sacramentally, you are held accountable for everything you have done for your whole life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
Now as to your confusion about how he could say that we will be judged based on our works while you have been led to believe that Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works. Well he never says that. He says that we are justified by faith apart from works of the Jewish law because he is making the distinction that works alone without the proper intent are insufficient. This is consistent with the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches that prayer, fasting and almsgiving are good, but if you do them for public acclaim, you will have had your reward and will get no recompense from God. But if you do these things humbly and out of love, then you will be rewarded by God

Those tow readings I gave you would be a start: Romas 2: 5-10 and Matthew 25: 31-46. There are many other places where we are told we will be judged based on our actions, just as there are many places that say we need to have Faith to be justified. In James 2, it becomes explicit: Faith without works is dead!

 

[Dancelittleewok]

Hi Dancelittleewok,

You said, “since it flows from the same source, then these things must be saving…”

I don’t see why it necessarily follows that, if A) the desire to do good works flows from the same source (God), then B) these things must be saving.

And I don’t agree that God cannot force Himself on anyone. Did you use your free will to decide that you will be a human being instead of an ant? Did God rely on your free will to get your consent to create you as anything, ant or human being? Did God rely on the free will of Saul before converting him? I have never understood where this silly belief comes from, that “God cannot force Himself on anyone” or “God cannot violate anyone’s free will”.

You’ve said one need to have works as proof of a “true conversion” that these flow from the same source, which is the initial regeneration, which comes from God. This means that works are products from the initial regeneration and these works are necessary as proof of “true conversions”, then must be saving since these works flow from the same initial regeneration which created the faith. If you believe that your faith saves from the initial regeneration, then too must be the works since both the faith and works come from the same source. If works are unnecessary, then God is Savior but not Lord, not requiring obedience from His children, making conversion unnecessary.

As for your second paragraph, God can hardly consult my free will if I am not created, so I couldn’t be forced into anything if I didn’t exist but given the evidence that humans have free will, it would be reasonable to conclude that He would honor what He created within humans–free will upon creation, however impaired upon the Fall. But I question the relevance of God’s choice to create me as an ant, human, or any other animal since we are talking about how God deals with His already created humans and how we are justified to Him.

As for Saul, Catholics believe in the necessity of God intervening before conversion but with God’s actual grace, faith and love may exist in basic form before conversion. These graces are later infused into the soul through sanctifying grace in the sacraments such as baptism and confession. The individual must make a conscious decision to call upon these graces in the soul and cooperate with God and do good works and refrain from sin.

 

[Dancelittleewok]

God’s mercy is revealed in the fact that he will forgive us our sins and give us a new chance any time we request it through the sacraments (initially though baptism, subsequently through reconciliation). What could be more merciful than giving us infinite chances to repent, right up until the point of death? We are only held accountable for what we do or don’t do since our last cleansing, so to speak. Of course, if you never repent sacramentally, you are held accountable for everything you have done for your whole life.

I’d add one caveat to that: God isn’t constrained to the sacraments and the Church has said that baptism of desire and baptism of blood are possible but baptism is the normative means:

**VI. THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM **
[1257](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1257.htm’) The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
[1258](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1258.htm’) The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
[1259](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1259.htm’) For *catechumens *who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
[1260](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1260.htm’) "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery."63 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

Source

Those tow readings I gave you would be a start: Romas 2: 5-10 and Matthew 25: 31-46. There are many other places where we are told we will be judged based on our actions, just as there are many places that say we need to have Faith to be justified. In James 2, it becomes explicit: Faith without works is dead!

We are judged based on our actions, under God’s grace if in a state of grace or “right with God”, hence why we don’t believe that works in themselves are “under the law.” God’s Infinite nature means that we as His creation cannot obligate Him to do anything; He judges us based on His love and benevolence so we cannot boast or be accused of legalism.