Is it easy or hard to be saved?

[JerryZ]

I’m not the one you’re talking to but I think this verse is what some Protestants point out as proof of the “faith only” doctrine:

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–

I do not see the word “alone” there. We completely agree with that verse by the way.
However Jesus tells us that someone can have “faith” but he/she will be rejected come judgement time.

James Chapter 2
2:14 My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?
2:15 So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,
2:16 and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this? 2:17 Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.
2:18 Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.
2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.
2:20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
2:21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?
2:22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?

…

 

[spedteacherita]

What St. Peter means here is that even the just man must continuously pray and do penance and mortify himself, or he will lose the divine grace. If the just must still do this, what will happen to sinners who have many vicious habits, and who do not pray etc.? Hope, as St. Thomas says, is properly defined as confidence in obtaining some arduous good. With that said, however, since God, in His love and goodness, desires all men to be saved. He will grant to everyone who asks of Him, with the determination to do what he can himself, the graces necessary to attain salvation. Hence despair is a very grave insult to the Divine goodness. Cf. End prayer of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

I hope this was helpful,
Benedicat Deus,
Latinitas

Just curious - what do you mean by “mortify?”

God Bless
Rita

 

[spedteacherita]

Is it hard to be saved? St. Peter said it clearly, yes, it is hard, even for the righteous. And that is right, simply because of our fallen nature. We have the propensity to sin, an action that is against the righteousness of God. What hope therefore do we have? None. But God gives us the grace that we can do it if we try, if we believe. Then again, we may fall along the way, but we will raise up again when we come before God in repentance as He forgives our sin. So that is the nature of the road, a journey rather, towards being saved.

God does not have any favorite, anybody can receive that grace if they come to him in repentance. By the same token, if one does not, no matter what position we have in the church, our unrepented sins will condemn us.

There is no such thing as faith alone to get being saved. That is simply a delusion, an escapist view to pretend that sins do not matter.

Reuben

Hi, Reuben,

I wonder if what we mean by “faith alone” is not defined correctly…I have had faith in God since I was a little girl. My walk and my relationship with God thru Christ is totally based on faith - I can’t overcome things in life if I don’t have faith. Of course, my baptism and my communion give me the grace to continue my Faith walk. There may be Protestants who say I am saved by faith but it can’t stop there. As long as we are on this walk with Christ our Faith is built by being in the Word, receiving the sacraments and by fellowshipping with other Christians. My time with CAF has had a significant impact on my faith as well. I’d like to hear from other Protestants what “faith alone” means to them.

God bless!!

Rita

 

[spedteacherita]

The grace of God can triumph in us if we follow the Lord, pray, and obey the Church in what she teaches.

When we follow Him daily we have His deep peace, that only He can give, and that spurs us on to continue on His Way!

Amen, Dorothy, amen!!