Key to understanding St. Paul's teaching on Justification

[De_Maria]

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Ro 3:9–20)

Read this portion of the verse:
through the law we become conscious of our sin. (Ro 3:9–20)

and read Romans 2:13:
Ro 2:13. For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

And now, understand. If we become conscious of sin, but do nothing about it, we are hearers of the Law and are not just before God.

But if we become conscious of our sin and repent, doing works meet for repentance (Acts 26:20), we are then doers of the law and we will be justified by God.

Ah, but there’s more. How will we be justified by God? Scripture is clear:
Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thysins, calling on the name of the Lord.

In Baptism:
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So then, it is clear. Our works do not justify us. God does. But God does not justify those who do not, being conscious of their sin, repent and do works meet for repentance:
Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

And that is the Catholic Teaching. Justification is by faith and works because only those who work to demonstrate their repentance will be justified.

Sincerely,

De Maria

 

[Trishie]

And other scripture texts support the Church’s teaching, including regarding faith and good works:

“It is not those who call me ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21]

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” [Galatians 6:7-9]

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13

“Take the case, my brothers of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that?: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
This is the way to talk to people of that kind:'You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds–now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.
You believe in one God–that is creditable enough, but the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear. Do realise, you senseless man, that faith without works is useless. You surely know that Abraham our Father was justified by his deed, because he offered Isaac on the altar? There you see it; faith and good deeds were working together; his faith became perfect by what he did.
This is what scripture really means when it says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was counted as making him justified; and that is why he was called the friend of God. You see now that it is by doing something good, and not only by believing, that a man is justified.” [James 2: 14-24]

 

[randybako]

thankyou Trishie