Merit in faith alone?

[De_Maria]

Do you merit salvation by faith alone?

 

[meltzerboy]

According to SOME–not all–Protestants, yes. That belief is in accord with the strict sola fide and once-saved-always-saved Calvinist notion, based on double predestination. While there are certain scriptural passages that lend support to the idea that good works do not suffice for salvation, there are several others that reject the sola fide notion. In fact, many Protestants, such as Luther himself, define true faith in terms of faith manifested by works. This is also the Catholic meaning of faith. In other words, while dogmatic faith is essential, it can only be complete through acts of charity. Judaism also believes in faith, but is still more of an orthoprax religion, and so works of charity are primary. I recall the passage from the Hebrew Bible: “Studying is not the ultimate, but the doing.”

 

[jcrichton]

Do you merit salvation by faith alone?

Though some believe such things… NOT!

None of us merits Salvation!

Salvation is a free Gift (St. John 1:1-14; 3:16-21 and 15:1-10) which comes with but one condition (“If you love Me, keep my Commandments.”)

…the best that we can do is contribute, in Christ, by building on the Rock!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[De_Maria]

According to SOME–not all–Protestants, yes. That belief is in accord with the strict sola fide and once-saved-always-saved Calvinist notion, based on double predestination. While there are certain scriptural passages that lend support to the idea that good works do not suffice for salvation, there are several others that reject the sola fide notion. In fact, many Protestants, such as Luther himself, define true faith in terms of faith manifested by works. This is also the Catholic meaning of faith. In other words, while dogmatic faith is essential, it can only be complete through acts of charity. Judaism also believes in faith, but is still more of an orthoprax religion, and so works of charity are primary. I recall the passage from the Hebrew Bible: “Studying is not the ultimate, but the doing.”

I’m certainly in agreement with that answer. Thanks.

 

[De_Maria]

Though some believe such things… NOT!

None of us merits Salvation!

I’m surprised that you are Catholic and would give that answer. Let me ask you, who is the Judge? You or God?

Salvation is a free Gift (St. John 1:1-14; 3:16-21 and 15:1-10) which comes with but one condition (“If you love Me, keep my Commandments.”)

If it comes with a condition, then in what way is it free?

…the best that we can do is contribute,

What can we contribute, if according to you, we have nothing of merit?

Let me ask you, what does this mean?
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.

It sounds to me as though God is saying that those who keep the commandments receive the right to eternal life. Putting in a negative fashion, those who do not do the commandments do not receive the right to eternal life. If you read verse 15, you’ll see that is precisely the meaning of this verse.

in Christ, by building on the Rock!

And you as well,

Maran atha!

Angel

Amen!

Sincerely,

De Maria

 

[neophyte]

Do you merit salvation by faith alone?

With the true definitions of merit and faith, one could say that the answer to your question is yes.

There are two kinds of merit. One means “I did this so God owes me”. The other means something more like “God said that if I do this then he’ll give me that, and I did what he said. He doesn’t owe me anything because the only reason I had the opportunity and ability was because he gave them to me, but he said he’d give me a reward so he will.” The second kind is what we’re talking about.

Faith is an act of the will by which one adheres to God. It is a work which we can do only by his grace.

What James was talking about and what Protestants are talking about when they use the word faith, is not faith at all. Merely believing that God exists or that Jesus is the Messiah is not faith. That would be like saying that I can be faithful to my wife merely by believing that she exists.

It’s not possible to separate faith from works, because faith is a work. It’s something you do, by the grace of God.

 

[fhansen]

Free gifts can be rejected-otherwise we’d believe in universal salvation. So what we do counts, in Gods economy, for His own reasons, whether our part is a response of works alone, faith alone, love alone, or some combination of those or other conditions yet.

 

[fred_conty]

Hi,
The question is confusing.

Initial faith is not merited since it is a free gift from God and the Bible says faith is a gift
from God. Gift is contrary to earn.

Merit means earn. Only after we have faith can we merit since faith makes it possible
to merit and without faith therefore we cannot merit. Faith, which we accept thru baptism, makes us children of our heavenly Father, temples of the Holy Spirit, and
brothers to Jesus Christ. This makes it possible to merit grace because now our actions become pleasing to God. After accepting the gift of faith, our status has been elevated
to the divine in which the Father says,“this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

“Abba, Father.” Paul’s appreciation of his new relationship faith brings.
“He must increase, I must decrease.” Paul’s realization of the meaning of faith and works.

 

[TimothyH]

Faith without works is dead. That much is clear.

Faith begins to have merit when it approaches the fullness of faith - faithfullness, when we begin to be faith-full, to actually do what we claim we believe.

Christ was full of faith - faithful, and gave his life to prove it. We are called to imitate that faith.

-Tim-

 

[Julian0404]

I believe it is St. Paul who teaches us to “work out your salvation in fear and trembling” paraphrase. So, we are directed to take personal and direct action toward achieving heaven. And, in our limited understanding of GOD, we all reach a level of knowing and understanding which is blocked by our ignorance, such as “the TRINITY” and “the True Presence of the BODY and BLOOD” within the Eucharist.
Therefore, we likewise all reach a level where to continue our journey of working out our salvation, we must rely completly and totally on faith and faith alone, as there is no action, no formula to explain or make clear the “how or why” of the TRINITY or TRUE PRESENCE.
So, there is merit in faith alone, and it is as GOD has designed. And there is merit in taking culpable and personal actions/works in pursuing our goal of heaven. Faith and good works is as GOD has designed.

 

[TimothyH]

In all the arguments about faith alone, faith vs works, how much merit there is in faith and so forth, Catholics have to remember that Faith is one of the three theological virtues which are clearly defined by Holy Mother the Church. The Catechism tells us what it is and how it fits into our salvation:

***-Faith-

1814 Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.” For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith “work through charity.”

1815 The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it.But “faith apart from works is dead”: when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body.

1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it**: “All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.” Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”*

Faith must be living to have any merit. Faith without works is dead. Once your faith becomes “Active”, it has merit. But faith seperated from the service to God with Christ as the model is dead.

The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist - are what help enable us to become active believers.

-Tim-

 

[De_Maria]

With the true definitions of merit and faith, one could say that the answer to your question is yes.

There are two kinds of merit. One means “I did this so God owes me”. The other means something more like “God said that if I do this then he’ll give me that, and I did what he said. He doesn’t owe me anything because the only reason I had the opportunity and ability was because he gave them to me, but he said he’d give me a reward so he will.” The second kind is what we’re talking about.

Faith is an act of the will by which one adheres to God. It is a work which we can do only by his grace.

What James was talking about and what Protestants are talking about when they use the word faith, is not faith at all. Merely believing that God exists or that Jesus is the Messiah is not faith. That would be like saying that I can be faithful to my wife merely by believing that she exists.

It’s not possible to separate faith from works, because faith is a work. It’s something you do, by the grace of God.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks.

 

[puzzleannie]

Do you merit salvation by faith alone?

nobody merits salvation
our salvation is achieved by the merits of Christ alone

 

[Jim_Baur]

I am not looking to argue, but I am here to learn.

Where in the Holy Bible does it teach: “Once saved always saved”?

Where does the Holy Bible teach: “Saved by faith alone”?

Also, again I am not here to argue. And, are we allowed to discuss these topics?

Thanks!

I do not think I will be answering, but would like to read the answers of others.

Again, thanks and God Bless

 

[De_Maria]

Free gifts can be rejected-otherwise we’d believe in universal salvation.

Agreed!

So what we do counts, in Gods economy, for His own reasons, whether our part is a response of works alone, faith alone, love alone, or some combination of those or other conditions yet.

Hm? You mean as far as whether He rewards or punishes? I’d have to agree.

Thanks.

 

[De_Maria]

Hi,
The question is confusing.

Sorry. I actually was hoping Protestants would bite. That’s why I added the word, “alone”.

Initial faith is not merited since it is a free gift from God and the Bible says faith is a gift
from God. Gift is contrary to earn.

Merit means earn. Only after we have faith can we merit since faith makes it possible
to merit and without faith therefore we cannot merit. Faith, which we accept thru baptism, makes us children of our heavenly Father, temples of the Holy Spirit, and
brothers to Jesus Christ. This makes it possible to merit grace because now our actions become pleasing to God. After accepting the gift of faith, our status has been elevated
to the divine in which the Father says,“this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

“Abba, Father.” Paul’s appreciation of his new relationship faith brings.
“He must increase, I must decrease.” Paul’s realization of the meaning of faith and works.

Sounds like you got that straight from the Catechism. Agreed!

 

[De_Maria]

Faith without works is dead. That much is clear.

Faith begins to have merit when it approaches the fullness of faith - faithfullness, when we begin to be faith-full, to actually do what we claim we believe.

Christ was full of faith - faithful, and gave his life to prove it. We are called to imitate that faith.

-Tim-

I like the way you put that. Thanks.

 

[De_Maria]

I believe it is St. Paul who teaches us to “work out your salvation in fear and trembling” paraphrase. So, we are directed to take personal and direct action toward achieving heaven. And, in our limited understanding of GOD, we all reach a level of knowing and understanding which is blocked by our ignorance, such as “the TRINITY” and “the True Presence of the BODY and BLOOD” within the Eucharist.
Therefore, we likewise all reach a level where to continue our journey of working out our salvation, we must rely completly and totally on faith and faith alone, as there is no action, no formula to explain or make clear the “how or why” of the TRINITY or TRUE PRESENCE.
So, there is merit in faith alone, and it is as GOD has designed. And there is merit in taking culpable and personal actions/works in pursuing our goal of heaven. Faith and good works is as GOD has designed.

Amen! I can’t add to a beautifully expressed confession. But if I might comment. I believe we exercise our faith “apart from our works” everytime we submit to the mighty works of God which we call the Sacraments.

 

[De_Maria]

In all the arguments about faith alone, faith vs works, how much merit there is in faith and so forth, Catholics have to remember that Faith is one of the three theological virtues which are clearly defined by Holy Mother the Church. The Catechism tells us what it is and how it fits into our salvation:

***-Faith-

1814 Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.” For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith “work through charity.”

1815 The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it.But “faith apart from works is dead”: when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body.

1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it***: “All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.” Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Faith must be living to have any merit. Faith without works is dead. Once your faith becomes “Active”, it has merit. But faith seperated from the service to God with Christ as the model is dead.

The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist - are what help enable us to become active believers.

-Tim-

Beautiful, I agree 100%!

 

[De_Maria]

I am not looking to argue, but I am here to learn.

Where in the Holy Bible does it teach: “Once saved always saved”?

The Bible teaches precisely the opposite. The Bible teaches that some have made a shipwreck of their faith:
1 Timothy 1:19
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Surprisingly, to me anyway, the Bible teaches that some who have received the highest amounts of grace, may not be forgiven if they should fall:
Hebrews 6

4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Where does the Holy Bible teach: “Saved by faith alone”?

Again, it says quite the opposite. First:
James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Justification, being righteous before God, is the first step to salvation. If one is not justified, one is not saved. Therefore, if one is not justified by faith only, one is not saved by faith only.

Again, Scripture also says:

2 Peter 1

5And beside this, giving all diligence,** add to your faith** virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Now, if we must add to our faith all these things in order to make our calling and election sure, then faith alone is certainly dead.

Also, again I am not here to argue. And, are we allowed to discuss these topics?

Yes.

Thanks!

I do not think I will be answering, but would like to read the answers of others.

Again, thanks and God Bless

And you as well,

Sincerely,

De Maria