Please forgive me: how does the Church teach on "not saved by Works"

[Jim_Baur]

Again, I am sure this has been addressed my times, I am not too good at finding these threads; I apologize.

Where and how doe the Church teach that we are saved, but not by works?

If I asked the question poorly, one may fix my question, thanks!

As far as I know, the Catholic position is that we are saved by God’s love and mercy.

HELP!

THANKS!

 

[dmelosi]

Again, I am sure this has been addressed my times, I am not too good at finding these threads; I apologize.

Where and how doe the Church teach that we are saved, but not by works?

If I asked the question poorly, one may fix my question, thanks!

As far as I know, the Catholic position is that we are saved by God’s love and mercy.

HELP!

THANKS!

Here is a good article on it.

catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/not-by-works

 

[zab]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#906

Merit: The reward which God promises and gives to those who love him and by his grace perform good works. One cannot “merit” justification or eternal life which are the free gift of God; The source of any merit we have before God is due to the grace of Christ in us.

See also: ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html#502 our collaboration with God. God’s free initiative demands man’s free response.

 

[JM3]

Matthew 25:31-46 & CCC 1038-1041

 

[Wesrock]

Again, I am sure this has been addressed my times, I am not too good at finding these threads; I apologize.

Where and how doe the Church teach that we are saved, but not by works?

If I asked the question poorly, one may fix my question, thanks!

As far as I know, the Catholic position is that we are saved by God’s love and mercy.

HELP!

THANKS!

It is too long to quote, but I recommend reading the Catechism’s entire section on Grace and Justification: vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm

Here is a joint declaration (Catholics and Lutheran World Federation) on justification: vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

Here is a link to Session 6 of the Council of Trent which addressed this topic: thecounciloftrent.com/ch6.htm

CCC III. MERIT

You are glorified in the assembly of your Holy Ones, for in crowning their merits you are crowning your own gifts.59

2006 The term “merit” refers in general to the recompense owed by a community or a society for the action of one of its members, experienced either as beneficial or harmful, deserving reward or punishment. Merit is relative to the virtue of justice, in conformity with the principle of equality which governs it.

2007 With regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and us there is an immeasurable inequality, for we have received everything from him, our Creator.

2008 The merit of man before God in the Christian life arises from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace. The fatherly action of God is first on his own initiative, and then follows man’s free acting through his collaboration, so that the merit of good works is to be attributed in the first place to the grace of God, then to the faithful. Man’s merit, moreover, itself is due to God, for his good actions proceed in Christ, from the predispositions and assistance given by the Holy Spirit.

2009 Filial adoption, in making us partakers by grace in the divine nature, can bestow true merit on us as a result of God’s gratuitous justice. This is our right by grace, the full right of love, making us “co-heirs” with Christ and worthy of obtaining "the promised inheritance of eternal life."60 The merits of our good works are gifts of the divine goodness.61 "Grace has gone before us; now we are given what is due. . . . Our merits are God’s gifts."62

2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life. Even temporal goods like health and friendship can be merited in accordance with God’s wisdom. These graces and goods are the object of Christian prayer. Prayer attends to the grace we need for meritorious actions.

2011* The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits *before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and consequently their merit before God and before men. The saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace.

After earth’s exile, I hope to go and enjoy you in the fatherland, but I do not want to lay up merits for heaven. I want to work for your love alone. . . . In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is blemished in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own justice and to receive from your love the eternal possession of yourself.63

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. Galatians 2:20

 

[Peter_J]

Also Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

[Cathoholic]

Hi Jim Baur.

We have three basic time frames.

1 - Before we are saved.

2 - When we are saved.

3 - After our initial salvation.

---

• 1 - Before we are saved.

Before we are saved God takes the initiative to draw mankind to Himself (NOT the other way around).

This stems from the work of Jesus and Jesus ALONE (it is strict merit–only Jesus can do that. It CANNOT be “earned”).

This is what Jesus meant when He said, "When I am raised up, I will draw all men to Myself.

This is what CCC604 heading means . . . .

**God takes the initiative of universal redeeming love **

CCC 604a By giving up his own Son for our sins, God manifests that his plan for us is one of benevolent love, prior to any merit on our part. . . .

This is a grace and the fact that we believe here is a grace too (THIS grace is called God’s prevenient grace).

---

• 2 - When we are saved.

We are saved the MOMENT we receive Jesus’s own LIFE within us (and we get put IN HIM too).

This is in Baptism. That’s WHY St. Paul can say in Romans 6:3-5 we died to sin and became alive IN Christ when we were Baptized.

This is a new birth. (It is being born anew or born again or born from above).

We also CANNOT merit that either. But it is something we must COOPERATE in at this point. But still there are no “WORKS” at least in the sense that they are inspired by, and animated by God within us.

We cannot have anything beyond “natural virtue” before Baptism.

---

• 3 - After our initial salvation (We must continue to be justified)

But one we are graced from Jesus, once we have “talents” from Jesus, once we are made sons and daughters in the Son, we . . . . THROUGH Him, WITH Him, and IN Him, MUST WORK.

Once we had that moment of justification, we are called to be justified further still (as Revelation says).

NOT works on our OWN. No!

But works UNITED to Christ in GRACE.

And this is part of our justification.

THIS is the type of MERIT you CAN and MUST have (depending upon your state in life).

This is the NECESSARY cooperation through grace, in grace and with grace that you MUST HAVE for salvation.

---

You can never “earn” salvation.

But Jesus earned it for us on Calvary by grace, so He can continue to “earn” salvation IN US by grace, and allow us to participate in His Divine Life.

Hope this helps.

God bless.

Cathoholic

 

[Cathoholic]

This below from some prior posts of mine (here and here) . . . .

(and here)

We are given “talents” (GRACE) when we receive the Holy Spirit, and we expected to use these gifts (according to our “ability” – i.e. a mentally handicapped person = lower expectations).

(Paragraph and parenthetical addition on Matthew 25 below mine)

MATTHEW 25:14-15a . . . . 14 "For it (the judgment day) will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. . . .

Now that they have “TALENTS” from God . . . . now what?

Now what is going to happen with these servants who receive, without merit, God’s grace, I mean, “Talents” from the Master?

(Remember . . . JESUS is the Master here, WE are the SERVANTS here)

First let’s look at what DOESN’T happen!

Below would be an example if the “I don’t HAVE TO WORK" motif were true . . .

NOT MATTHEW 25:14-33 (Phantom Verse) "For it (the judgment day) will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

He who had received the five talents got overtaken by the Master who took back the five talents and the Master Himself and NOT the servant then traded for five talents more instead of the servant cooperating with the talents GIVEN him by the Master.

So also, he who had the two talents made nothing . . . .

But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. . . . .

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents and YOU got five talents more; I didn’t merit anything (with YOUR talents you GAVE me that I didn’t merit) but you did.

His master said to him, 'Well done, for not needing to cooperate with the grace, I mean talents I gave you.

The same with the servant who received two talents.

He who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew I knew I didn’t have to merit ANYTHING. You gathering where you did not winnow; and I knew I didn’t HAVE TO**** WORK and cooperate with the grace, I mean talents you gave me. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, OK. Fair enough. Since you don’t NEED to cooperate I guess that’s that.

You are saved anyway!”

And cast the worthless servant into Heaven anyway because he didn’t NEED to cooperate with my talents that** I gave him**. Because after all, it is ALL MY work and NONE of this guy cooperating with me.

Now let’s look at what REALLY happens!

Now let’s find out what REALLY happens with these servants who receive, without merit, God’s grace, or “Talents” from the Master AND COOPERATE?

MATTHEW 25:14-32 14 "For it (the judgment day) will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents . . . ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

26 But his master answered him,** 'You wicked and slothful servant!** You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. . . .

 

[mdgspencer]

The Catholic Church spoke about the need for both faith and works in the Council of Trent’s “Decree on Justification”: see chapters viii and xi. This decree is at
see ewtn.com/library/councils/trent6.htm#1

This authoritative statement from the Catholic Church says that faith is the beginning of salvation, its foundation and root. But our works are needed too for our salvation.

 

[Cathoholic]

CCC 2022 The divine initiative in the work of grace precedes, prepares, and elicits the free response of man. Grace responds to the deepest yearnings of human freedom, calls freedom to cooperate with it, and perfects freedom.

Keep in mind “GRACE” can have differing types.

There is “Actual Grace” and “Sanctifying Grace”.

Sanctifying grace is “Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and pleasing to God.” (Balt. Catechism).

Actual Grace is what EVERY Christian gets to live out our daily lives. (“Actual grace is that help of God which enlightens our mind and moves our will to shun evil and do good.” - (Balt. Catechism).

But then there is sanctifying grace that only (ordinarily) initially comes through Baptism (THEN through all the Sacraments and can even be obtained then by prayer and charitable works).

“Sanctifying grace” is God’s favor AND God’s Divine life within us! We receive this in Baptism. You need it in order to enter into Heaven.

Grace is not merely God’s FAVOR.

It IS God’s favor, but it goes beyond that.

Grace includes God’s Divine life within us!

CCC references below to above points (with bold and UL emphasis mine, italics original) . . . .

II. GRACE

CCC 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.

CCC 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.

This grace is NOT EARNED. If it COULD be earned it would not be “grace”.

From Session VI, Chapter 7 of the Council of Trent showing the unmerited aspect of this . . . . (There is potential for “merit” in another sense. But THAT would be for another post)

COUNCIL OF TRENT . . . . none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification. For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace.

Some Bible references to above (illustrating not our mere “works” but God WORKING in us and through us):

2nd PETER 1:2-4 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 12 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; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2nd CORINTHIANS 6:1 1 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 13 I can do all things** in him** who strengthens me.

GALATIANS 2:20 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.

Here in Ephesians 3, St. Paul differentiates the “works” on your own that do NOT save (in Ephesians 2:8-9)

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

This is because we have the Spirit of God within us, WORKING IN us!

**HEBREWS 13:20a, 21 **20 “Now may the God of peace . . . . 21 equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[Cathoholic]

Here in Romans 8, St. Paul illustrates people who have the Spirit of God (vrs. people merely working “IN THE FLESH”).

ROMANS 8:8-11 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.

But there is more . . .

1st THESSALONIANS 2:13 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 6:3-5 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

This is exactly WHY St. Paul says in Colossians he, St. Paul, can make up for what is lacking in Christ’s body, the Church!

COLOSSIANS 1:24 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

St. Paul say the same basic thing in Romans . . . .

ROMANS 8:15-17 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Thank you!

It will take me a semester to read and study this.

THANKS!

 

[zab]

Thank you!

It will take me a semester to read and study this.

THANKS!

 

[Bookcat]

Again, I am sure this has been addressed my times, I am not too good at finding these threads; I apologize.

Where and how doe the Church teach that we are saved, but not by works?

If I asked the question poorly, one may fix my question, thanks!

As far as I know, the Catholic position is that we are saved by God’s love and mercy.

HELP!

THANKS!

You mean entering initially into a state of salvation? Of justification?

Yes that can not be “by works”.

See the Letters of Paul - he gets into this.

(then of course one is to remain in Christ - and of course (good) works enter into things as one lives the Christian life).

 

[Bookcat]

THANKS!

Pope Benedict XVI on the subjects of Faith and Works in St. Paul

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081119_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081126_en.html (scroll down)

Plus earlier one:

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061108_en.html

 

[Cathoholic]

It will take me a semester to read and study this.

Here it is encapsulated Jim (you can do this during a library break) . . .

Before initial justification = no merit from mere humans, all merit from Jesus.

COUNCIL OF TRENT . . . . none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification. For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace.

During initial justification (baptism). Not deserving. But we do cooperate.

After initial justification, we must continue to be justified. ASSOCIATED merit NEEDED here (associated with Christ)

 

[Jim_Baur]

From trying to read all of these: Is the following okay?

We are saved by Jesus Christ winning our salvation.

We are saved by His indwelling, and the entire Trinity.

We are saved by God’s love poured into our hearts.

The Holy Spirit will grow in us.

The Holy Spirit will bring us to completion.

THANKS!
I know that there is a great deal more, but I have a beginning.