Practical Justification Question 2

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newby:

Thanks for the kind words.

Jurist:

"This is one reason I cannot be a Catholic. I see that in spite of all the Catholic talk of Salvation/Justification by Grace their concept of “infused Righteoussness” actually amounts to “works” Righteoussness, that Salvation is ultimately what we do to earn it. To me it lessens at best what Christ did for us on the cross. Instead of giving us a Jesus that really saves from sin and death Catholic theology reduces what Jesus did to merely making Salvation possible to those who not only believe in Him but with the doctrine of “infused” righteoussness essentially says “your sins are forgiven, the slate is clean, now you must earn your Salvation.” Where’s “the Good News” of the Gospel in that? "

Christ didn’t save us by dying on the cross, he reconciled us. He saves us by rising from the dead and giving us the Holy Spirit:

“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his son, how much more, now that we have been reconciled, shall we be saved BY HIS LIFE?” Rom 5:10

His death reconciles us (it atones for sins and redeems us from our bondage to sin). His life saves us, by giving us the Holy Spirit. To enter heaven requires two things - a negative (being without sin) and a positive (being holy - Heb 12:14). The cross supplies the first, the Spirit the second. But only if we submit to Him:

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Rom 6:16

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Rom 8:12-13

By insisting upon the necessity of the Spirit, I do not think we lessen in any way the importance of the cross.
 
Reformed Rob:
It seems to me that a potential difference would be a stronger fear of God. QUOTE]

Well… yes, I agree with you. Please remember also, that the beginning of wisdom is just that: the fear of God. This, of course, in the right context means we become painfully aware of our own sins and offences and thus we cannot, under those circumstances take the promise of our salvation as a done deal. Yes we have the promise, but we Catholics tend not to loose sight of the difficulties getting hold of that promise. Indeed, we have to take hold of it by violence, by violence against our own egos.
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As far as grace and our works being involved in Justification:

Is it “Catholic” to say that:
Code: 
Salvation is by God's grace alone.  Now, grace must be received by the individual (after age of reason) and co-operated with.  Our good works (turning from sin and actually obeying God in various ways) are things that we do as a result of being in cooperation with God's grace working in us.  If you reject the grace of God, then you will eventually fall into mortal sin and be lost.  If you reject the grace of God, you prove yourself to be in rebellion against God, and not just in His sight because your heart is turned against Him and Christ.
I was considering this today while I was mowing my yard.

Is the Catholic teaching about works and justification rightly presented by what I said above, or am I way off?
 
Reformed Rob:
As far as grace and our works being involved in Justification:

Is it “Catholic” to say that:
Code: 
Salvation is by God's grace alone.  Now, grace must be received by the individual (after age of reason) and co-operated with.  Our good works (turning from sin and actually obeying God in various ways) are things that we do as a result of being in cooperation with God's grace working in us.  If you reject the grace of God, then you will eventually fall into mortal sin and be lost.  If you reject the grace of God, you prove yourself to be in rebellion against God, and not just in His sight because your heart is turned against Him and Christ.
I was considering this today while I was mowing my yard.

Is the Catholic teaching about works and justification rightly presented by what I said above, or am I way off?
Click to expand...
Check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church
§§1996-2005, 2017-29.

usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt3art2.htm

Overall, I think your pretty close, but I would take exception with your statement regarding grace and the age of reason. Be careful not to confine the grace of God. Also, note the church distinguishes different types of grace (e.g., sanctifying grace etc. . . . )

While the grace of God works in a special and unique way in the salvation process, God’s grace is much broader than that. The grace of God sustains our very being and creation. Your very breaths are sustained by God’s grace. (there is a Scripture verse to the effect, that God sustains Creation).

Even infants are recipients of God’s grace.
 
Reformed Rob:
As far as grace and our works being involved in Justification:
Is it “Catholic” to say that:

Salvation is by God’s grace alone. Now, grace must be received by the individual (after age of reason) and co-operated with. Our good works (turning from sin and actually obeying God in various ways) are things that we do as a result of being in cooperation with God’s grace working in us. If you reject the grace of God, then you will eventually fall into mortal sin and be lost. If you reject the grace of God, you prove yourself to be in rebellion against God, and not just in His sight because your heart is turned against Him and Christ.

I was considering this today while I was mowing my yard.

Is the Catholic teaching about works and justification rightly presented by what I said above, or am I way off?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Yes you are perfectly correct in regards to one’s salvation. The previous poster is also correct regarding grace. But in my opinion, your observation pertained to salvation, so in that context you have hit the nail right on the head. :clapping:
 
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