Hilde_Mari:
Hi!
Iâm having a problem with purgatory. I know nothing unclean can enter heaven, but hasnât Jesus already purged us? This is not an attack at all, just honest curiosity.
Speaking of salvation, this âfaith plus worksâ thing. What does it really mean? does it conflict with John 3:16?
Youâre already purged of all attachment to sin? Wow. Youâre better off than me! If thatâs the case, then you wouldnât need
Purgatory, and youâd go straight into Heaven without suffering any loss (1Cor 3:15).
You wonât find âfaith plus worksâ in the Catechism. Faith is a work, by the way. We accept Godâs salvation by not rejecting the graces we receive from God, whether that grace impels us to believe, or whether that grace keeps us from mortal sin.
From Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth:
**What You Must Do to Be Saved **
Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God (CCC 1727). Our initial forgiveness and justification are not things we âearnâ (CCC 2010). Jesus is the mediator who bridged the gap of sin that separates us from God (1 Tim. 2:5); he bridged it by dying for us. He has chosen to make us partners in the plan of salvation (1 Cor. 3:9).
The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what âBible Christiansâ teach; see Jas. 2:24).
When we come to God and are justified (that is, enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works,
earns grace. But then God plants his love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love (Gal. 6:2).
Even though only Godâs grace enables us to love others, these acts of love please him, and he promises to reward them with eternal life (Rom. 2:6â7, Gal. 6:6â10). Thus good works are meritorious. When we first come to God in faith, we have nothing in our hands to offer him. Then he gives us grace to obey his commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these acts of love back to him (Rom. 2:6â11, Gal. 6:6â10, Matt. 25:34â40).
Jesus said it is not enough to have faith in him; we also must obey his commandments. âWhy do you call me âLord, Lord,â but do not do the things I command?â (Luke 6:46, Matt. 7:21â23, 19:16â21).
We do not âearnâ our salvation through good works (Eph. 2:8â9, Rom. 9:16), but our faith in Christ puts us in a special grace-filled relationship with God so that our obedience and love, combined with our faith, will be rewarded with eternal life (Rom. 2:7, Gal. 6:8â9).
Paul said, âGod is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to workâ (Phil. 2:13). John explained that âthe way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, âI know him,â but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in himâ (1 John 2:3â4, 3:19â24, 5:3â4).
Since no gift can be forced on the recipientâgifts always can be rejectedâeven after we become justified, we can throw away the gift of salvation. We throw it away through grave (mortal) sin (John 15:5â6, Rom. 11:22â23, 1 Cor. 15:1â2; CCC 1854â1863). Paul tells us, âThe wages of sin is deathâ (Rom. 6:23).
Read his letters and see how often Paul warned Christians against sin! He would not have felt compelled to do so if their sins could not exclude them from heaven (see, for example, 1 Cor. 6:9â10, Gal. 5:19â21).
Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God âwill repay everyone according to his works: eternal life for those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickednessâ (Rom. 2:6â8).
Sins are nothing but evil works (CCC 1849â1850). We can avoid sins by habitually performing good works. Every saint has known that the best way to keep free from sins is to embrace regular prayer, the sacraments (the Eucharist first of all), and charitable acts.
CCC=Catechism of Catholic Church paragraph number.
