This view is founded on many verses, but this is probably one of the most significant. Elsewhere, “Whoever believes my words has eternal life.” Indeed, but this is just the first step of many to God. However God is clearly a Just God, but at the same time, “abounding in Mercy, from age to age.”
And Christ hanging on the cross, God and Man, was left alone by everyone in the storm, after they all challenged Him to prove Himself…probably desperate and hopeless in His humanity…and this man accepts Him and calls Him Lord, as a final act of reverence. Well, as a man, it’s no wonder why Christ said, “I say to you, this day you shall be with Me in paradise”! But this doesn’t just apply to this man. Indeed it applies to many. Such as people who have been lukewarm but on their deathbed, under the Holy Spirit’s influence, believes in Jesus and offers Himself. Surely God will not forget this man or leave Him. But we shouldn’t take for this reason, a way of saying that whoever simply ‘believes’ in Jesus are saved. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Here, Christ plainly says that belief in Him isn’t enough. It must be understood in the context that He established His church on the rock of Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome, and held the ‘keys to the kingdom’. And this Church, as history is certain, is the Roman Catholic Church, which became the official religion of Rome when an apparition of Christ bid Constantine, the emperor, “Conquer in My Name.” This is the Church that has spread throughout the world, and is guided under the Holy Spirit in the fullest sense, while Protestants reject certain and other doctrines for their own, while still holding to some basic truth.
And say in the case of a stillborn child whom the parents intended on baptizing; or unborn babies who were the victims of abortion. This problem goes with the teaching of Augustine that anyone not baptized won’t be saved, and hand in hand with the teaching, ‘No salvation outside the Church.’ But surely, we can’t say that this unborn child has no right to enter Heaven, can we?! God alone is the judge of every soul, and such a soul, though marked by original sin, must be saved through the merits of Jesus and His Church, atleast I think it so, because God is Love, and Jesus “loved” the children.
But back to the issue of faith vs works, this verse from the letter of James, Ch 2:14-19 pretty rightly sums up the whole ordeal of faith alone:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Well, demonstrate your faith to me and I will demonstrate my faith to you by my works. You believe that God is one. Shudder~even the demons know such."
The theme of these verses is the relationship of faith and works, as mutual partners in the whole teaching of Christ. The arguement by protestants, however, is that the teaching here contradicts that of Paul, particularly in Romans 4:5-6. The problem can only be understood if the different viewpoints of the two authors are seen. Paul argues against those who claim to participate in God’s salvation because of their good deeds as well as because the have committed themselves to trust in God through Christ Jesus (Pauls concept of faith). Paul certainly understood, however much it may be argued, the implications of true faith for a life of love and generosity, especially in Galatians 5:6.13-15:
“For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love”…“For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.”…James is well aware, though, that proper conduct and good works can only come about with an authentic committment to God in faith, but also well aware that faith alone is not the end of it. Many think he was in fact seeking to correct any misunderstandings of Paul’s view.
Therefore, it’s clear that faith and works are necessary. But in grave situations, faith (or even, God’s mercy) alone can be enough according to God’s providence and merciful love. I hoped this helped somewhat. God Bless.
