Saved by Grace Alone "And/Or" Judge by my works?

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frankyfive

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I’m a recent revert trying to get a better understanding…Not sure how to pose this question…

If we repent then we are ‘Saved by God’s Grace’. Correct? But does that mean that we go to Heaven and live with God in eternal life…as equals? Or is there a ‘level’ of salvation we obtain through our works while we are alive?

I guess some my motivation for asking this is in my past, my non-Catholic friends have shared with me that ‘our works’ don’t matter at all, that if we just repent and believe in the Lord we are saved and God’s Grace leads us to His Kingdom in Heaven.

So what about our works? How does that play into our life after death? Are we still judged according to our works?
Not to make lite of things but what would my life in Heaven be like compared to that of let’s just say. St Francis of Assisi?

Thanks in advanced for any insight shared
 
Even the prots left this in the bible the the biggest arguement i have heard is that it is “not 100% a quality bible book we left in bc ML wasnt a huge fan”…

18 Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.

20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?

22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?

23 And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.

24 Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?

25 Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

So yes, the catholic understanding is there is a hierarchy in heaven. Though we know not the truest of judgements. In that while many will stab a guess at what we see of others works this may not be that which we percieve.

So as you may have been under a veil that the works done within you lot in life mean soemthing different than it appears to a mere human. And faith is a thing… One could have fear and do works but not love God with a true heart and anothers works may not compare but their love was true. We know not what God’s literal and exact judgement shall be.

The truth is not to get bogged down in legalism and to do your best to love God and do what you can to do His will.
 
I too have some difficulty with this. I have been doing some research and spoken to many people at my church and beyond. As a cradle catholic I was always taught “faith plus works” were needed for salvation. 50/50 and we were responsible for our own salvation. Seems the church’s position has shifted a little. (not a lot, but enough to make the understanding just a little different)

We are Justified or Saved by Christ through his life, death and resurrection. The gift of “Justification or Salvation” is a done deal. And the gift was freely given to all people.

Now our part comes in. We need to “accept” the gift by our faith (some would say baptism) and because of that acceptance we are given grace to live out a “good and holy” life (the works part). Our good works are a byproduct of the Grace God have given us taking root in our lives.

Does that make sense?

You can PM me for a email conversation I had with my pastor on this. My part is in black and his is in red. It might help
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I too have some difficulty with this. I have been doing some research and spoken to many people at my church and beyond. As a cradle catholic I was always taught “faith plus works” were needed for salvation. 50/50 and we were responsible for our own salvation. Seems the church’s position has shifted a little. (not a lot, but enough to make the understanding just a little different)

We are Justified or Saved by Christ through his life, death and resurrection. The gift of “Justification or Salvation” is a done deal. And the gift was freely given to all people.

Now our part comes in. We need to “accept” the gift by our faith (some would say baptism) and because of that acceptance we are given grace to live out a “good and holy” life (the works part). Our good works are a byproduct of the Grace God have given us taking root in our lives.

Does that make sense?

You can PM me for a email conversation I had with my pastor on this. My part is in black and his is in red. It might help
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Right. Plus, see, works are the visible outward sign of our faith. Not only that, but the performance of works done in love increases the faith of the one performing the works and those seeing the works both inside and outside the community of believers. But no, the Church has never taught that we can/have to “work our way into Heaven”. That teaching is purely heretical - it belongs to the Pelagian heresy. If we could work our way into Heaven, we would have no need of a Savior.
 
powerofk said:
Right. Plus, see, works are the visible outward sign of our faith. Not only that, but the performance of works done in love increases the faith of the one performing the works and those seeing the works both inside and outside the community of believers. But no, the Church has never taught that we can/have to “work our way into Heaven”. That teaching is purely heretical - it belongs to the Pelagian heresy. If we could work our way into Heaven, we would have no need of a Savior.
Click to expand...
I look as it as God has done his part and now the ball is in our court. We must do something or the “Gift” is worthless.

We can however “work out way to hell”
 
do you think if you go to purgatory you will be able to perform works or are you restricted in a way
 
celtspirit said:
do you think if you go to purgatory you will be able to perform works or are you restricted in a way
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If we make it to purgatory, we will finally make it to heaven. You can’t go to hell from there. Purgatory is a “time”. You can do nothing to help yourself in purgatory but people on earth can pray for you or earn indulgences on your behalf to “shorten your time”.

(I know “time” won’t matter than but I lack a better word)
 
I think what you are saying is once you die you are no longer able to perform work of any kind therefore youre to late and will have missed your chance
 
celtspirit said:
I think what you are saying is once you die you are no longer able to perform work of any kind therefore youre to late and will have missed your chance
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Yes, but others can do prayer and works for you and no matter what you will make it to heaven. So not really “missed your chance”. The souls in purgatory are the “church suffering” in the communion of saints. They will be saints someday.
 
who knows what purgatory is really like

no one has come back to earth from there

I don’t know if many people have even heard or believe in such a place
 
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