“We are said to be justified by grace because nothing that precedes justification, whether faith or works, merits the grace of justification. For ‘if it is by grace, it is no longer by works; otherwise,’ as the apostle says, ‘grace is no more grace’ [Rom. 11:6]” (Decree on Justification 8)."
This is a convoluted statement since according to the Scriptures it is taught that
by/through faith God justifies. Hence, faith must precede grace. Paul’s logic, “For 'if it is by grace, it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace,” has to do with grace vs. works. Not grace vs. faith.
In terms of initial justification, we should be in agreement, Moondweller.
In Divine revelation there’s no such thing as “
initial” justification. The divine act of justification, through faith in Christ, is stated as a once for all accomplished FACT:Rom 3:22-24 “…
even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all sinned (in Adam) and (continually) fall short of the glory of God,
being justified
as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
Rom. 3:26-27 “…so that
He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law?
Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified
by faith apart from works of law.”
Rom 3:29-30 “Or is God {the God} of Jews only? Is He not {the God} of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”
God’s grace alone is responsible.
Yes, through/by FAITH.
It might be helpful to consider the Catholic position that in most areas where St. Paul talks of works, he means works of the law (circumcision and/or following the regulations).
But you need to consider that the ONLY works ever prescribed by God to man, after the fall in the Garden, was in covenant form, and that covenant was the conditional Law of Moses made with national Israel at Mt. Sinai. This covenant of works was not made with the Gentiles. Gentiles were never required to do the works of that Law. It was a covenant made with national Israel only.
But the Biblical doctrine of righteousness based on faith alone predates the Law of Moses by 430 years. That’s why as the basis for his argument of justification by/through faith alone, Paul goes back to Abraham, not Moses. Abraham was justified by God through faith alone over 400 years before God made the covenant of works with national Israel. IOW, justification by/through faith was revealed longed before the Law appeared (which included the Decalogue). Therefore Paul puts the Law in right perspective to “
{the} faith” and divine justification which comes through it, when he writes:Gal 3:23-26 "But
before faith came, we (
Israel/Jews) were
kept in custody under law (
in covenant form),
being shut up to the faith (definite article) which was later to be revealed. Therefore
the Law has become our tutor {to lead us} to Christ,
so that we may be justified by faith. But now that
faith has come we are no longer under a tutor.
For you are all (
both Jews and Gentiles)
sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."And he writes:Gal 3:29 "And if you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham’s descendants,
heirs according to promise."You see, Abraham, way back in in Gen. 15:6, believed God’s promise. FAITH is connected to PROMISE, not works. That’s why Paul wrote to the Roman church:Rom 4:5 "But to the one who
does not work,
but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited [to him} as righteousness,"Paul’s doctrinal argument against works is not restricted to works of the Law of Moses, but works, period. Because, like Abraham, men are justified “
by faith” alone. The purpose of the Law, which came much later, was to tutor those under it (Israel) to Christ, that they may be justified “
by faith” in the divine promise of eternal life through the Person and sacrificial work of the incarnate Son.
With Christ “
the faith” (
definite article) has now come. And men are to now believe in Christ alone for the promise of eternal life (Jn. 3:14-18). Paul writesRom 4:16 “For this reason {it is}
by faith, in order that {it may be}
in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be
guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law (
Jews), but also to those who are
of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (
believing Jews and Gentiles).Abraham, who lived over 400 years before the covenant of Law, is called the father of all Jews and Gentiles who, like him, God credited it (
their faith) to them as righteousness (Rom. 4:3, 5). Which is what “
justification” means.
There is/was no other work than that which was prescribed in the Law of Moses. But the Law ended with Christ (Rom. 10:4). What remains, since the coming of Messiah (
to Whom the Law pointed) is faith,
alone - like our father Abraham.
Paul’s argument for justification by/through faith alone goes back to Abraham, not Moses.
