Justification : Grace alone through faith alone
Sanctification: After justification , works are produced as a natural RESULT and fruit of faith . works do not save ( not by works lest anyone should boast) , but they are evidence of salvation after justification . (James 2:24)
By the way the statement is still not contradictory.
From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary:
1alone
adjective \ə-ˈlōn\
: without anyone or anything else : not involving or including anyone or anything else : separate from other people or things
: without people that you know or that usually are with you
: feeling unhappy because of being separated from other people
Full Definition of ALONE
1
: separated from others : isolated
2
: ** exclusive of anyone or anything else** : only
3
a : considered without reference to any other
Starwars,
Everyone of your alones always involves something else. How can it be faith alone, if grace is involved? How can it be faith alone, for the second faith produces works, it is no longer alone? Was Adam still alone the second Eve was produced from** his rib? **
Again, as I stated to you on another thread:
1.) A person can do works of charity, but without faith it will not save.
2.) Scripture is quite clear that a person can have faith (see below), but not perform works
(sola fide), and scripture is plain that that also does not save. By the way, since a person can have faith’ and not do works, it becomes quite clear that works are NOT A NATURAL result of faith, contrary to what you have stated. If they were, then EVERYONE who has faith would be doing works, and we know that that is not true.
From St. James:
Faith and Works.* 14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?i 15If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?j 17So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. 19You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20Do you want proof, you ignoramus,** that faith without works is useless?** 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?k 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. 23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.”l 24See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?m 26For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Notice, St. James is quite clear in verse 22 that without works, faith is incomplete. Is it still faith? Yes, but incomplete.
Justification is an ongoing event throughout our lives, not a one time, event as you seem to state.
In its 6th session, 7th chapter the Trent fathers proclaim what justification is:
Code:
This disposition or preparation is followed by justification itself, which is not only a remission of sins but also the sanctification and renewal of the inward man through the voluntary reception of the grace and gifts whereby an unjust man becomes just and from being an enemy becomes a friend that he may be an heir according to hope of life everlasting (Tit. 3:7). The cause of this justification are: the final cause is the glory of God and Christ and life everlasting; the efficient cause is the merciful God who washes and sanctifies (1 Cor. 6:11) gratuitously, signing and anointing with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13), the meritorious cause is His most beloved only begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when we were enemies (Rom. 5:10), for the exceeding charity wherewith he loved us (Eph. 2:4), merited for us justification by His most holy passion on the wood of the cross and made satisfaction for us to God the Father, the instrumental cause is the sacrament of baptism, which is the sacrament of faith, without which no man was ever justified finally, the single formal cause is the justice of God, not that by which He Himself is just, but that by which He makes us just, that, namely, with which we being endowed by Him, are renewed in the spirit of our mind (Eph. 4:23), and not only are we reputed but we are truly called and are just, receiving justice within us, each one according to his own measure, which the Holy Ghost distributes to everyone as He will (1 Cor. 12:11) and according to each ones disposition and cooperation.
** For faith, unless hope and charity be added to it, neither unites man perfectly with Christ nor makes him a living member of His body. For which reason it is most truly said that faith without works is dead (Jm 2:17, 20) and of no profit and in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith that worketh by charity (gal. 5:6, 6:15)**. This faith, conformably to Apostolic tradition, catechumens ask of the Church before the sacrament of baptism, when they ask for the faith that gives eternal life, which without hope and charity faith cannot give. Whence also they hear immediately the word of Christ: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
To be continued…
I am having trouble typing, there are tears in my eyes from all the laughter. Keep these quotes from Marty coming. He always makes me laugh hard! Is this quote like 50% of the time it works all the time?
