Why "works" matter

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TommyWommy

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If I were to fall in a pit and get stuck, some person might be so kind as to throw me a rope. I did nothing to merit the rope. The kind person would not say to me, “First, sing me a song, or do an interesting dance. Then I will throw you the rope!” No, the kind person would simply throw it to me. That’s unmerited, free grace.

But, I’m still in the pit. Next, I must decide that the rope will hold me, and that grabing onto it is a good idea. That’s faith. I trust the rope.

Still, I have not yet exited the pit. Next, I must put my faith into action, grab onto the rope and use my muscles and the rope to climb out. That’s faith and works by grace. Only then can I exit the pit, look back down and say to the kind person, “Thank you for the rope! What a gift it was! I am saved from the pit!” It was a free gift, but I cooperated with it. That’s like adult baptism, confession and pennance, etc. Chances are good that I will fall into more pits and need that rope in the future, and need to do more “work” as well.

Now, what if I fell in the pit, but I was not able to grab the rope or even know that it is there because I was unconcious? Some kind person will (hopefully) be lowered into the pit, place me into a basket, raise me out, and nurse me back to health. There was still someone placing faith in the rope and doing the “work,” but on my behalf. Grace, faith and work is still necessary for me to be saved from the pit. That’s like infant baptism. Eventually, that infant will get older, fall into more pits, and will need to decide to grab the rope and do the work.

If I believe the rope will get me out, but I never grap hold and climb out, I’ll die in the pit. Faith without works is dead. The rope is the free gift of grace. No one deserves it or earns it.

Not a perfect analogy (as if there was such a thing), but it makes sense to me.
 
I too love your analogy, and will use it when my non-Catholics bring up the subject of works! 😉
 
This makes sense to me. As an engineering major, I like that fact that the outside person is doing physical work because the person is changing elevation in the gravitational field.
 
Good:thumbsup:

Here is a story about a man floating out on the ragging sea, begging God to save him.

God sent a helicopter, but the man did not make any effort “GOODWORK” to get himself onto the helicopter…

I have “FaithAlone” that God, himself will save me, said the man to himself and refused to get onto the helicopter…

God sent the man a boat, but that man still, without any effort “GOODWORK” did not get onto the boat, crying out to the people on the Boat “FaithAlone” in Him, will save me…

God still " Sending His GoodWorks" toward the man, sends Virgin Mary, to immediately miraculously send him onto dry land. The Man says to Virgin Mary: I am not Catholic.

Eventually the man drowned, Came before Jesus Christ, and was confused knowing his shameful end, arguing with the Lord said: All my life I and Faith Alone in you, and still you let me drown, I have a Wife and Children at Home, that need me, They to, I have taught to have “Faith Alone” in you Lord!

The Lord said: Yes, all your life you had “Faith Alone”, but never any “Good Works” you lived your life the way you wanted, in sin, thinking to yourself that Faith Alone in Me, is enough and how you lived in life, is how you died in life, without any Good Works to show, not even to save yourself from drowning.

Did I send you a helicopter, a boat, my own Mother to rescue you? Yes, Yes, cried out the manBut Lord, I was taught and believed that Faith Alone in you was enough!!!

Ufam Tobie
 
Works matter because our objective is to reclaim our perfect union with God, as how Adam and Eve were created. If we do not do as God does, then how can we be with God?
 
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