My study of the Catholic faith states that the Catholic Church has never taught such a doctrine and, in fact, has constantly condemned the notion that men can earn or merit salvation. Catholic soteriology (salvation theology) is rooted in apostolic Tradition and Scripture and says that it is only by God’s grace—completely unmerited by works—that one is saved.
Read the rest of the article that you got the above quote from, and it’ll clearly describe “the second half of the justification equation” that Catholics claim that “Protestants either miss or ignore” ~ referring to “the necessity of grace and works”. The Council of Trent clearly affirmed that both faith and works were necessary for salvation.
Yes, you are correct....in James 2:24— it is about as plain as can be in telling us both that “faith alone” is insufficient for our justification, and that “works” are indeed necessary. Are we justified by faith? Certainly! By faith alone? No way! It’s both faith and works, according to Scripture.....seems I am always learning something new....thanks.
Is James referring to justification as that which replies to faith and salvation? It’s quite apparent that he is not. He is very specifically talking about justification before men. That is the error of miss reading the book of James in regards to works.
Sorry, I cannot understand your reasoning....
Obedience to God is essentially requisite to maintain faith. Faith lives, under God, by works; and works have their being and excellence from faith. Neither can subsist without the other, and this is the point which St. James labors to prove, in order to convince the Antinomians of his time that their faith was a delusion, and that the hopes built on it must needs perish....
It is about context. When Paul talks about his accomplishments as a Pharisee, he was not justifying himself before God, he was justify himself before men showing who he was, and his faith. James is doing the same thing here. He is not talking about works justifying ourselves before God, but showing that we are faithful before men. Justification has always been through the blood of Christ through the promise and three belief.
The question I have to answer personally relates to what the cost for saving me was. That cost was Christ, living a perfect life, taking my son up on himself, as though he were sinful dying for me, and rising from the dead. If that is the cost for me to be saved, there is absolutely nothing that I can do to add to that cost improve upon it, enhance it in any way.
The work or works that we must remain in are faith in Christ. Resting in the promise. Resting and the reality. Just like Abraham, the father of our faith, rested in the promise at the messiah would come and do for us and in us what we were unable to do in and for ourselves.
If our works or what is used to keep us in the faith and grow us in the faith, please explain that in relation to the context of John 15, where Christ talks about the vine, and the branches and fruit. Please explain it in relation to hell. You’re a human actions can somehow improve upon or enhance the work that Christ did for us.
