Replies

Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Not of works. Why?

So no on can boast before God.

If you're going to depend on your ability to not sin and to do good works, then you can boast about how great you did, and it robs God of the glory for the work HE is doing in our lives.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The believe can't even take credit for the good works they do. It's GOD working in and through them to do them.

Did you not also read in Ephesians:

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Eph. 5:1-5)

Yes, salvation is by grace through faith. I do not earn salvation through my works; I receive it as a gift. This is Catholic teaching and we agree on this. But, as Paul points out, continuing in sin blocks us from the kingdom of God. Paul's teaching is here, as it is in Romans and Galatians. You cannot just ignore it because it does not match your man-made tradition of sola fide.

If you're going to depend on your ability to not sin and to do good works, then you can boast about how great you did, and it robs God of the glory for the work HE is doing in our lives.

I do not depend on my ability not to sin, but on God's grace working through me; and when I do sin, on his gracious forgiveness when I repent and turn back to him.

Paul continues in Philippians:

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (vss. 14-16)

Here Paul admits that if the Philippians do not maintain a blameless life, his efforts in preaching the Gospel to them could be in vain, i.e., their salvation could be jeopardized.

The believe can't even take credit for the good works they do. It's GOD working in and through them to do them.

Indeed, I do not take credit for my good works. They are the result of God's grace working through me. But if I were to turn away from God through my sins, it would be my fault.

Do you not see that you are pulling selected verses out of context and applying a meaning to them that is directly opposed to what Paul is preaching. You cannot just ignore what else he says because it does not fit in with the doctrine of sola fide