[Dr. Eckleburg]

Good works are the result of our regeneration by God, not the cause of it.

Scripture is clear that fallen man can do nothing God-pleasing. All his works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Romans 3:10-12, 23 -- "As it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

***Romans 7:18 -- "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not."

***Romans 8:5-8 -- "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

***1 Corinthians 2:14 -- "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."

*** John 3:18-21 -- "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

To say man accomplishes his own salvation by the piety of his works usurps the atonement of Jesus Christ and gives natural man an inherent righteousness he does not possess.

By Adam's fall, all men are equally condemned. Only God's grace saves anyone, ordained by Him from before the foundation of the world, according to His will alone through faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It's so much simpler than many would have it.

All of Him; none of us.

[annalex]

My post you are responding to says in part:

we all agree that works done mechanically, without conversion of the heart, are not salvific, works of charity that fortify faith are clearly commanded by Christ.

It is not pelagianusm. Indeed, as St. Paul indicates in many passages, good works are work of the divine grace within us.

The question is (1) are good works commanded, and the scriptural answer is yes (Luke 18:18 and on); and (2) are good works when prompted by faith contributing to salvation, and the scriptural answer is yes (Math 25).

Nothing in Paul contradicts that, and of course it can't because Paul is an apostle of Christ.

[Campion]

To say man accomplishes his own salvation by the piety of his works usurps the atonement of Jesus Christ and gives natural man an inherent righteousness he does not possess.

Glad to see you agree with the Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, canon #1.

[Romulus]

Scripture is clear that fallen man can do nothing God-pleasing.

At least I can hope this means you accept the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Merry Christmas.