Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJB)Douay-Rheims Bible: But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,) And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus. That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; Not of works, that no man may glory.
When you in your self pride believe you can strive to obtain salvation by paying for your sins, you insult the riches of Hid Glory, for salvation, being cleansed from all sin before the law of sin and death which is covered by His precious blood IN HEAVEN, is the glory of God manifest. Your working to pay is as filthy rags before His Grace in Christ Jesus. Sorry, you will not change God's declaration to suit your Catholic mindset.
Which is worse? Having the self-pride to believe you can pay for your own sins (which we don't believe by the way). Or categorically declaring yourself forgiven so that you don't have to pay back anything at all?
Say I break a neighbor's window. He says that's ok, it happens. And I empty my piggy bank and given him $13.45 to pay for it. Does it pay for a window? No. Will the neighbor appreciate it? Likely yes.
Now instead, imagine he forgives me and I say "Great!" and go home and play video games while he cleans up broken glass.
I may be forgiven...but the window is still broken. An injustice has been done, and the *effects* of that injustice still remain.
Christianity without penance is vacuous.