[Cicero]

There's a bit of a problem here. Luther didn't say "sola gratia," he said "sola fide" (and also "sola scriptura"). "Sola fide" causes problems that "sola gratia" does not. The recent statement, "Catholics and Evangelicals Together" needed a kind of footnote on this very point of "sola fide."

The Council of Trent clearly states that without grace, no one can be saved. No one can earn salvation, and grace is gratuitous, not earned. But that wasn't quite what Luther said. The Council of Trent also said, in effect, in response to Luther, that faith without works is empty. Many Protestants actually agree, as in Milton's phrase in "Paradise Lost," "Faith and Faithful Works." But the basic position on which Luther stood goes beyond that to "sola fide," and that is a problem.

[wattsmag2]

A true Christian will show faith. But the false Christian may proclaim faith while his works or lack thereof proclaim otherwise.

A true Christian will show works. But the false Christian may show works which demonstrate no faith, or worse, an antithesis to faith.

If one has faith, one will have works.