[jo kus]

We do good works because we have been created in Christ by grace through faith. Grace and faith are gifts from God, not the result of good works, lest anyone should boast. You must be able to do better than that in arguing for a works based grace

Love, just like faith, comes from God as a gift. It is false to say that faith generates love. Love, just as faith, is a theological virtue, a gift of the Life of God Himself within us.

Paul and James tells us that faith without love is dead or useless. Thus, faith alone CANNOT be salvific.

Regards

[kosta50]

Paul and James tells us that faith without love is dead or useless. Thus, faith alone CANNOT be salvific

How true! Mercy and compassion and humility are "works" of faith. Christanity void humility, mercy, love and faith is a bad imitation.

Those who are "saved" in the Protestant sense, should be Christ-like in every way. Somehow I fail to see that. At least we in the Catholic and Orthodox community feel that we must struggle to become Christ-like as much as possible and that salvation is not something handed to us on a silver platter.

[jo kus]

I said : Paul and James tells us that faith without love is dead or useless. Thus, faith alone CANNOT be salvific.

Sorry, Blue, I should qualify that my definition of "salvation" is probably different then yours. I am talking about salvation to heaven, while you are likely speaking about the moment of an individual's regeneration in Christ. If I am correct in this assumption, then if you said "faith alone justifies", then I'd think we'd be much closer - since that initial justification is a moment brought about by faith freely given and freely accepted by man and is not merited.

Regards