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To: annalex

Exactly what good works worthy of eternal reward are possible outside of faith through Christ in His Word revealed in the canon of Scripture?


644 posted on 01/07/2010 10:19:31 PM PST by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Cvengr
Exactly what good works worthy of eternal reward are possible outside of faith through Christ in His Word revealed in the canon of Scripture?

None.

Faith AND works are required.

718 posted on 01/08/2010 6:32:52 AM PST by Petronski (In Germany they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist...)
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To: Cvengr
Exactly what good works worthy of eternal reward are possible outside of faith through Christ in His Word revealed in the canon of Scripture?

Thank you for this illuminating question. It is so good that I have two answers.

First, anything good comes from Christ. If the planets rotate on their orbits, that goodness comes from Christ too. From Him all good things come. When an Atheist, Jew, Muslim or pagan does something good, it is Christ working in him.

Second, was the faith effectively imparted to the good worker? Or is the good worker acting on the law written in his heart, the Natural Law but he does not know the faith?

The Gospel of Matthew explains that a good worker who clothed the naked and feed the hungry may not recognize Christ in the person he helps (Mt 25:37f). He may even be surprised to learn that it is Christ Whom he loved.

So we conclude that while no good work is possible without the grace of Christ, it is possible to not recognize the fact and still do good work. That is the second part of the answer.

849 posted on 01/08/2010 4:51:06 PM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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