I would suggest a restudy of Romans and Galatians
Romans 1:17-18: "Therefore the just shall live by faith. The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness."
Romans 3:28: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 4:5: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 10:9: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Romans 11:6: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
Romans 14:23: "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
Galatians 2:16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Galatians 2:21: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Galatians 3:1-3; 9-14; 21-25: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Receive ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ... So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture harh concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Galatians 5:4,5: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
This is important for Catholics to read because they do believe keeping the law is necessary for salvation ..
Because, first, faith is very important -- a sane person would not do the works of charity unless he had faith.
Says who? Do you have evidence of this?? Think of Ted Turner as a prime example..
Generally, works done out of a legal obligation, or for a reward in this life, e.g. social recogniton or salary -- do not contribute to salvation. That is waht St. Paul teaches in Romans and Galatians and that is what the Catholic Church teaches also.
Works done to earn your salvation have no credit... God is not mocked.. he is not for sale, the blood of Christ is not for sale, salvation does not go to the hardest worker or highest bidder...
Men can do NOTHING pleasing to God, so trying to offer works He sees as sin to purchase your salvation deserves what they get .. Hells fire..
The only works that please God are those he does through us, and those works flow from our salvation ..they do not earn it
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:4,5.
annalex, what do you plan on doing with your works of righteousness, giving God a bill? He owes you, nor any of us, NOTHING. No matter how nice you are to your neighbor. Or how you strive to keep the Commandments, or the Beatitudes. He owes you NOTHING for your efforts.
Amen! Those who insist that their salvation is dependent on their own “good works” in addition to faith in Christ only prove that they do not comprehend what grace means nor what kind of faith God requires for salvation.
In the post you are responding to, 1815 I said
The importance of faith for salvation is the major theme of two epistles, to the Romans and to the Galatians. None of the two -- nor any other scripture teaches that we are saved by faith ALONE. That latter part is the invention of Luther. Why do the Romans and Galatians focus on the role of faith? Because, first, faith is very important -- a sane person would not do the works of charity unless he had faith. The focus in Romans and Galatians is to correct the judaizing heresy that held that the obedience to Jewish Law -- circumcision and dietetic rules -- was a precondition to Christianity. So St. Paul stresses that in Christ there si no Jew or Greek -- we are Christians because we have faith in Christ. Circumcision has nothing to do with it. Generally, works done out of a legal obligation, or for a reward in this life, e.g. social recogniton or salary -- do not contribute to salvation. That is waht St. Paul teaches in Romans and Galatians and that is what the Catholic Church teaches also.
Now what, do you think, is in the several quotes from Romans and Galatians that teaches Faith Alone? What is in these quotes that you think I did not understand when I posted 1815?
Catholics [...] believe keeping the law is necessary for salvation ..
No we don't. We teach what the Letters to Romans and Galatians teach: that nothing in the Jewish Law or any other law, including the canonical law of our Church, is salvific in nature. Nothing that is done on obligation or for wages, or to gain social status is salvific. Here's the Catechism, prove me wrong: Catechism