Posted on 03/08/2011 10:19:18 AM PST by NYer
Protestants say we’re saved by faith. Some Catholics say we’re saved by good works.
What does the Bible say?
This Sunday’s readings* are clear — it’s neither. And it’s both. At the very same time.
First, let’s define our terms. When St. Paul says “works” don’t save us, he is really referring to two things. First of all, he is speaking about the “works” of the Mosaic Law, which include everything from keeping dietary regulations to observing the Ten Commandments. Secondly, he means good actions performed by willpower, without any particular help from God. Paul had thought that rigorous observance of the Law, carrying out its prescribed works, was the key to making a person right with God. But his attempts to observe the law met with frustration (see Romans 7:15-24). The Law made him aware of God’s will but did not enable him to carry it out. “I cannot even understand my own actions. I do not do what I want to do but what I hate … what a wretched man I am!” His attempts at outward observance didn’t change his heart. In fact his heart was so far from God that he cruelly persecuted the followers of Jesus, looking on in approval as St. Stephen was stoned to death.
In Romans 3:23 St. Paul lays it out: We have all sinned seriously. None of us, on our own steam and by our own merits, can ever do enough to earn God’s favor. So God has fixed the problem — he gives us his favor as a free, undeserved gift in response to the sacrifice of Jesus, His son. We become pleasing to him, reconciled to him, not by our own efforts but by the cross of Christ. We receive this gift through the act of faith. So we are saved by faith, not by the works — at least not by the works of the Mosaic Law, done by our own strength.
So the faith camp wins? Not so fast. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible means by faith.
Many people think that faith is belief. Belief that God exists … that Jesus is the son of God … that Jesus rose from the dead. Intellectual assent to all these truths is of course important, and is an indispensable part of the act of faith. Such belief often leads to religious actions — the hanging of crucifixes in our home, the wearing of medals, the recitation of prayers. These acts of piety are also good.
But Sunday’s Gospel says that mere belief and acts of piety are not enough to save us. Those rejected by God in Matt 7:21-23 clearly “believed” in Jesus; in fact, they prophesied and worked miracles in Jesus’ name. Perhaps they also said novenas in his name. But he said to them “out of my sight, you evil doers.” One of the strongest lines in the gospels provides an explanation: “None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Biblical faith is not just belief. It is surrender. It is a complete entrusting of oneself to God in Christ and acceptance of his power, his will, and his plan. If we truly say yes to Him and let his grace into our hearts, we’ll never be the same. His love begins to work through us and change our lives. His Spirit takes up residence within us, giving us the strength to do what we could never do on our own, even to begin to love like He loves.
So true biblical faith is not passive. It is active, dynamic and alive. That’s why St. James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:24-26). Abraham believed that an unknown God was calling him to leave civilization and march into the desert to find a land that this God has promised him. Abraham did not sit and contemplate this call or set up a shrine to this God. He got up and began walking (Genesis 12).
So we are justified by faith, if we mean the authentic biblical faith that causes us to walk in God’s ways. And we are justified by works, if we mean the works of charity that can only flow from faith and grace.
So really, it’s not faith vs. works. It’s faith that works.
Catholic ping!
Good post. Thanks, Nyer.
I have one question though. The article says this:
“Secondly, he means good actions performed by willpower, without any particular help from God.”
Does not all good come from God?
“So we are justified by faith, if we mean the authentic biblical faith that causes us to walk in God’s ways. And we are justified by works, if we mean the works of charity that can only flow from faith and grace.”
Amen!
The good works of following Christ are real faith in action, the faith that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Both.
As noted by James, faith without works is dead. A living active faith, as described in Romans in the example of Abraham, is required of the Lord’s people.
Correct! Justified ONCE by faith, sanctified throughout life. Works are the evidence of true saving faith, of a regenerated heart.
I have always understood faith to be a verb.
The Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
One can take this to mean worldly gifts, but is the heavenly gift that saves, that is the gift of faith.
So, the one to whom much faith has been given, much action is expected.
Show me a reference versus for that, please.
If you can be saved by works, then what was the point of the crucifixion and resurrection?
EXACTLY!! Christ is sufficient or He’s not. Of course He is. Only God’s sacrifice can pay the penalty of sin. Nothing else.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
The thief on the cross had no works. He simply acknowledged the Lord, his own sinful condition and asked for mercy in his own way.
Deathbed conversions have no works, yet if they are repentant and place their trust in Jesus, they are saved.
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
When Paul talks of Faith, it's implied that it's a trusting faith. Paul exhorts us to do good works, yet he doesn't place his faith in those works. In fact, Paul places his faith in Christ to do good works though us.
In Roman's 7 & 8 Paul talks openly about still struggling with his old nature as a Christian, yet he concludes in Roman's 8 that nothing, not even anything in this life or death, can separate us from the love of God.
James also is focused on faith. He starts out in James 1 talking about faith and increasing faith. However, James has people in his church saying, "I believe" but James isn't seeing it in their lifestyles. And in Chapter 2, James starts questioning their faith. James equates such faith to mere mental assent saying "even the demons believe". James knows that true faith eventually produces works and says "I will show you my faith by my works."
One of the spiritual diagnostic questions I was taught as a youth is to ask, "If you died and God met you at the gates to heaven and asked 'why should I allow you into my heaven', what would you answer?"
I've asked this of enough Catholics (I'm Southern Baptist) to know their response is likely to be "I hope I've been good enough." And that is the WRONG answer.
The right answer is "because your Son paid the price for my sins." Catholics know this, and when you remind them, they invariably, say, "Yeah, that makes sense." But it seems to me that the way they answer indicates they lose sight of that and don't have the confidence in their salvation that they were meant to have.
It's certainly not wrong to have a focus on good works, we should be about our Father's business. But our faith for salvation should be in what Jesus did. And because of that faith, the fruit of the spirit should be growing in our lives, we should be ever more prepared to do good works, and we should eventually see a harvest.
I believe he’s referencing Phillipians 2:12. Reading that verse in context, however, shows it is referring to the sanctification process rather than the justification. The verse is addressing those who are already members of the body of Christ through faith in Him. The “working out” is a reference to the sanctification process, not being justified before God (which Christ provided for on the cross) and has already occurred. One cannot “work” enough to earn God’s favor.
35‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’41“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Great post. Another great verse “For it is by grace you are saved and not of yourselves lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8. Such verses are all over the NT with the emphasis on salvation by grace and faith, not works.
Jesus said...’if you have faith the size of a mustard seed...”
I agree with JLLH. That was a fantastic post. Thanks, DannyTN
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