[NYer]

* This originally appeared as a reflection on the Sunday readings for the 9th Sunday in ordinary time, cycle A (Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32/Rom 3:21-25, 28/Mt 7:21-27).

[NYer]

Catholic ping!

[fish hawk]

Leave it to a #%&^* PHD to complicate the obvious.

[WPaCon]

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?

[svcw]

I believe Jesus is sufficient and does not need my help for my Salvation. He paid the ultimate on the Cross, the work was done there.

[pallis]

“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.

[Jedidah]

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.

[Jvette]

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.

[SquarePants]

If you can be saved by works, then what was the point of the crucifixion and resurrection?

[DannyTN]

It's faith that saves not works. However true faith eventually produces works.

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.

[fso301]

I think Protestants will say evidence of faith will manifest itself in among other things, works:

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.”

[April Lexington]

Jesus said...’if you have faith the size of a mustard seed...”

[Bruinator]

There were two Christians standing at the gates of Heaven. One a Baptist, the other a Catholic. When asked why they should be allowed in Heaven, they both stated that they believed Jesus died on the Cross for thier sins and tried to live their lives with the atonement of Christ in mind. Both were faithful. The gates opened to the Baptist and he was allowed to enter. When the Catholic asked why he wasn’t given entry to Heaven immediately, he was told that there are some things they need to discuss. 1)Why did he believe that those who soley believe that Jesus died on the Cross for their sins were not worthy? (Judgemental) 2) Explain the Mary issue and why such reverance (Idol Worship) to someone other than the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit? 3) Why pray to the Saints when I AM the way to heaven?

See how silly this argument can be? I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for my sins and the sins of man. This is stated as justification in the bible. I cannot get to the Father without this basic truth. That truth drives my actions and draws me to charity and other “works.” Those works alone will not get me to Heaven.

[Judges Gone Wild]

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

We are justified (declared righteous) by God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) Men will declare us righteous when they see our good works. God knows who his sheep are. (John 10:4-5, 14) How will men know, unless we do good?

[ex-snook]

Whatever. I’m going with Faith and Works. Faith gives us the grace to do good works. “Blessed are they who .....[do something to enhance the kingdom of God] for theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven]

[Augustinian monk]

I’m confused. I thought catholics weren’t “saved” until St. Peter let them in? Is this author’s opinion in line with Rome and the C of the CC?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

So, to get that mansion in the sky Jesus paid the down payment on the cross, and then requires us to pay the rest of Mortgage off!

I like the old hymn that says...

Jesus paid it all,
All to HIM I owe.
Sin has left a crimson stain,
He washes white as snow.

[HarleyD]

Wow!!!! A Catholic article I actually agree with. I’m glad this isn’t a Caucus thread so I can say that. :O)

[Jim Noble]

Faith is a work

[mlizzy]

St. Bernadette, to whom Mary ("I am The Immaculate Conception") appeared to in Lourdes, said:

"They think I'm a saint... When I'm dead, they'll come and touch holy pictures and rosaries to me, and all the while I'll be getting broiled on a grill in purgatory. At least promise me you'll pray a lot for the repose of my soul." --Bernadette Speaks / Song of Bernadette

After viewing "Song of Bernadette" several times, I can say that if ever there was a woman that didn't need to concern herself regarding her soul's final resting place, it would be Bernadette Soubirous. And yet, even she requested prayers.

St. Bernadette, please pray for us!

(Wishing everyone a good and productive Lenten season.)