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"It’s either/or, it can’t be both."

Where in Scripture does it say that?

Allow me:

Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

"Allow me:"

The premise posed by Metmom was that Salvation was based upon either faith or by works. Grace, as the subject of Romans 11:6, was not a part of that discussion. I would suggest you read James 2, especially versus 14 through 26 where a better discussion of the relationship between Faith, works and grace is discussed.

Then reflect on the meaning of I Corinthians 13:2:

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

"It’s either/or, it can’t be both."

Where in Scripture does it say that?

Allow me: Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

* * * * * * *

Seriously, boatbums, I know of NO Catholic who would in any way argue with that text. But what does it say? It is like saying your house is based on a foundation. The walls, floors, windows, doors, etc., are NOT the foundation, but they are part of the house, BASED ON that foundation. If all you have is the base or foundation, you do not have a house. To make a "house", you must accept the Grace God has given you, and then God expects YOU to do something with that Grace He freely gave you, that is, to freely cooperate with God and God's will in your own voluntary genuine response.

When Jesus says the following in Matthew 25:31-46, do you think he is judging these folks merely on "Grace", or is he judging them also on what they went on to freely choose to do with the Grace he freely provided them in an ongoing way in their future after receiving that Grace?

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked 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 thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Matthew 25:31-46 (RSV-CE)

I've heard some people claim that the response of Jesus to the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus proves he (the thief) was not required to do anything with the base/foundation of faith and grace given him by God, but the truth is, he accepted that Grace, and he played a very small part, but helped to make a short but very eloquent statement, which the Holy Spirit saw fit to have included in the Holy Written Word of God, and it has provided input to countless Christian books and sermons ever since. Without realizing it, that thief also became a Christian songwriter during his brief time on the cross, composing the lyrics to a very popular current Christian hymn, "Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom...". This tiny, little (but lasting) action and short but eloquent witness and public testimony (he even preached a short sermon to his fellow criminal on the other cross from his own cross), were more than most of us will ever do, and he has been, and will be remembered here on earth far longer than most of us or our actions will. He accepted God's freely given Grace, and then, to the best of his ability, went on to do the will of God (involving works) in the very brief time he had left.

We certainly need God's Grace in order to be saved, and we certainly cannot save ourselves, (and no Catholics I know think they can) but we CAN LOSE ourselves and our salvation by our free choices and activities or inactivities, as Jesus plainly said. Jesus did not lie.

The only way we know that we've truly accepted God's free gift of grace, and God's free gift of faith, and God's free gift of salvation, and that we truly know Jesus, is by keeping his commandments. If we don't keep his commandments but claim we know Jesus, we are lying. (See what the Bible says about it)

And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4

Think of that -- anyone who claims they know Jesus, but then disobeys his commandments, is a liar (according to the Bible), and you know who the father of all lies is, and whose side those liars are on, until they repent and start keeping those commandments and doing those works Jesus instructed all of us to do.

You can't just look at some selected texts in the Bible, and not all the others. You have to look at ALL of them, and it takes great discernment to perceive the whole picture. The Church founded by Jesus Christ performs the overseeing teaching authority function for that discernment best, with authority given from God, under the infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against his Church, just as Jesus Christ solemnly promised.

(I have to relinquish the computer again right now. Will try to check back later or tomorrow for any reply.)