My point was that NOWHERE in Scripture is the phrase, "you are not saved by faith alone", and that IS correct. Many times in these threads we are challenged by Roman Catholics to point out where Scripture says, "Scripture alone", or find the word "Bible", and so on. This was along those same lines. I know that James speaks of our faith being exhibited to others by our works and the question is asked, "Can his faith save him?", but this is speaking in context of a brother who is naked and hungry, in need, and we say, "Go and be filled...AKA, I'll pray for you". Can that help the brother in need or is our faith made fruitful by our deeds? Like I added, there are plenty of passages that make it clear we are NOT saved by the righteous deeds we do but we are clothed in Christ's righteousness and not our own and that is how we are saved. To others eyes, our faith is justified by our actions, but to God's eyes - who alone sees the heart - our faith is counted for righteousness.
People - and not just Catholics - try to squeeze out ALL those other clear verses and delegitimize them by tossing James 2:26 onto the pile like it's their trump card. Well, it's NOT. God doesn't contradict himself and we should read ALL of that passage to understand it and not cherry pick a sentence out of it that trashes the whole doctrine of justification by faith apart from works which the rest of Scripture upholds.
When people use "faith without works is dead" from James 2:26 to nullify the grace of God, it is misuse of Scripture, as well, because a "dead" faith is one that is unfruitful. A dead faith indicates that the new birth probably hasn't taken place and the person needs to examine himself to see if he is in the faith. But it is NOT saying works MUST accompany faith in order to save us. It is not saying that works HAVE to be added to faith or else WE are dead/going to hell. Like the Reformed formula says, “We are justified by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone.". A genuine faith WILL result in a changed life because the Holy Spirit now indwells us and we have a new spirit nature that hears the shepherd and follows Him, but our works have nothing to do with saving us. That cancels grace!
Which is used not to affirm that the faith that justifies is a faith that follows, (Jn. 10:27) but to support the fantasy that RCs actually manifest things which manifest regeneration while Protestant faith does not, despite the evidence to the contrary.
For rather than Rome actually preaching (if you can call their typical 10 minute droning sermonette "preaching") that souls are damned because of what they have done, not saved because of them, and must cast all their faith on the Lord Jesus to save them by His sinless shed blood, and that thus they will follow Him, as with a real complete God-given faith, which God sees before it acts and counts as righteousness;
Instead, while (disputably) allowing for "baptism by desire" in which the desire is counted for the act (thus faith without works being salvific) what Rome teaches is a system of salvation which fosters faith and codependence upon her, beginning with one becoming born again thru sprinkling, usually upon proxy faith as a morally insensible infant (who cannot fulfill the requirements for salvation), and ending with becoming good enough to enter Heaven, much thru her intercession.
Indeed. The grace of God gives you both faith and good works in which you "walk". Read the Holy Scripture with attention and you too will understand that you are saved by grace alone through both faith and works that are an integral part of your Catholic faith.
Amen, Amen and Amen!!