“but rather by grace alone to which men respond by faith and good works.”
The problem here is that you are being subtle to avoid contradicting yourself, since when you say “grace alone,” you mean, through baptism, and the sacraments, and obedience to the RCC, and prayer to the saints, which is really by man alone to receive grace, as it is a man who submits to them in order to receive it according to their merits. That certainly isn’t Paul’s or James’ position. James sums up the law by saying that we should, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well”(Jas 2:8). He enjoins us to no other obligations but the moral law only, though even this not with any expectation of perfection on our part to earn salvation, since he also says that just one sin makes us guilty of the whole law (James 2:10), which also destroys the Papist conception of various kinds of sins, since every sin is fatal. Hence the reason why we cling to Christ in faith, and this a living faith, though it is impossible to fulfill the whole law.
You also do not say “grace alone” to mean monergism, as Augustine does, who says that it is God who makes us believers, and thus we believe in God because He first chose us, and not the other way around.
“Read the opening paragraphs of Ephesians 2 again.”
Okay!
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
(Eph 2:1-5)
I see the Reformed doctrine of total depravity here. We, being dead in sin, could not believe until God quickened us by His Spirit, effectually saving us who had been by nature the children of wrath.
I like every bit of it!
I do.
if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)
Do penance, and be baptized every one of you (Acts Of Apostles 2:38)
You also do not say “grace alone” to mean monergism, as Augustine does
Yeah. That could be. I go by what the Holy Church teaches and not by modern inventions.
I see the Reformed doctrine of total depravity here (Eph . 2)
Predestination you see, because it is the Catholic doctrine. Where do you see "total depravity"?
I am going to bed. G'night.