For anyone else objectively interested in truth, see this thread started by NYer and provided by Salvation on this thread. Then compare the quotes by Origen, Chrysostom, Jerome and Augustine there and on this thread.
Then the reasonable reader can see that the Fathers believed in the Catholic teaching that it's fath+works that justify, not works from the Law of Moses (which are the "works" the Fathers on this thread were refering to) but works that are in cooperation with the grace of God.
Then why do Catholic deny it's faith plus works?
Thank you for the link.
In summary the quoted fathers speak of how faith and works of righteousness cannot be separated; it is an interwoven cloth. Amazingly the reformers claimed the same.
What one must observe is what was the understanding of the fathers and even the reformers on the matter?
We have some Catholics who claim the works of good deeds and righteousness is of our own doing and such ‘part’ of our justification. The council of Orange struck that semi pelagian idea down.
Let’s check out what is said in scriptures.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night he got quite an education on the OT scriptures, the TaNaKh. Here’s the discourse:
John 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.(KJV)
Nicodemus was called “the teacher” of Israel yet he grasped for understanding Christ’s discourse. Why? It seems the teacher of Israel gained his understanding from the law of men and not God’s Law. Nicodemus should have known the following as Christ used exact images from this:
Ezekiel 36 King James Version (KJV)
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.(KJV)
Verse 25-27 above. Sounds familiar. The above and Psalm 51 and many others should have been on the mind of Nicodemus. Instead Nicodemus was engaged in cleaning plates, who or what not to touch etc.
How many “I dos” and “I wills” do we see in Ezekiel 36 above? All of which come from the mouth of YHWH.
Salvation, from the words of God, belongs to Him. He owns it and there is nothing in the “formula” we ‘do’. Because...
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)
We had nothing to do with our earthly conception (we can ask our parents about that); So we are born again of the Spirit and not a work of our hands.
In closing Paul has this to say reference our regeneration:
2 Corinthians 5 King James Version (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.(KJV)
Therefore, the righteousness the apostles and even the church fathers wrote about is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.