Don't be silly. Can you not see that Paul is using "works" with two different meanings? He must be since in one passage he says that God will repay everyone according to his works and in another he says that we are not saved by works. In Romans 2 he defines works as either doing evil or doing good. Latter he uses works to denote circumcision and the Mosaic Law. This latter meaning is especially clear in Ephesians. There is no contradiction if you look beyond the mere word and look at it context.
If you think that the Romanist works were so necessary for salvation, wouldn’t Paul have mentioned them?
He did, in Romans 2. In Ephesians 5 he also clearly states that immorality will loose us our salvation.
In the same book Paul writes we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13-14. How can he give the assurance in one place and take it away in another. He’d be contradicting himself.
Did you read the entire post? Most of your current post has already been answered.
Nor does talking about immorality affect how we are justified. It can not contradict any of Paul’s other statements, and contorting Paul’s plain words to fit a doctrine that says the exact opposite of what his plain words say is, in my opinion, foolish.
Good works and faith go together. If good works don’t exist, faith doesn’t exist. But it’s still faith and not works that justifies.
I am so sick of how some Catholics just continually assume that we don’t preach good works, even if salvation comes through faith. Why is that?
Please explain how Paul could say Abraham - who lived 430 years BEFORE the Law of Moses - was justified by faith but we, who are here thousands of years AFTER the Law was given, are justified by our works?
Though Catholicism claims that works of the law are different than the good works that justify us, Paul clearly stated that "if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the Law." (Gal. 3:21) The Law of Moses was the perfect law, but rather than impart eternal life to those that obey it completely (though no one ever could) it was given to point us to Christ, it is our schoolmaster. In fact, those who insist obedience to the law merits our salvation, have set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! (Gal. 2:21).
We don't earn grace. If we did, it would not BE grace. So whether you say it is the works of the Law or the works of charity that we merit or deserve salvation - it's the same thing - you are setting aside God's grace and going about to establish your own righteousness. You WILL fail.
“In Ephesians 5 he also clearly states that immorality will loose us our salvation.”
No, Paul does not say this. You say it.
 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.' 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.' |