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Date Posted: 13:17:43 09/14/99 Tue
Author: Gabriel
Subject: Re: Faith + Works = Justification
In reply to: Rev. Sean 's message, "Re: Faith + Works = Justification" on 12:42:39 09/14/99 Tue

>
> > > Gabriel,
> > > While is was in school the other day, a girl said
> > that
> > > the Catholics believe in Justification through
> faith
> > > alone. I thought they believed in Justificaiton
> > > through F + W. Please clarify.
> > >
> > > Farewell,
> > > Ivan
> >
> > Well, "Ivan"...
> >
> > It all depends on the definition of faith. If a
> > Catholic takes faith to mean, "a trusting faith
> > working through charity through good works," then
> yes,
> > the Catholic can say that we are justified by this
> > faith. But this is not the classical Catholic
> > definition of faith, nor is it the faith that is most
> > often referred to in the Bible. The most important
> > thing to remember is that justification is a process.
> > The Bible makes this very clear: "He that is just,
> let
> > him be justified still" (Rev 22:11). As it is
> written:
> > "Be not afraid to be justified even to death" (Sirach
> > 18:22). We are justified by faith in God. And later,
> > we may be justified further through a good work as a
> > result of charity.
> >
> > Many Protestants say that justification stops at
> > faith, and that good works after conversion cannot
> > justify us, but only "sanctify" us. First of all, the
> > Bible makes it explicitly clear that we are justified
> > by our good works. James tells us: "You see then that
> > a man is justified by works, and not by
> > faith alone." (2:24). Paul commands Christians to
> > "work out your own salvation in fear and trembling."
> > He also makes it clear that good works are involved
> in
> > salvation when he notes that "God, 'who will render
> to
> > each one according to his deeds': eternal life to
> > those who in doing good seek glory, honor, and
> > immortality..." And also: "It is not the hearers of
> > the law that just in the sight of God, but the doers
> > of the law will be justified." After all, "...he who
> > sows of the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
> everlasting
> > life. And let us not grow weary while doing
> > good, for in due season we shall reap if we
> do
> > not lose heart." (Gal 6:8-9) And very
> > significantly: "Let them do good, that they be
> > rich in good works, ready to give, willing to
> > share, storing up for themselves a good foundation
> for
> > the time to come, that they may hold on eternal
> > life." And perhaps the most powerful words on the
> > subject are those of Christ Himself in Matthew
> > 25:31-46, where Christ tells a parable about 2 groups
> > of people, the sheeps and the goats, who both
> > recognize Christ as "Lord". The goats are sent to
> hell
> > because they did not do good for others. The sheeps
> > went to sternal life, because they had served God by
> > serving and doing good for others.
> >
> > Peace and prayer,
> > Gabriel
>
> Just to comment, would not having faith lead one to
> perform good works on one's own? It seems to me that
> performing good works is inherent in living in faith
> of God.

Yes, faith is the foundation of salvation. Our good works stream out of our faith. But we are justified before God by both faith and charity, not one or the other. They both work in unison to justify.

Do not exalt the virtue of Faith above that of Charity. Paul himself tells us that Charity is greater than Faith (1 Cor 13:13).

Peace and prayer,
Gabriel

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