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Post by James O'Brien on Nov 5, 2021 17:27:51 GMT
How can one be saved by doing works? Ephesians 2:8-9 says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
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Post by CathApol on Nov 7, 2021 20:01:38 GMT
Hello James, thanks for the post! The context of this passage, as is true with most verses that adherents to sola gratia popularly cite, is about works of the law (see verse 11, the subject being circumcision). The fact of the matter is Catholics do not reject a proper understanding of sola gratia. Yes, it IS by Grace that we are saved! The problem comes into play when sola fide (faith alone) is thrown into the mix. Again, yes, it is faith which justifies - but that faith is never alone! As St. James put it, (in the ONLY place in Scripture where the words "faith" and "alone" are used together) faith without works is dead! To be a true, saving faith, it MUST have works accompanying it!
James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
So, by the same token that works alone (solus operatur) cannot save, faith alone (sola fide) cannot save you. Yes, you have been saved by grace through faith, but that faith which saves is never an alone faith.
AMDG,
Scott<<<
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Post by CathApol on May 3, 2022 2:54:53 GMT
I just need to emphasize, works do NOT save anyone! It is faith which justifies (saves) - but that faith MUST be accompanied by works - so in order for that faith to be salvific, it can never be an alone faith.
No works = no saving faith.
Scott<<<
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Post by CathApol on Jun 5, 2022 0:27:51 GMT
This topic was also the subject of the Scripture of the Week from my professor... I posted an article to Qui Locutus (click here). Be DOERS of the Word, not HEARERS only!  |
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