Are we saved through faith alone, or faith and works?
**Suggest using wordcounter.net to count the words in your response.**
CCC 153 - Faith is a gift from God
CCC 162 - Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man, and it can be lost
CCC 1254 - For all Baptized, faith must grow after baptism.
Response
You may have heard some people quoting Romans, “If you believe in Christ you will be saved”, and from the gospel of Mark, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved”. Many interpret this as we are saved by faith alone. We are taught that faith is a gift from God, and it can be lost. Our goal is to grow and strengthen our faith as to not lose it. When we are baptized, often as babies, we receive the gift of faith, but it must be developed. Our growth comes in the way of prayer, charity, and faith. This is our work. Thus we are saved by faith and works. We can then agree with St. James “As the body aprt from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
CCC 153 - Faith is a gift from God
CCC 162 - Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man, and it can be lost
CCC 1254 - For all Baptized, faith must grow after baptism.
Response
You may have heard some people quoting Romans, “If you believe in Christ you will be saved”, and from the gospel of Mark, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved”. Many interpret this as we are saved by faith alone. We are taught that faith is a gift from God, and it can be lost. Our goal is to grow and strengthen our faith as to not lose it. When we are baptized, often as babies, we receive the gift of faith, but it must be developed. Our growth comes in the way of prayer, charity, and faith. This is our work. Thus we are saved by faith and works. We can then agree with St. James “As the body aprt from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
Just trying this out to see if it works. More to come if it does!
ReplyDeleteJames Hamm
So the question is: If I just believe in Jesus alone, that he already to all the work for me — dying for me to save, then that should be enough, I don’t need to go to church on Sunday, to help the poor, etc., right?
ReplyDeleteMy answer is: Yes, we are saved by faith alone. Remember the sinner on the side of Jesus — (I assumed he did not do anything good all his life) he simply asked “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and Jesus said “today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:42-43). But be careful: faith without actions is not real faith. If we really believe, we will act. If we really believe in Jesus, we will love him or at least fear God. And if we love Jesus or fear God, we will do what Jesus taught us. The actions just come naturally with faith. We haven’t done much simply because we have a tiny faith.
What happen to people who never knew Jesus (having no faith) and never been baptized but they are good people and live their life morally, following the teaching of ... let's say Confusius?
ReplyDeleteI think I would make that my question for next week! :) I don't have the answer. Help me if you have any idea.
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