Subject: Do Jesus and Paul agree on salv by faith |
Bible Note: Nivlac5, "The problem with many denominations ie, Catholic, is that they insist unless you belong to that church and are doing its "works" then you are not demonstrating true works that are a result of true saving faith." Please provide documentation from Catholic Church documents that what you have asserted from is actual Catholic teaching? And to what specifically Catholic "works" are you referring? And are you using salvation as a synonym of justification? I think you are reading something into James that is not there. Paul and James are both speaking about faith as examplified by Abraham. The question is how one defines "saving faith". Is is mere intellectual assent or a "decision for Christ" or is it a "faith working in love" (Gal 5:6)? Things that have life move in some manner. That is why things that appear to be dead are often poked to see if they move. If they mover we know there is life. Otherwise we they are seen as dead. Living saving faith moves in loving works. That is what James is saying. Abraham's faith was certainly not static nor a mere intellectual asent nor a mere "decision" for God. Below is official Catholic teacjing on the subject. "CHAPTER VIII HOW THE GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION OF THE SINNER BY FAITH IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD But when the Apostle says that man is justified by faith and freely,[44] these words are to be understood in that sense in which the uninterrupted unanimity of the Catholic Church has held and expressed them, namely, that we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and root of all justification, without which it is impossible to please God[45] and to come to the fellowship of His sons; and we are therefore said to be justified gratuitously, because none of those things that precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification. For, if by grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the Apostle says, grace is no more grace.[46]" 30. Tit. 3:7. 31. See 1 Cor. 6:11. 32. Eph. 1:13f. 33. Rom. 5:10. 34. Eph. 2:4. 35. C.76, D.IV de cons. 36. Eph. 4:23. 37. See I Cor. 12:11. 38. Rom 5:5. 39. Cf. infra, chap. 10. 40. James 2:17, 20. 41. Gal 5:6, 6:15. 42. Matt. 19:17. 43. Luke 15:22; c.31, D.II de poenit. 44. Rom. 3:24; 5:1. 45. Heb. 11:6. 46. Rom. 11:6. The Council of Trent on Justification Emmaus |