How do you go from a system of salvation by Grace, to a system of salvation by works?
You can't. But how is Catholicism a system of salvation by works?
You wrote:
“It is mystifying!”
The truth often is to some.
How do you go from a system of salvation by Grace, to a system of salvation by works?Who does that? These folks in the instant article are going from an incomplete system of salvation by "faith", to the true system of salvation by faith and works works in Our Lord as He instructed us!
The works of the church at the time of Martin Luther were in desperate need of reform... however the theology did not.
The concept of sola fide... or by faith alone... has some validity as the greatest commandment of the new covenant as discussed in Matthew 22:37
However that is not the entire story... Jesus expands on the new covenant with his followers to include the following ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ from Matthew 22:39 and continues with the exultation to ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ from John 13:34.
The Apostle Paul reinforces this concept in 1 Corinthians 13:13 by stating ‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’
Going back to the original Greek... the word for love is Agape... or God’s unconditional Love.
A practicing Catholic should accept the grace of God freely given through Christ’s death and embodied by his resurrection in order to that love to help bring about God’s Kingdom such that ‘Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.’ Matthew 6:10... the Lord’s Prayer is not a passive recitation... but a call to action amongst the faithful.
Any complete discussion of the doctrine of sola fide must include a reference to the term’s only inclusion in holy scripture... James 2:24
“See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
and finally James 2:26
“For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
We must have faith to accept God’s grace... but we absolutely must work to keep that light alive.
May God bless you and your service.
The only way is that you never accepted the 'free gift' in the first place...
I do not understand how anyone who truly understands the Reformation, and is a faithful student of the Bible, can convert (Cross the Tiber) to Roman Catholicism. I have been a minister for over 30 years, and have never been further aaway from that idea than I am now. It is mystifying!
How do you go from a system of salvation by Grace, to a system of salvation by works?
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Catholics take their teachings from the direct source (Jesus) and from the early Church elders (His disciples...who were the first Catholics, and who were the authors of the Bible). Since then, sects and those of “intellectual vanity” have tried to convince others they have the true knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Jesus, knowing human nature, knew this would happen someday. In time, however, people would eventually yearn for the Eucharist.
Perhaps what mystifies you is that people have free will to choose and wish to “come home”.
You might want to read Scott Hahn’s books on his faith journey. It will give you insight into why someone might convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. His love for God, his search for truth, and his painful journey are sincere and would satisfy your curiosity.