>And no, it is not by faith alone....”Even so faith if it has not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17And no, it is not by faith alone....”Even so faith if it has not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17<
This verse does not say works produce salvation.It says you have a dead faith if out of the gatitude for the grace God has shown you through salvation you do not produce works.Show me one sentance inthese verses that says works are neccesary for salvation rather than a evidence of salvation.
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
>It is the Catholic Church who interprets Scripture correctly.<
One question.Is salvation only available through the Catholic Church?
Well, we believe it is both faith, good works in Sanctifying Grace that are Necessary for Salvation
There are many examples for each. I just gave a sampling of “works”.
In the end, it is Jesus who says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven; BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” Matt 7:21.
Now how can anyone DO the will of the Father without doing Good Works?
And the Church Fathers are in agreement...
“Whoever dies in his sins, even if he profess to believe in Christ, does not truly believe in Him, and even if that which exists without works be called faith, such faith is dead in itself, as we read in the Epistle bearing the name of James.” Origen, Commentary on John, 19:6 (A.D. 232).
“And in like manner, the Gentiles by faith in Christ prepare for themselves eternal life through good works.” Hippolytus, Commentary on Proverbs (ante A.D. 235).
Our great hope is salvation, even I though unworthy and a pathetic sinner, has a chance. Pope Benedict has only repeated what the Church believes, it is the ark of our salvation because it has all truth.
“Such as these have no power against the ark; for holy Noah received a commission, according to the word of the Lord, to secure it; as the Lord said unto him, ‘Thou shalt pitch it within and without’; that he might thereby point out the semblance of the holy church of God, which has that efficacy of pitch which repells pernicious and destructive and serpent-like doctrines. For where is the smell of pitch, there the snake is unable to remain.” Epiphanius, Panarion, 51 (A.D. 377).
“For this, I know, is the rock on which the church is built! This is the house where alone the paschal lamb can be rightly eaten. This is the ark of Noah, and he who is not found in it shall perish when the flood prevails.” Jerome, To Pope Damasus [regn. A.D. 366-384], Epistle 15:2 (A.D. 377).