Eph 2 8-9
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.
And just now on another thread I was told that Catholics don't claim merit for anything.
This is so much Gorilla Dust! Read your Bible and pray!
How could One Separate their Actions from their Heart???
Thus if it is in Your Heart you will Live it in your life and while we are here in this world(flesh) living life means actions are a automatic result. Inaction actual requires a rejection of the heart.
Thanks Good Post and Truth!
God Bless
Regardless, I am concerned about a few of you because you spend so much time propagandizing Free Republic you can't possibly have time to get in your good works.
In response to the substance of the post:
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)
We are not saved by works, but the believers will show their faith by their works of love which will be a light to others.
In Church, out of Church, on the high ways, by ways, any where.
You may be the only Gospel some one will ever read.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
James 2:14-17 - What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
2 Timothy 3:17 - That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
James 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.
Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Romans 2:6-10 - Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Matthew 7:21-23 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
Titus 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
No propaganda here — just the truth.
James 2: 17-26 ...A stern warning from Saint James
17
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18
Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
19
You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.
20
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?
21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
22
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.
23
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.”
24
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25
And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
26
For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Error begets Error. If ive ever seen a more perfect explanation of the Roman church, I cant remember it.
All one has to do is look at Christ, and then look at the pomp, finery, wealth, violence including outright warfare, property, and political power of the Roman church to realize that they are the polar opposite of anything Christ ever lived.
Error begets Error.
Indeed it does ... just look at how Mary went from a young girl to a sinless birth to being assumed to heaven to being queen of heaven to "co-redemptrix"...
And here we have the fatal admission: Paul's diatribes are aimed at Biblical ritual, ceremonial, holidays, laws, and commandments. These had to be gotten out of the way so a new post-Biblical religion (with its own ritual, ceremonial, holidays, laws, and commandments) could take its place. Protestants and their demand for honesty and internal consistency have never gotten this point.
The goal never was to provide "free salvation" or any such thing but only to start a new religion.
The author is to be thanked for his honesty in admitting this.