www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology faith vs works

If anyone is interested, or has difficulty understanding the faith vs works concept(s), I've stumbled across this incredible site!!!!

http://fatheralexander.org/page22.htm
just click on the works or faith? link.

It's great for other stuff, too.

+ Peace,
V

Have seen it before but lost the link, thanks.

V,

I have to thank you for posting this link. I read the Epistle of James just a few days ago. It must have been a first in my life, since I don't remember reading those words before.

I thought at the time that Chapter 2 was a direct contradiction of Galatians Chapter 5, leaving me a little more confused than my normal state of mind.

The link to the works/faith article answered my question.

Thanks again,
Sam

This is one of the problems in the Protestant circle. Sola fide and Sola Scriptura. I couldn't find the link for sola fide... where can i find it?

Actually, Fr. Alexander's comments on the faith and works questions is not fully accurate. Roman Catholics believe that a person is not save by his own works or the merit of their works. This is accomplished by justification which is an unmerited grace. Having received the grace of God, a person surrenders himself to God by faith and works that proceed from faith. It is primarily the movement of the Holy Spirit in the Christian. Yet it remains that a person live in faith, not just in the might and heart, but also in one's deeds.

Correction in my last post: Last Sentence:
"might and heart" should have been "mind and heart".

Here is a quote from the Council of Trent on the grace of justification:
Canon 1.
"If anyone says that man can be justified before God by his own works, whether done by his own natural powers or through the teaching of the law,without divine grace through Jesus Christ, let him be anathema.

It seems as though my friends dont see this. They just skip over james 2. God's word doesnt contradict itself, but they call Catholics semi pelegam

Speaking of Faith and Works, here is a Prayer of interest. In my Jordanville Prayer Book it starts on page 23. (Which is part of Morning Prayers)

Prayer VIII,
to our Lord Jesus Christ:

O my plenteously-merciful and all-merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ, through Thy great love Thou didst come down and become incarnate so that Thou mightest save all. And again, O Saviour, save me by Thy grace, I pray Thee. For if Thou shouldst save me for my works, this would not be grace or a gift, but rather a duty; yea, Thou Who art great in compassion and ineffable in mercy. For he that believeth in Me,Thou hast said, O my Christ, shall live and never see death. If, then, faith in Thee saveth the desperate, behold, I believe, save me, for Thou art my God and Creator. Let faith instead of works be imputed to me, O my God, for Thou wilt find no works which could justify me. But may my faith suffice imstead of all works, may it make me a partaker of Thine eternal glory. And let Satan not seize me and boast, O Word, that he hath torn me from Thy hand and fold. But whether I desire it or not, save me, O Christ my Saviour, forestall me quickly. quickly, for I perish. Thou art my God from my mother's womb. Vouchsafe me, O Lord, to love Thee now as fervently as I once loved sin itself, and also to work for Thee without idleness, diligently, as a I worked before for deceptive Satan. But supremely shall I work for Thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Dear Volodymir,

I skimmed through a few things, and I can't help but feel that there is a lack of objectivity in what he writes...so I really would not take his word as complete fact on too many things. But that's just me.

Zenovia

In an effort to distinguish their views from accepted Catholic teaching, many protestants have gone to the opposite extreme and reject the necessity of good works. That's what I grew up in. To be perfectly fair, there were some hispanic Catholics who lived nearby when I was young who actually believed they were working their way to heaven. At the time I didn't realize that their belief was a result of poor teaching not Catholic dogma.

Ryan