What are some of the reasons why there is a difference in Christianity of faith vs faith plus works.?

Answer 1

The problem with works as a measuring stick to get into Heaven, is what is the measuring stick? How much is enough? What if I accept Christ on my death bed?

The Bible states that works are the fruit of your faith, but is not required to get to Heaven.

Romans 3:27 states "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith."

Romans 4:5
Romans 9:32
Galatians 2:16 also state how it is by faith and not by works.

James 2:18 I think says it best. "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

God Bless.

Answer 2

There really is no difference.

Many non-Catholics believe -- erroneously -- that Catholicism teaches salvation by faith plus works.

It does not. Catholicism teaches that faith in Christ is what saves.

Catholicism holds that works are part of faith -- not something separate from it, which is what "faith plus works" would entail.

To say that salvation is "faith plus works" is sort of like saying that you can go from A to B with "a car plus an engine."

But, of course, we don't speak that way because we know that an engine is an integral part -- though not the only part -- of a car.

The New Testament -- the Letter of James specifically -- tells us that faith without works is dead, just as a body without a functioning heart is dead. The heart cannot be separated from the body -- if it is, then neither the body nor the heart itself can function.

So it is with faith. Like the body, it's a complex thing with different parts. One of those parts is works.

Protestants are correct in saying that "faith plus works" is not our way to salvation. But they are incorrect in attributing "faith plus works" to Catholicism.

They are also incorrect in asserting that works can be seen as something entirely separate from faith -- when, like the heart being a vital part of the body, works are one of those things (but not the only thing) that keep our faith alive.

Answer 3

One can have faith that Jesus Christ is his or her savior, and then sit on his or her behind for the rest of his or her life. That person is a believer who does nothing to glorify God or evangelize to others. It would seem that both the person who only has faith AND the person who has faith but also tells others of the Gospels and tries to live his or her life in a way that glorifies God would BOTH go to Heaven. I think (and this is just me, I have no idea if it's correct) that once both types of people are in Heaven, God would smile on the faith plus works person much more than the faith alone person. But I THINK that both would go to Heaven. What do the rest of you think?

Answer 4

Are you referring to the differences between the doctrines of salvation through faith vs salvation through faith AND works? The belief itself is simple. Salvation through faith alone means that you believe that it requires nothing more than faith in Jesus to achieve salvation and a personal relationship with Christ. Salvation through faith AND works requires that you not only have faith in God, but also do "good works" in order to keep your faith. This means that in the "faith alone" doctrine you never lose your salvation, in the "faith plus works" doctrine you can lose your salvation if you don't keep doing good things. The reasons for believing one doctrine or another are primarily based on scripture, particularly the complex topics addressed in James.

Answer 5

I can't tell if you are asking this because you don't know or you want to see how ppl answer, but a Christian who believe he/she only needs faith to obtain salvation is a Protestant. Catholics believe in faith and good works.

Is that what you're asking?

Answer 6

I'm not sure what your are asking but as a Christian we don't believe that you can get into heaven by works alone. Saying that, however, we believe that you should live a Christ-like life which would entail good works also.

Answer 7

Have a look at the life of St Francis of Asissi. Then get back to me.

there is a good movie on DVD about him, I think

Christianity is mostly corrupt.