Catholics believe faith and deeds are needed for salvation while Protestants say ONLY faith is needed ?

Question

The BATTLE between JAMES and PAUL

You would think Christianity would give a clear guidance on this incredibly important foundation of faith !!



Man is justified by faith alone
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Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

ROM 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

ROM 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:21
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ROM 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

GAL 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

GAL 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that crucified/hangeth on a tree

GAL 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.

Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . not of works."

Ephesians 2:5
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

2 Timothy 1:9
who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Titus 3:7
so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.








Man is NOT justified by faith alone
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James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?,

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Rom 2:13(For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.


James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."


ECC 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.


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Answer 1

Have faith in yourself

Answer 2

Paul was a Pharisee, they were a sect that believed greatly in righteousness and purity. However in general they did not think things like prayer, reading the scriptures, or eating certain foods made someone pure. Those things may have all been good things, but they were not sufficient to guarantee you a trip to heaven. Remember even Jesus said that to go to heaven you had to be better then the teachers of the Law. Works are very necessary, but without faith they are nothing but good deeds.

Both James and Paul are right and they agree 100%.

"Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law" Romans 3:31

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" Romans 6:18

Paul never says that works (or righteousness, as he calls it) is unnecessary. Works are very necessary in a Christian life. However works alone do not earn your salvation. Salvation is only from God's grace - a gift that we do not deserve and cannot earn.

Answer 3

The problem that the legalist James had is that he did not understand what the Holy Spirit does to those who trust God. He was used to the works of the Law of Moses and probably never grew out of it. Poor James! So I'm glad that people are finally seeing a difference between Paul's message and James' error. But there are many more that I have met that lean towards James, some without realizing it. The proof that James was both influential and legalist can be found in Acts 15. Peter was the only one who got it right. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Answer 4

Did the apostle Paul teach justification by faith alone?

Why didn't he use the specific phrase in his New Testament writings?

A thorough study of his epistles reveals he used the word "faith" over 200 times.....but not once did he couple them with "alone" or "only".

Paul used the word "alone" more than any New Testament writer. Even while Paul was teaching the nature of justification, he was aware of the word "alone" and its qualifying properties.

Although the Holy Spirit prohibited Paul from using "faith alone", he intentionally allowed James to make a clear and forceful point by inspiring him with the words;

"man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:24)

Paul's use of the word "faith" with theological meaning and implications that absolutely preclude it with being coupled with the word "alone".

Scripture written by Paul was this God-given wisdom which prevented him from joining the word "alone" with "faith".

Answer 5

The difference is subtle, yet Paul writes often about the faith that brings justification with God the Father, i.e. salvation. This is a one time event, based soley on faith, not our works.

Once saved, you live by faith. James speaks more to this faith, where good deeds are vital to a faith that is alive, and a life obedient to Christ.

Answer 6

You will notice that Paul speaks of "works of the law". Paul was preaching against the idea that simply by doing works that a person could be saved. Paul was preaching that a person must also have faith, hope and love. All of a person's good works are meaningless if he or she does not have faith, hope and love.

Faith, hope, and love must be demonstrated by works of mercy and kindness.

Faith without works is dead.
Works without faith is meaningless.

It takes, two, baby. It takes two.

Answer 7

it is a major misunderstanding of the scriptures-
The scripture says that you will know them by their fruit, If you love Him you will obey His commandments-
The Catholics and other sects of Christianity believe that by doing enough, they can prove their love or slavation- this is wrong motivation- this is trying to earn it, fearfulness over not doing enough ensues and then legalism comes when they feel everyone else should be doing what they are doing to be saved and if they are not then they are not saved- this is only to make them feel better about themselves.

The scriptures given mean that if you love God you will obey His commands, you wont have to try hard, you just will- it will just happen because you do love Him- when you love Him and truly have a desire for the things of God, the fruit will just be there , the obedience will come- you obey because you love Him, because you are saved, not in order to be saved.
Faith only ignores these scriptures completely- if you say you have faith but the fruit is not there, the obedience is not there then there is not love for the Father but rebellion against His word.
God did not give us any laws that we cannot keep- His laws were never meant for salvation, His laws never were and never will be in vain- He gave us His laws to set us apart and give us a way to live a blessed and sanctified life that honors Him.

Answer 8

right i'm sick of hearing people talking about if god exists it's all about astrology on the dec 23th the sun= the son of god begins to rotate to northen hempisphere the stars on orion's belt begin to follow the sun if you astrlogy then you will know that the three stars are called the three kings and from earth the sun cannot be seen as it is covered by the star virgo which translated into english is virgin on the dec the 25th the star virgo moves out of the way and thus gives birth to the sun. The sun =son god which is worshipped around the world is called horus was born on dec 25th,of the virgin midos, had 12 disciples, could perform miricles, was crucified, and was resurrected in 3 days. so make your own conclusion of it don't take my word for it research it

Answer 9

Actually I don't want to join in a fight against Catholics. I believe they are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I really admire the dedication of some of them. But right now I am reading a book about life in a convent, and it is against everything I believe: that as Christians we are free. We don't need to earn salvation, God has completed the job.

We have to get a balance. My take on this is that good deeds are a result of a living relationship with God, something he works in us without us even necessarily focusing on them. They should not be an effort to reach God.

Answer 10

I may be the only one here who will say with conviction that James was wrong. He didn't understand spirituality, but only knew how to do the works he so dedicated his life to.

James was a legalist. He didn't understand that through trusting God, His Spirit works as faith requires the setting aside of self in order to do His will. As Paul showed in 1 Corinthians 3,
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Christ is the foundation, and works may be done, but by whom?
12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

So those who are persuaded that the focus is on anything other than trusting God: Which is the way we started in order to lay the foundation of Christ, and on works, then they attempt to build with those things which burn.

Those who trust God know that ALL the glory goes to Him. And there is no boasting for self in the works they do, because the glory goes to God.

Those works are the ONLY works that last in the fire.

So it behooves us to remain holy (dedicated) to trusting Him.

He does the works through us, and we are gifted with the influences of His Spirit.

All that James did not understand. And Paul, God's chosen Apostle after the Ascension, was right about it.

Answer 11

The contrast between Sts Paul and James is only apparent but not real.
Both teach the unity of Faith and Love and the importance of living out the Faith.
The "obedience of faith" is crucial to both.
Concrete Love is as important ,supreme and necessary for St Paul (! Cor 13:2 and Gal5:4-6 faith that works through love ) and St James(I will show you my faith through my works)
The Joint Declaration On Justification by the World Lutheran Federation and the Vatican underlines the unity of faith and love.
Catholicism never taught that one could buy one's way into heaven by works alone but by grace through faith which works through love.