Catholics.... IF Good deeds are needed along with FAITH then what is the need for the Crucifixion ?

Answer 1

So you feel that doing good deeds isn't important?
Interesting.
I'd think if you truly followed the teachings of Jesus Christ that would include doing good deeds.
But then again, I'm not Catholic.

Answer 2

Works or deeds is not the defining principle behind salvation. Works and deeds are 'fruits' of the spirit. These and various other things are fruits of the spirit. Walking away from a fight, letting someone cut you off in traffic, not sleeping with your neighbor's wife, giving to charity... These are outward manifestations of an inward conviction.

You don't do right to earn brownie points with Yahweh or the congregation. You'll do it because it feels good to do so. Just as saying "ouch" doesn't determine if someone got burned, neither do works necessarily determine the amount of faith a person has.

The Son coming to this world and dying for our sins was to fulfill the requirements of a system of works (blood sacrifices, stoning, temple rites, etc.) and give us a system based on faith as the requisite for becoming part of the Father's family and God's eternal 'church'.

The 10 Commandments are the Law and character of God. They don't just disappear. We can now obey them out of faith. Because of our love for Him. Temple rites, sacrifices, and the ordinances of those days don't justify us. Jesus does. Neither are we justified by giving to the poor. Giving to the poor should be something faith tells us to do out of love.

Answer 3

James 2:14
[ Faith and Deeds ] What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

Why do some Christians completely ignore important quotes in their Holy Book?

Answer 4

A crucifixion is a tangible object that is a constant reminder
to us of the sacrifice that was paid at Calvary for our sins.
It reminds us that he who knew no sin gave his life as a ransom for many. It further reminds us of John 3 :16 which tells us that God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son for us. The crucifixion in itself as a object does not bring us salvation but it does serve us as a tangible
reminder of who paid the price for our salvation and the place where it occured. A tree in the Garden of Eden was used by Satan to bring man into sin ,shame and despair but
God used a tree the from the agony of the Garden of Gethsemene to bring salvation.

Answer 5

Jesus' death on the cross (crucifixion) was the act of obedience which restored the perfect communion between God and Man that Adam's act of disobedience damaged.

We are saved by God's grace. The fruits of this grace are faith, hope, and love. Faith, hope and love are all acts of the human will and come about by cooperating with God's freely given grace. Like any gift, we must make use of God's grace to become more like God. The gift can be misused or neglected.

Answer 6

because our "job" as Christians is living a life centered around Christ. He didn't just come down to earth the day of the Crucifixion - He lived, He preached, He healed, He helped, He taught - He Loved. The deeds we do are centered around Christ - living as HE taught us through His actions.
what most people fail to realize or comprehend is that - yes in the Catholic church we talk about our actions - this is because - to become a Catholic you must accept Jesus Christ and ALL that He has to offer. When you are baptized, you are washed clean and (as some like to say) born again in Christ. the Church is there to help you along the path Christ laid out - one of loving one another (deed), clothing the poor (deed), being fishers of men (deed) and doing unto others (deed). Christ is our foundation - but what good is the foundation if you do not build upon it - what does it become. does it become what the builder (God) wanted - no, it lays stagnant and dormant.
faith without works is dead, as are works without faith.
hope that helps.....

Answer 7

Good deeds + faith cannot buy anyone salvation. Remember that God is holy, he is righteous - and no matter how many good works we do, we can never be "righteous enough" to enter heaven. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ was for our salvation - through Him we are made righteous of God - that is if we accept his Son and his gift. Good deeds follow because we through accepting his sacrifice, we have become new creatures. We have become God's sons and so we do good (or righteous) deeds because we are the sons and daughters of a righteous God. Is not that we don't have any bad desires anymore, but we choose (through the power of the Holy Spirit that comes to us the moment we accept Jesus) to live a holy lives knowing that it is our new identity. It is therefore important to understand that you will need to live a life of faith and believe what the Word of God is telling you instead of what your emotions are saying.

Answer 8

The question you pose implies you think that Catholics somehow believe that their salvation is "earned" through their good deeds. This is not the Catholic teaching. Only through Jesus are we saved but this salvation is not unconditional. We can't simply state that we accept him as our savior and have it be so.

I equate it to a man and his wife. A man says he loves his wife, but then beats her. Does he really love her? Even if he believes it deep down?

In the same way you can not say you love God and continue to ignore his commandments. You can't turn your back on God and selfishly sin and still say you have truly accepted him. When you sin you are turning your back on God. He allows us to do this through free will and if we die in a state where our back to him is turned he will not force himself upon us.

Answer 9

Catholics do not believe in salvation by faith and works.

Here is the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

Faith without works is dead.(Janes)

Look at the parable of the talents. The master called the servant who did nothing with what he was given WORTHLESS and took away what his was given!

We were all redemmed by Jesus, but we can give up our salvation.

If St Paul was 'anxiously working out' his salvation...boy, you better believe WE also need to !