The Catholic Church, Grace, and Justification.......?

Question

I know that Fundamentalists do not like to be bothered with actual "facts", but every once in a while I have to throw a few out there when I see posts full of errors.

Here is what the church teaches regarding grace, justification, and works:

CCC 1996: "Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us..."

CCC 2010: "Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification..."

CCC 1992: "Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men."

Catholics do NOT believe in justification by works apart from Christ. As usual, the Catechism (CCC) is out there for all to see, but people would rather parrot anti-Catholic rhetoric then bother to actually read what the Church teaches - and I don't mean read what the Church teaches according to Jimmy Swaggart or Jack Chick, I mean. mean read what the Church teaches according to the Church.

I hope this clears things up a little. Comments are welcome. Email me more questions if you have them. You might want to read this link to: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea1.asp

God bless. Let's see some comments....

Answer 1

I learned very quickly to look into anything that is said at a protestant church about catholicism. Luckily my favorite pastor I used to have taught us to always look into things on our own and not just believe what everyone said. I found many missrepresentations of what Catholics believe. My Catholic friends have been really cool about finding out answers for me to the questions I have. I am not Catholic but I do like to have an accurated perception of what they believe so thank you for your input. God Bless

Answer 2

Faith alone, in Christ alone. ANY works done prior to being saved are done in service to the world, to the self or to Satan. After conversion, ALL works done in Jesus name are good, even if they are not obviously good on the surface (note I am not speaking of works which break commandments, e.g. murder is never a good work). As soon as you make salvation about Jesus plus [ANYTHING], you have become a tool of the devil. Good works by Christians are done because of what Jesus did for us, not to keep salvation nor to get "more saved" Abraham was justified through FAITH over 400 years prior to the Law and we are still justified through FAITH. The Law is just pointing out how sinful and screwed up we are and that there is NO WAY to get to God on our own power. No Way. Only Jesus, who is THE WAY.

Answer 3

Where I have a problem is this "no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification". As I understand it you believe the initial grace is based upon faith. After that we must work to remain saved and be forgiven, our works give us forgiveness after the initial grace. If I am wrong correct me. If I am not then I do not believe you are following the Bible. If you believe works play a role in salvation you are saying Christ sacrifice was not enough and we can add to it.

Answer 4

I'm not very familiar with the Catholic church. I don't understand the CCC references. It sounds like there is a book that specifies what the Catholic church teaches. I promise I mean no offense; but, I don't think that's needed, the Bible is sufficient.

Answer 5

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Galatians 2:16-17
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. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Answer 6

CC keep the faith going, I agree with everything you say

God Bless Catholics

Answer 7

Do you think it sad that protestants (non Catholics) know so little about Christianity?

I wouldn't be an atheist if it weren't for my vast knowledge of science and the bible.

But, not to know anything about science is one thing, Not knowing anything about either, well, that is scary.

Answer 8

I'm about as far from "Fundamentalist" as a Democrat Christian can be, but when I'm curious about "Grace" and "works," my research is in the Bible, not some rules written by men.

Here's my 'facts' http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm

Godspeed.

Answer 9

As a Christian, I believe ALL denominations spinning off the old/new testament is/are self-serving frauds, including the Catholic Church.

You either believe in Christ or not...

Answer 10

I am sure you are not a catholic because what you have written here does not make any sense , INstead of using your time to write so much stupidity s tudy your homework