Question: The Roman Catholic Church teaches
that we are saved by grace alone. When we first come to God in faith, we
have nothing in our hands to offer him. Then he gives us grace to obey his
commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these
acts of love back to him.
Answer: Superficially Catholicism teaches salvation by grace
alone, because it is argued that the works which merit eternal life
originate in the grace of God:
grace ® good works ®
salvation
Evangelicals believe that a person is justified by grace alone and not
on account of personal works. No-one can perform a deed that is good in
the sight of God unless he is first justified and at peace with Him. God's
wrath rests on every guilty person; the man who is not justified is at war
with God. Nothing that an enemy does can possibly please God. So
justification must precede good works.
When a person is saved, he is forgiven and given a new heart that
desires to please God. Good works follows naturally. The presence of good
works implies that the person is already saved. Hence good works are not
the cause, but the fruit and result of salvation.
grace ® salvation ®
good works
So, what does the Bible say about this crucial matter? Is a person
justified on account of the works that grace enables him to do? Or is he
justified by grace apart from personal works? The Bible does not leave us
in any doubt. Please read the following references and note how grace is
contrasted to human works:
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace
but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans
4:4,5).
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;
otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no
longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. (Romans 11:6).
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not
of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to His own purpose and grace
which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Timothy 1:9).
According to the Bible, grace is the antithesis of the payment owed for
someone's work. Grace is unmerited favour. It is unmerited, undeserved,
because it is not granted for any work done. The believer says, "I am
saved by grace - God's unmerited favour - entirely apart from my merits
and works." On the other hand, when a Catholic says that he is saved
by grace, he means something entirely different. Rome's definition of
grace is deceptive because it incorporates the merits of human works
notwithstanding the clear teaching of the Bible. Rome's "grace"
is not grace at all.
Question You do not understand the
difference between our works (which do not justify) and God's works
wrought in us (which complete our faith). You confuse God's works
for our works.
Answer It evident that the Christian performs good works because
God enables him. Grace teaches and empowers saved people to do good works.
Yet it is equally clear that these good works follow salvation, rather
than procure it. Moreover, human good works are, by definition, the works
of man, even though they are done in cooperation with God.
The Council of Trent corrects your mistaken idea; it recognizes that
the Christian's good works are not merely God's works performed through
him, but are actually the good works of man. "If anyone says that the
good works of the justified person are the gifts of God in such a way that
they are not also the good merits of the person justified...anathema
sit" (Trent VI, canon 32).
As far as justification is concerned, human works have absolutely
nothing to do with it. God justifies the ungodly who "does not
work" but "believes". To such a person "God imputes
(credits to his account) righteousness apart from works"
(Romans 4:4-6). Our pride would not allow us see grace for what it is. May
God humble us and open our eyes to see the wonder of His mercy and
lovingkindness that we may wholly trust in His Son and joyfully sing the
praises of His grace forevermore.