The gates of hell shall not prevail against my Church

Nothing can destroy Catholicism. Jesus gave His word

Never heard of your channel, came here ready to battle, I was humbled, thank you for your work Look forward to your videos!

Excellent presentation Douglas! I pray you and your family enjoy a blessed commemoration of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour🙏

Great job Douglas!! Keep on contending for the One Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church

As a Catholic, I agree that our faith in the Lord and God can save us, but on a condition that living in faith means doing God's will because if you will say that you have faith but you continue committing acts which are offensive in the eyes of God, yes, you could go to hell, unless you genuinely repent and stop sinning..

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments...." Simply believing is not enough.

Thorough as always. Really appreciate the way you presented this. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

I always refer to Mathew 25:31 I DON'T want to be a Goat I am Catholic, and I pray every day for the Catholics and Protestant to become one again, for I believe that until that is done, the body of Christ is not whole. WE MUST COME TOGETHER AS ONE BODY

Great video! Thanks and Merry Christmas or should I say Merry Christ’s Mass!

I love the presentation, I will keep it in screen shot. Tkuuuu

Great explanation Dr. Beaumont!

Great video! New Catholic here, after 49 years as an active Protestant, 35 years of that as an Episcopalian who was taught the importance of the Sacraments in our salvation journey (back when the Episcopal Church taught such things). At 10:35 you quoted Phil 2:13, which says that "God is at work in you both to will and to work God's good pleasure." This has been my go-to promise of God, that He will see me all the way to heaven. I will endure to the end precisely because of Christ's finished work on the cross, which allows me access to the throne room of God and the Sacraments of the Church. Also see Phil 1:6 "And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Lastly, see the entire chapter of Hebrews 11, which starts out with the definition of faith, and then goes on to list all the good works that the great OT fathers and mothers did *by faith*. Anglican Bishop and theologian N.T. Wright draws a great deal of fire from his Protestant brothers for referring to faith as *faithfulness* and discussing how we must cooperate with God's grace to get us all the way to that great final hope, which is not actually heaven, but the bodily Resurrection. One Catholic brother simplified it for me, "Faith without works is dead. Works without faith are also dead."

Nice explanation. Merry Christmas!

I have not seen you before today. Since I am very elderly, am happy to listen to your talks. Thanks! I have learned a lot from Ascension Press Bible Studies. Do listen to others like you. You do not contradict what I have learned, but add to it wonderfully.

Powerfull teaching. Thank you brother. Amen

Great video Douglas. Thank you very much.

Thank you once again Douglas. God Bless you Sir

Great video and Merry Christmas!

Very good explanation. Clear and logical. 🙏🏻

Eye opening, profound. Thank you Sir!

Any chance you can make public the 'justification chart' with the Bible verses that point to the stages of justification?

Good information and delivery. Now people will understand why Luther was wanting to remove both James and Revelation with the other he did remove

Great vid, GB

A quote states, " A text taken out of context is usually a pretext toward error. " How true. How often this occurs with our protestant brothers and sisters, so let us stand ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3 : 15. God bless. Viva Christo Rey.

Jesus asked if you would follow him. To know what that means you need to look at his sermon on the mount where he outlines a Christian life. Anyone who is obedient to God will live like this. This is what destroys protestantism.

Hey this was really good (because this issue or quote is continually thrown at Catholics - or is it only me?). I especially like the illustrations with the arrows, pointing how different or seemingly contradictory verses, are actually talking about different angles. Because - one can get into flood of words that get lost, but those arrows make it clearer. Also the past, present, future in coloured table format. Or maybe I just like visual aids!

By ignorance we perrish. By our fruits we are known. To correct is an act of mercy. Thank you for your good works, literaly. You are being light and salt of these end of times.

As a retired pastor in an evangelical Wesleyan Denomination (Free Methodist), I find little to disagree with in your video. A few thoughts: 1) There is no salvation absent repentance. It is impossible to receive Jesus as Savior and reject Him as Lord. True, biblical faith always produces repentance. When working "in the trenches" I frequently asked seekers, "Who can run your life better, you or Jesus?" Most of the time, they readily agreed that Jesus could - and we saw people gloriously saved from addiction and dysfunction. I never preached or taught that salvation could be obtained without repentance. 2) True saving faith always produces a DESIRE to do right. The new saved person may very well sin, but they will likely not enjoy it. 3) While a person can indeed receive Christ and be forgiven of all sin, at that moment they must repent. If they get hit by a bus ten minutes later, God knows their heart. No repentance, no salvation. IMHO, these are not merely Catholic teachings, they are core Biblical teachings - and in practice, many who, like myself, would say that we are saved by faith alone, believe that repentance is so closely tied to saving faith as to be an inspirable part of it. As a Wesleyan, I am sure you know that we differ with many of our evangelical brothers and sisters on this issue. We also have a different take (and a higher view) of church tradition, the Fathers, etc. Thanks for a great video. As your friend Frank Turek has said, "As evangelicals, we have infinitely more in common with conservative Catholics than liberal protestants."

Doug, Thank you so much. Your work is detailed yet easy to understand and is complete. The Catholic Church in a very risky way opened its doors wide open after Vatican II to allow all to see again the fullness of the faith. During the reformation, after much fighting the Church closed its doors allowing those that disagreed to go their way with their own erroneous beliefs. Honest protestants and poor catechized Catholics are being made aware again by people like you of the One Holy Catholic (universal) Church created by Jesus and sustained by the blood and sweat of the apostles and its successors. Again welcome home. May our Lord Jesus continue to guide your study and enlighten you with His everlasting wisdom. Keep it up.

"did a Catholic just quote the bible from memory?!" LOL subscribed .

Solid teaching brother. Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄

Superb!

Thanks, Douglas; this is a great talk. I found it interesting that the Council of Trent Declartion says neither faith nor works "merit the grace of justification". My understanding then, is that it's incorrect to say we're saved BY faith - rather, we're saved THROUGH faith (as per Eph 2:8-9). For if we're saved by faith (or by faith and works), it is no longer by grace.

Douglas, it seems to me you are trying to have it both ways. First you say that protestants' doctrine is destroyed by James 2:24 when we say works are not involve in the act of saving us. Now you are saying works do not save us (and your description just prior to minute 6:42 is very well done (for what ever it's worth, I couldn't have said it better)). Remember, before speaking of 'works' in 9 and 10 of Eph 2, Paul speaks of salvation, grace and faith as a package deal, with the Grace of God alone being that which saves.

Thanks for standing up for the church!

You too! Merry Christmas!

The same who say, “faith alone” also say “scripture alone.” Yet scripture doesn’t say salvation is by “faith alone “.

I'd love to see you interact with Dr. Gavin Orlund on this and other topics.

this was great, if u dont mind can u make a video debunking Orthodoxy?

Good explanation. I grew up in a Wesleyan holiness tradition that actually teaches a definite particular work of grace, called entire sanctification to kick off what you call progressive justification, but it emphasizes more a heart transformation than a life transformation, again an act of God in response to faith, though lifestyle flowing out of this infusion of Holy Spirit love does manifest in loving works. I think at the root of Protestant argument is to put and keep the emphasis on God's action and to keep away from the nagging question of "am I good enough to be saved" and also historically the questions about what good works are the scriptural ones, and who gets to decide. The stereotype of Catholics is they are morbidly uncertain about their salvation given that good works seem to be presented as part of the equation that requires human effort from grace, though you are attempting to correct that in your explanation. But is that what the common Catholic understands? I don't know. What is officially taught and commonly understood are not always the same. The conversation then splinters into Cavinism and Arminianism in the Protestant world. Like many arguments, if everyone would ask less about what is being said and more why it is being said, maybe we could find common ground, maybe even THE common ground.

Are you familiar with Dr Matthew Bates and his understanding of Salvation by allegiance alone?

Doug, a problem which you bring into the light, and likely an issue to both sides, is our laziness and satisfaction with being "loaded with several bullets" which we have not examined for their actual function. We don't know what happens when we pull the trigger, whether we have loaded them backwards (and they will blow up), or whether the other side has armor, or that maybe our training was bad. I suspect that on both sides teachers have never truly thought things through themselves and are sure for no real reason, or are just easily satisfied. I hope that you are serving a good purpose concerning this problem . Interestingly, I listened to a Catholic on You Tube recently explaining faith and faith as related to works. I then listened to three well known Reformed men, and all four men said almost the identical explanations. I was humored by this as the Reformed are so proud of being different. But through "lordship salvationism" they have rejected their sola fide position, but they are not bright enough to recognize this. I hope that you are familiar with this lordship-ism. The soteriological implications of that position are immense. They need to be shown that, as looking in the mirror.

Doug, at 12:40 minutes you state "noone teaches that initial salvation is by works". Going along with salv./ Just. being as though synonymous, what then is James 2:21,24, and 25 saying? "Justified by works" three times. What tense of salv/just then is James referring to?

Question: I was waiting to hear it addressed, the Apostle Paul in Romans 4, particularly verse 5 - “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,…” followed closely by Romans 5:1-2 - “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. …”. How does this fit in to the discussion in this video?

Fr Mike Schmitz says we’ll be judged by how we love (works) ❤ Love willing the good of the other as other.

Another thing, Jesus talks about the Church in the gospel but never mention about starting a Bible faith alone

I've been a good boy, but my father when he comes home from work and find that I didn't do anything in the house when he was gone, he gets mad at me. It's like saying that I'm not a bad person but I didn't do anything good either.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas. 🙏

I want to add some more verses to your wonderful work. John 3:16 Romans 3:26-28 Romans 6:23 Romans 11:6 (Ephesians 2:4-10) already mentioned by you Titus 3:4-7 In James 2:17-26, the relationship between faith and works is discussed. These verses emphasize that true faith naturally leads to good works. Faith without works is considered "dead" because genuine faith is manifested through actions and engagement in righteousness. This doesn't imply that our works justify us before God for salvation, but they are an outcome of a living and genuine faith. 🙏🏼 God bless you

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.(2Thes 2:15) Oral tradition held the same weight as the written Word in the Early Church, so much for scripture alone

What do you think about the thomistic vs molinist views of predestination?

James 2:18 “Shew me thy faith without thy works; and I will shew thee my faith by my works” . The meaning of this verse is not saying your works save you. What it’s saying is that if you have real faith then works will show it. Ref with . Ephesians 2:10, Titus 3:5, Acts 16:31,Rom 3:28;4:5;5:1, Gal 2:26;3:24, Ephesians 1:13,Philippians 3:9.

Man, grammatically and sintactically, I don’t need the word “alone or only” to be present in Ephesians 2:8, to make the case for the Sola FIDE. It is enough to ask how many means or instrumental phrases do we have modifying the periphrastical verb construction “have been saved”, the result is just “by faith” that is a circunstancial complement of means. So the word faith is alone, nothing else we have in the phrase. So it is valid and correct to say not only here, but in Rm 5:1 that salvation or justification has only a single means or instrument that causes the result of the main verb that is have been saved or the participle having being justified in Rm 5:1. On the other hand in case of James 2:24, “alone” is not modifying the word faith itself as in the phrase “only faith or faith alone from Latin Sola FIDE”, but it modified the passive faith. However, that verb is justified is present resulting in a gnomic idea, and a continuous act of declaration on God’s part as agent. But the “have been saved that is also passive, is also a perfect present. It mean that the action is being saved occurred already in the past (something Catholicism doesn’t believe as a fact) and also the resultative state or effect of that action is that of remaining saved permanently, breaking the idea of intermittent progression as in Catholicism. In addition, the context of James it is not talking about initial salvific faith as in Ephesians and Rm 5:1, but the orthodox doctrinal faith that should lead to praxis or works to be justified not before God, but before men. The context proves my case when it says: you believe Hod is one, also the demons believe and tremble. You see, believing an essential doctrine like the unicity of God (in essence or nature) it is not sufficient without practice. Demons cannot be saved, cannot do good works, however they can believe orthodox essential doctrines. But producing works derived from doctrinal demands is not possible for them, but is it for us? Yes. That is why in the same context, in James 2:14 (I believe) it says will be faith able to save him? Question save whom? The brother in need or the brother to provide? So save here just means saved from whatever need or lack a brother is facing or going through. That is explained for a variant that has it in plural and many Bibles do translates it “save them.” It is how I see it form a syntactic, contextual and grammatical point of view. Another problem is that works according to Trent Council in James is not seen as cuasal, but increasing something is already had. But is it that that James state? No, but Trent rereads and reinterprets the passage by changing is justified by a reading of increased in justification or in active way increases in justification. It is actually problematic. What do you think?

10:58 While I do not hold Bergoglio is the Pope or Fiducia Supplicans a papal document, would you agree that what he is doing is giving priests freedom to discern when people of certain irregular (including explicitly one irrepairable unless there is a change of persons or of actions) configurations are, not indeed yet in a working for God's good pleasure, but in accordance with Orange canon 4 already in a willing of it?

Jesus himself was all about doing good for others. So I agree with your summary although I don’t know as much as you about the Bible. God bless you.

Martin Luther was a former Catholic priest who rebelled the church and established Protestantism which doctrines of Sola scriptura and Sola fide are all HALF TRUTH. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers, STAND FIRM and HOLD to the TRADITIONS that you were TAUGHT by us, either by our SPOKEN WORD or by our LETTER. James 2: 24 You see that a person is JUSTIFIED by WORKS and NOT BY FAITH ALONE.

Is there a PDF of the table of justification?

Can you do a video defending treasury of merit?

Man you are good ! 👍👍👍 I am Protestant and I do believe that when you become a believer you are to do works . If you have Christ in your heart you have a desire to do works.

The (one of them anyway) situation for me and many other Protestants, is that while many protestant churches say the same thing you are, nevertheless, in the ones I have grown up in, they would say that you are not rightly dividing the scriptures. They would say that the synoptic Gospels, most of the first part of Acts, and most of the last part of Revelation are geared towards the Jews, while the rest of the NT is towards the Gentiles. I know that the RCC will say, What! We've had it wrong since the days of the Apostles?! Well, maybe yes, maybe no. They DO make sense, and it DOES clear up a lot of issues and between the various books of the NT. Two Gospels, for two different groups, for two different Kingdoms, and dispensations. John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter and James were preaching the kingdom of God, Paul was preaching the kingdom of Heaven, and if they're correct, as stated explains a lot of things. Believe in Jesus as Christ for salvation and the Kingdom of God, and believe in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected for salvation by grace through faith, for the Kingdom of Heaven. YMMV. Anyway, I'm glad you guys are putting out good quality and informative videos, I can't say that I agree with all of them, but sometimes they are very enlightening. Grace and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 🙏✝️👑🙏

As another comment mentioned, I don’t see a necessity for Paul to say “faith alone” in Eph. 2:8-9 and the fact that he doesn’t is not a refutation in my opinion. “For by Grace you have been Saved through Faith” -By what are we saved: Grace. -Through what mechanism: Faith. If someone were to read that passage they would conclude exactly what it says: By grace we are saved through Faith. I believe that is crystal clear and so Paul doesn’t need to add “Alone”. However, he does add something anyways. He adds that it is “Not a result of works” that it is a Gift. Using a similar logic to yours that the word “Alone” not being present means this refutes Salvation by Faith alone. I would ask why do no Bible translations of this verse refer to us as “being saved” or in a ‘state’ of being saved but not yet fully/finally. In fact every translation I’ve seen has “you have been saved” “you are saved” which implies a present possession of a past occurring transformation (salvation). Anyway, I am Protestant (for now anyways) so I understand the Soteriological differences between Protestants and Catholics don’t all boil down to one verse but I would appreciate your thoughts.

This is the most unbiased take I have seen so far on this subject. I don't know why we even have this argument. Protestants can't genuinely believe that simply believing in God without doing His Will (to follow his commandments) will save you. Jesus gave so many examples that contradict that; but most Protestants serious about their Faith believe that Faith implies what Catholics call "works".

Thank you for teaching . Who are you again?

So how much works do you have to do to be saved???

I wonder if Protestants consider the fact that early Christians were persecuted and that many, including Paul, were in prison, and thus could not do ANY good works apart from praying? Christians of that era were like the good thief beside Jesus on the brink of death and could do no work. Perhaps they needed reassurance that their lack of works won't be detrimental to their salvation. It was enough that they believe in Jesus despite their pitiful situation. But what if you could do something but didn't? What did Jesus say? " ~"Whatever you do or did not do for the least of My brothers, you do or did not do for Me!"

I never thought about the verses of "faith alone" as the initial salvation. That makes sense. Now, what constitutes "works"? Tie works with physical action!

good one

If you could be saved by grace and favour alone, why didn't the Saints Peter, Paul, Stephen et al just sit at home with some nice wine, good food and a smug smile, rather than working hard and suffering terribly for their faith? Also many thanks for a very helpful overview!

We must examine all of the Scriptures in order to properly understand what Paul is specifically teaching. Paul is not speaking against the Law - God forbid he says. He is simply stating a fact that we have been saved (redeemed) by the precious blood of our Savior - not because anything we did - so that "no man can boast". Paul is saying to every believer, get it out of your head that you have "been good" and therefore you have been chosen and saved. No. We have been saved by the grace of our Lord. This ALSO does not means that the Law is done-away with - this is contrary to Scripture and anyone who believes this must read these Bible verses. Also, remember that "faith without works is dead". [see 1 John 2:4, 1 John 5:2-3, John 14:15, Luke 6:46, 1John 3:4, John 8:11, Matt 5:48, Matt 22:36-38, Mark 12:28-30, Luke 10:25-27, 2 Peter 3:16-18, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12] "Sin" is the transgression of the Law. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "Go, and sin no more". In other words, "Go, and keep the Law". We need to properly understand what Paul is saying, and what he is not saying as well.

Great so which works are you going to be showing to God as justifying your salvation?

I am not a chatolic but I would love to hear your thouts on 1. Timothy 4:1-3 (sorry on bad eng grammar)

I'm a protestant. Thanks for the helpful explanation.

Merci beaucoup !

Where is purgatory in the Bible......and BTW, what works are you referring to

Honest question. What would be the point of Paul constantly talking about initial justification to already baptized believers? The entire new testament is written for the church, and Pauls letters are written to baptized, believing Christians. So if everytime Paul mentions justification by faith, what good is it? They're already initially justified, shouldn't his letters just be about good works and penance? Especially Galatians, Paul spends most of the letter scolding the Galatians for adding circumcision. Then goes on about justification by faith apart from works. Why? That point is past. Seems redundant. Shouldn't he just direct them to the sacraments and penances?

Catholics view salvation as a _process_ rather than a one-time _event._ Therefore, when asked by a street preacher, "Are you saved?" a Catholic should respond biblically by affirming: "I have been saved, I am being saved, and I hope to be saved." Here are scripture verses supporting this view: “I have been saved" (Initial Justification) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) "I am being saved" (Ongoing or Progressive Justification or Sanctification): "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18) "I hope to be saved" (Final Justification / Future Salvation / Glorification): "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”(Romans 5:9) +++ The Catholic Church does not teach that initial justification is by works. However, ongoing justification or sanctification is by works, and there is no verse in scripture which contradicts this.

Awesome video thanks for making it 👍

You need to look at Matthew 25:31-46 this part of the chapter is titled the sheep and the goats read what Jesus says. And look at what Jesus says what to do. Jesus gives direct examples. Jesus also gives an explanation of what will happen if you don't do. This is what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Look at what he says in verse 10. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Doug, thank you for your explanation. It seems to me that God initiates, and then call us to participate in our salvation.

It has been baffling to me how anyone could take Ephesians to teach Faith Alone, its obvious that this teaching is being read into the bible by Protestants. St. Chrysostom has a great homily on that, he believes that scripture is easily understood to teach Catholicism, except by those who are blinded by hetesy

The problem is our conflicting concept of salvation which is in reality a process that ends in perfection to be glorified.

Thank you Señor, yes is by Grace and obeying the 10 commandments and doing good, but mostly is GRACE.

St. John 3:14-15 " 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Where does it talk about works saving us in these verses? Shows by believing and by faith we are saved - not of works or 'good' works.

Peter's name literly meant rock, i dont think thats a coincidence considering Matthew 16:18

Just explain to me, what it means to be be a new creation in Christ and the old is gone. Also let me know at what point angels celebrate someone's repentance

Doug, if you debate James White, you might note that in a video on James two he states "nowhere does Paul ever say 'by faith alone ' ".

The most important part of Christianity is believing God sent Jesus to suffer and die for us so sins could be forgiven. Believe, repent, and accept free gift of salvation. That's it and other so-called "Christians" who say this and that about we Catholics miss the point.

@7:45 To the protestant, but wouldn't initial justification involve complete sanctification if that justification is to be transformative? How can you have progressive sanctification come out of something that is non-sanctifying? See what I mean? @13:56 A declaration without a transformation is a fiction. It is God who puts the amazing in grace! It is God who is the celestial physician and He heals the person who is actually lacking (original sin) and sick (venial and mortal sin). He doesn't just call or declare us healed which would be a righteousness of the pharicee.

As Christians, we should focus more on what unites us, not what divides us.

Surely there are more differences than just the concept of “works”….

We are safe by grace by faith and by work all three combine I am Catholic and that doesn’t mean that we are ignorant😮

You said, "It is partially by good works that we increase our justification and head toward final justification." Here is part of the disagreement, because Protestants believe that good works cannot increase our justification. Catholics say justification must be infused into the person to a point where he contains enough merit in himself to be worthy of eternal life with God, right? Protestants see from Romans 4 that justification is imputed (tallied to our account) by God, in His grace, through faith. (Justification and righteousness are more or less equivalent terms.) Rom 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. Rom 4:5 And *to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,* Rom 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Rom 4:8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Rom 4:20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, Rom 4:21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Rom 4:22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” Rom 4:23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, Rom 4:24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Rom 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Add this scripture to the mix: 2Co 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. To be counted as righteous (justified) by God is to have God bestow His own perfect, spotless righteousness to our account. Jesus, who knew no sin, was accounted sinful ("made sin") for us when He bore our sins (and the penalty for them) on the cross. In a divine exchange, God has chosen to account His righteousness to all who trust in Jesus' sacrifice for their sins as the fully efficacious, fully complete propitiation for those sins. Jesus took our sin-guilt so that we could receive His righteousness. How does God dispense grace unto righteousness and eternal life? Through faith. Just as Jesus' sacrifice is once-for-all, likewise our justification is once-for-all when we come to faith in Him. This is why there is no such distinction as between "initial" and "final" justification; there is just justification, period. Further sanctification may be infused through works done by the leading and enablement of the Holy Spirit, but sanctification is not salvific because saving grace is received in a once-and-done event through faith. (Baptism is expected to follow as an act of obedience, but baptism is not the instrumental means through which God dispenses saving grace, contrary to Catholic doctrine.) The continuing Christian life includes works, but no one cooperates perfectly with the indwelling Holy Spirit in producing the good works He wants us to do. And this is the Catholic dilemma: the Catholic can never know when he has done enough works to sufficiently increase his justification, whereas the Protestant knows he can never do enough and therefore he throws himself on God's mercy by trusting in Christ. That is why, when I ask the average Catholic on the street what one must do to be justified before God, his answer almost always will be something to the effect of, "Be a good person," or "Do good works;" the typical Catholic has *a works mentality* that negates the grace of God and subconsciously places the Catholic under the law. In contrast, the typical Protestant will respond, "Believe in Jesus." Protestants are taught to regard most highly the foundational truth of salvation by grace through faith, but Catholics tend to regard their reception of Sacraments and their good works as the most important elements of their salvation, with faith in Jesus "bringing up the rear." Our faith in Jesus is counted (imputed) as righteousness (justification) because Jesus became sin for us. Since Rom. 4:5 specifically excludes works as a means of receiving this gift of righteousness, we can conclude that nothing can supplement faith in this transaction. Besides faith and works, what else is there? Nothing. Therefore, by process of elimination, it is by faith only (or faith alone) that we are justified. Even though the phrase does not appear as such in Scripture, the concept is present. Merry Christmas. 😊

Do I need to be concerned if I want to pull out all the hair on my head when dear St Paul writes that either ‘by faith” or “by justification” more than once or twice until I have no clue what those words mean. I do believe Catholic teachings and Holy Scripture so I know Truth is written and spoken by our Church. But do I need to be concerned if I want to yell out AGGGGHHH, at times. I am 78 and accept I may never be able to explain St Paul’s writings - or much else, since I am already forgetting some words though not the fact I know there is a word I could use that perfectly describes a certain thought. Even now I can see I am making no sense so again thank you for your talks. But I did learn that even St Peter wrote that St Paul could be too deep for him to understand. So thank you St Peter, even though I don’t know what you did understand about St Paul. Yikes!

It is entirely true that the one verse in the Bible that contains the exact phrase “faith alone” seems to argue against salvation by faith alone. James 2:24 reads, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (ESV). However, rejecting the doctrine of salvation by faith alone based on this verse has two major problems. First, the context of James 2:24 is not arguing against the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Second, the Bible does not need to contain the precise phrase “faith alone” in order to clearly teach salvation by faith alone. James 2:14-26, as a whole, and especially verse 24, has been the subject of some confused interpretations. The passage definitely seems to cause serious problems for the “salvation by faith alone” concept. First, we need to clear up a misconception, namely, that James means the same thing by “justified” in James 2:24 that Paul means in Romans 3:28. Paul is using the word justified to mean “declared righteous by God.” Paul is speaking of God’s legal declaration of us as righteous as Christ’s righteousness is applied to our account. James is using the word justified to mean “being demonstrated and proved.” The 2011 NIV provides an excellent rendering of James 2:24: “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (emphasis added). Similarly, the NLT translation of James 2:24 reads, “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone” (emphasis added). The entire James 2:14-26 passage is about proving the genuineness of your faith by what you do. A genuine salvation experience by faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably result in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10). The works are the demonstration and proof of faith (James 2:18). A faith without works is useless (James 2:20) and dead (James 2:17); in other words, it is not true faith at all. Salvation is by faith alone, but that faith will never be alone. (Above excerpt from GotQuestions.org)

But the logic uniting Paul and James is a one-way condition. Where St. Paul says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast," it is, like James, clear. The rational principle from James defines what kind of faith is real. What kind of faith is it that saves (the gift of which is the means of the grace that alone saves)? The kind attended by works, just as explained here. The remainder of that Eph. passage as presented here explains exactly how Protestant theology sees Pauline justification. And no, as a Protestant, I don't think James isn't talking about justification. He certainly is. He and Paul must agree and they do. And we, Catholics and Protestants, are indeed exceedingly close on this point, not as divergent as it's commonly made out to be (though the point is well made that Protestants don't generally know any of this, nor do they all adhere to this way of seeing things-however, Catholics don't commonly have the catechesis to understand the implications either). In the end, how is the Catholic position not comparatively merely a rich theological explanation of "Christians" walking away from the faith? In any case, Orange's definitions are very helpful to me for clarification of the early early views.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is the verse. Faith in Jesus Christ, conviction and repentance should lead to a heart changed as the holy spirit works within in your heart leads to “works.” Faith without works is dead, I agree. But you cannot work or buy your way to heaven. Works that do not come from a heart changed by faith are worthless. That is what protestants are saying. We read scripture but see the same coin in a different way. It’s a spiritual cat fight that’s about it. If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Please explain the mass where Jesus is sacrificed anew every Sunday, also prayer to dead saints. Confess sin to a priest and not God??

As far as being saved by faith and not of works, Ephesians 2:8-10 is not the only place that this is spoken of. Starting with: Acts 2: 21, " 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Where is the requirement of good works in this verse? Where does it talk about works saving us in these verses? Shows by believing and by faith we are saved - not of works or 'good' works.

Try James 2:14-26 , in context. It’s Faith AND Works, not Faith OR works. See Gal 5:6, Phil 2:12, Matt 7:21, 1 Cor 13:2. Why do they always omit Eph 2:10?