Howdy! Even tho I know that Lutherans believe in Faith Alone and Catholics believe in Faith + Works, how come they sound similar when there is a discussion about those two? For example, Lutherans don't believe in Antinominalism so if they don't do works then they don't have faith. On the other hand, Catholics don't believe that by doing works only you can be saved but by having faith too. Can someone clarify my confusion?
Here is a simple answer and I will follow up with a more complete answer. Lutherans believe that Justification (right standing, legally speaking) is apart from sanctification yet are linked. Think of the parable of the goats and the sheep. What do sheep do?
They do sheepy things, it's in their nature.
What do Goats do?
Goaty things.
Why, because it's what they do according to their natures. Does a sheep know it is acting like a sheep? No, because it such a part of what it means to be a sheep that a sheep wouldn't realise it is acting like a sheep. Mt 25:31–46
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
So where does faith and and works come into play. Simply put good works are done because it is now in your nature do them. You are created in Christ to do good works. . .
Eph 2:8–10)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Good works are something that a sheep does, because it is part of his nature.
A goat can never do the work of a sheep since that would be against his nature.
I will contrast the roman position when I have a few more moments.