Catholic scholarship is not lacking, nor is it contrary to Scripture.
In the light of other Scriptures, Tius 3:5 may be referring to deeds/works done without faith, not deeds/works done with faith. You need to balance that verse with other verses, such as ...
James 2:24-26 ....
"a man is justified by works and not by faith alone .... faith wihout works is dead".
Heb 12:14 ...
"Strive ... for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord"
1John 2:3-5 ...
"And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him".
"There is sin which is deadly" (1John 5:16)
In Rev 3:4, Jesus declares certain believers "worthy" of eternal life due to their works. And when Jesus judges the seven churches in Rev 2 and 3, "works" are mentioned ten times.
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile." (1 Peter 1:14-17)
In Matt 7:21-23, Jesus denies salvation to certain believers due to their "lawlessness".
The Bible teaches that this world is cursed by God and is going to be burnt up
Genesis 3:17 (KJV)
[17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed
is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat
of it all the days of thy life;
[18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
[19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou
art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
2 Peter 3:11 (KJV)
[11]
Seeing then
that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation and godliness,
[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
even the memory of all first creation will be removed
Knowledge will cease:
1 Cor 13:8; Rev 21:1-5; Isa 65:17
Some contend that the earth will be renovated but according to God's Word 'all things will be made new' ...
God is going to make all things new (cf.
Isa 42:9; 48:6; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13)
Isa 62:2
1. new things,
Isa 42:9; 48:6
2. new song,
Isa 42:10 (cf.
Rev 5:9; 14:3)
3. something new,
Isa 43:19 (cf.
Rev 3:12)
4. new name,
Isa 62:2 (cf.
Isa 56:5)
5. new heavens and a new earth,
Isa 65:17; 66:22 (cf.
2 Peter 3:13)
The "new" day (cf.
Rev 21:5) was, in reality, the day that God always wanted for humans, but the Fall in
Gen 3 caused a terrible disruption! It is surely possible that the Bible's imagery of heaven is a restored Garden of Eden (cf.
Rev 21:2).
This is established Biblical theology... so then the question is all this ends and will not be remembered how then can you get eternal things to come from it?
