So, do you take the view that works earn a higher degree of theosis, but they are God's works done through us?
Cyril of Alexandria writes that-
So even if Abraham was also justified by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, this must be regarded as an
evident demonstration of a faith which was already very strong.
I take this to mean that the obedience that faith produces is synonymous with faith itself, properly understood. In this sense, faith (properly understood) alone justifies.
Oecuminius seems to agree:
What James is saying here does not contradict the apostle Paul, who understood that both belief and action were a part of what he called “faith”
He also writes:
Abraham is the image of someone who is justified by faith alone, since what he believed was credited to him as righteousness. But he is also approved because of his works, since he offered up his son Isaac on the altar…[H]e remained firmly anchored in his faith, believing that through Isaac his seed would be multiplied as numerous as the stars
Bede writes:
Although the apostle Paul preached that we are justified by faith without works, those who understand by this that it does not matter whether they live evil lives or do wicked and terrible things, as long as they believe in Christ, because salvation is through faith, have made a great mistake....What Paul meant was that no one obtains the gift of justification on the basis of merit derived from works performed beforehand, because the gift of justification comes only from faith
So, would EO affirm that faith alone saves, but that this faith (assuming you live longer than the thief on the cross) substantively has works as its fruits? These works, a gift of God through us, do not merit anything in of themselves. Rather, the relationship we have with God by faith, which produces these works, is where our righteousness comes from.
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