Faith and receiving grace gives righteousness? Not faith alone?

GoldenKingGaze

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In the time of Martin Luther he wrote we are justified by faith alone, the pope by faith with good works, but in 1999 the Roman Catholic church declared something more along the lines of faith receives grace and works follow. And we are justified by the grace that follows in works.

But what exactly is that official statement and where is the document?
 

chevyontheriver

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In the time of Martin Luther he wrote we are justified by faith alone, the pope by faith with good works, but in 1999 the Roman Catholic church declared something more along the lines of faith receives grace and works follow. And we are justified by the grace that follows in works.

But what exactly is that official statement and where is the document?
Sorry it took so long for me to answer, but it's been a crazy busy week.

I believe you are referring to the 'Joint Declaration On the Doctrine of Justification' by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. It is an official document of the Catholic Church on justification. It is also accepted by most but not all Lutheran groups around the world.

Wikipedia has an article on it here: Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification - Wikipedia

The text of the declaration is here: Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

There is also a Catholic clarification on the statement that indicates that yes indeed there still are some differences to work out: Catholic official response

The Joint Declaration is an important statement of Catholic belief, and even if there is work still to be done towards a full reconciliation, this is a recognition that the difference between Catholic and Lutheran positions is less than the polemicists would want us to believe.
 
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