Good works or once saved always saved?

[Michie]

As any Bible reading Christian knows, a frequent theme throughout Scripture is doing good-not evil. From the Ten Commandments to the Beatitudes, there are rules and actions given for us to emulate. Yes, Jesus died for our salvation. He defeated death and sin, once and for all. This we must believe. Yet Jesus is well known for instructing his followers to display their love and faith in Him through good works.

Continued below.
Good Works or Once Saved, Always Saved? - Catholic Stand

 

[Glaucus]

Once Saved Always Saved is just another lazy Protestant "doctrine", and a manifestation of unbelief; given directly from the Father of Lies himself for the destruction of souls.

 

[Glaucus]

Just as the serpent in the garden uttered, "Ye shall not surely die", tricking Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, he too does the same thing with the Eucharist. Far too many people take of the Eucharist in an unworthy manner to the destruction of their soul, because they don't believe it's a big deal. You can hear the echoes: "Ye shall not surely die". And it's the same with Once Saved Always Saved. Jesus already forgives me, I'm saved, so who cares if I commit adultery here, steal there, etc. I'm saved, I "shall not surely die".

Wake up!!!

 

[Albion]

As any Bible reading Christian knows, a frequent theme throughout Scripture is doing good-not evil. From the Ten Commandments to the Beatitudes, there are rules and actions given for us to emulate. Yes, Jesus died for our salvation. He defeated death and sin, once and for all. This we must believe. Yet Jesus is well known for instructing his followers to display their love and faith in Him through good works.

None of that should be denied by anyone who believes that we are justified by faith and not works.

The issue is whether or not any of those good works make us more likely to be saved. Some Christians say "yes" and others say "no," but that is the issue, not whether a believer ought to do them.

And, as a point of clarification, keep in mind that "faith plus works save" and "Once saved, always saved" are not opposite each other. It is common for Christians, including members of most of the historic Protestant churches, to reject both of them. These terms or concepts refer to different issues.

 

[LaudeturIesus]

Just read the whole last half of James 2.

 

[HereIStand]

Do Catholics today believe that good works of one person can be transferred to another person in order to cover over his sins. I recall reading something like this in Victor Hugo, especially in Les Miserables. Nuns depicted in the novel subjected themselves to no heat in winter and sleeping on the cold floor in order to live worse than local prisoners, who sins they were praying to have forgiven.

 

[LaudeturIesus]

Do Catholics today believe that good works of one person can be transferred to another person in order to cover over his sins. I recall reading something like this in Victor Hugo, especially in Les Miserables. Nuns depicted in the novel subjected themselves to no heat in winter and sleeping on the cold floor in order to live worse than local prisoners, who sins they were praying to have forgiven.

Yes, I forget the proper term, but Catholics make sacrifices and pray so that we may make satisfaction for the sins of others.

 

[Michie]

Offering it up.

 

[A_Thinker]

As any Bible reading Christian knows, a frequent theme throughout Scripture is doing good-not evil. From the Ten Commandments to the Beatitudes, there are rules and actions given for us to emulate. Yes, Jesus died for our salvation. He defeated death and sin, once and for all. This we must believe. Yet Jesus is well known for instructing his followers to display their love and faith in Him through good works.

Continued below.
Good Works or Once Saved, Always Saved? - Catholic Stand

(Catholic forum) Salvation is by grace alone through faith

 

[Michie]

(Catholic forum) Salvation is by grace alone through faith

And?

 

[Michie]

(Catholic forum) Salvation is by grace alone through faith

And?

 

[Meowzltov]

I should like to remind us that there is an entire branch of faith alone Protestantism that is not OSAS -- the Wesleyan/Holiness crowd. They definitely emphasize works, but they do not teach that works merit salvation.

And seriously, it doesn't look to me like the Catholic Church is confident on what it teaches about this. Or better to say, it hasn't figured out how just to word exactly what it believes.

 

[frater_domus]

We are saved by grace. However, good works are a natural consequence of faith. James 2 says that faith without works in not real faith (dead). He also talks about demon faith (the knowledge of God's existence, but not doing His will). Demons also believe in God, but they are not saved or transformed by the Spirit. Faith is the starting point and if that faith in genuine, then we will bear fruits. Abraham is a good example. The profession of faith came first, and only after that did God command him to kill Isaac (call it a test of faith). Hope I got that one right

 

[Albion]

I should like to remind us that there is an entire branch of faith alone Protestantism that is not OSAS -- the Wesleyan/Holiness crowd. They definitely emphasize works, but they do not teach that works merit salvation.

There are, in fact, a number of other--and larger--branches of Protestantism which similarly believe faith alone but not OSAS. The Wesleyans are known, however, for their emphasis upon doing good, just as you said.

 

[SaNcTaMaRiA]

My mini catechism says:

To save my soul I must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, I must believe in him, I must hope in him, and I must love him with my whole heart.

One can stop doing any of the 3 above things willingly. Even as a protestant I never believed in once saved always saved. It never made sense to me that once saved a person would do whatever they want and still go to heaven. Jesus reminds us that the way to heaven is narrow. Let's not be deceived from the path!

 

[Albion]

OSAS doesn't presume that "you can do anything." Anyone who took that attitude would be demonstrating that he did not, in fact, have saving faith.

 

[Rhamiel]

I should like to remind us that there is an entire branch of faith alone Protestantism that is not OSAS -- the Wesleyan/Holiness crowd. They definitely emphasize works, but they do not teach that works merit salvation.

And seriously, it doesn't look to me like the Catholic Church is confident on what it teaches about this. Or better to say, it hasn't figured out how just to word exactly what it believes.

there are a lot of Methodist and Nazarene around me and among some of them it seems like OSAS is starting to get into the minds of some of their members

 

[Rhamiel]

Do Catholics today believe that good works of one person can be transferred to another person in order to cover over his sins. I recall reading something like this in Victor Hugo, especially in Les Miserables. Nuns depicted in the novel subjected themselves to no heat in winter and sleeping on the cold floor in order to live worse than local prisoners, who sins they were praying to have forgiven.

we can see in the Bible that because of the righteousness of some people, God spared other people
for example, King Solomon was punished with having his nation split in two because he allowed the worship of idols, but because of the piety of his father David, God did not fulfill that punishment until Solomon had died
or times when God was going to wipe out the rest of the tribes of Israel but Moses interceded on their behalf and God relented
or how all Sodom and Gomorrah would have been spared if there were just 50 righteous people in the cities (though this last example I think has a bit different meaning, the other examples are pretty clear)

 

[WarriorAngel]

Anyone could become lukewarm and get spit out...
and silly virgins who werent prepared. Note they were chosen to have light to help the bridegroom, but didnt take it seriously.
etc