SOLA FIDE?

Today's 1st reading reminds me of a teaching in our Catholicism class entitled, "Rebutting the Principle of Protestantism: Faith Alone (Sola Fide)" There is no doubt to the truth that Man needs to be saved because of his "fallen nature"  We read in Roman 7:21-24: So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?

Catechism of the Catholic church (CCC) 1949:

Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ through the law that guides him and the grace that sustains him: Philippians 2:12-13:Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

The devil has acquired a certain domination in man. Man is dominated by greed, pride and lust. 

CCC 407:

The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man's situation and activity in the world. By our first parents' sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free. Original sin entails "captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14)

Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action, and morals.

1 John 5:19

We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are engaged in a battle that has been won but does not stop there since we have to always put on our guard for the enemy does not rest.He called the whole process of being saved as "justification" . 

"Man is saved by God's grace alone based on CCC 1996. Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life. (Jn 1:12-18; 17:3; Rom 8:14-17; 2 Pet 1:3-4.)

God has already set our foot to tread on the path leading to God's kingdom even before we were born.

-The question is how does the grace of God become an active part of our life or "by what are we justified?" The example he gave here was a newborn baby who is baptized. A baby has not merited anything yet but is saved by the mere act of being baptized. He mentioned about Martin Luther's despair about his salvation which led him to formulate the doctrine of justification by "Faith alone" He misunderstood the Bible passage Rom 3:28 which mentioned faith alone apart from works of the law. Paul in this letter to the Romans was pertaining to the Jewish Law which is being practiced during their time like circumcision, washing of the hands and the like which are practices that can not really justify a person.

Faith alone doctrine states that justification simply means being "declared righteous" We can not just be declared righteous but be made righteous by not continuing to sin.  We are all so blessed for having Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. Nothing else should matter more to us than this truth that we have been saved. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 3:21-30

...For there is no distinction; 23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God... 

Justification actually means being "made righteous" i.e. it entails the sanctification of his whole being (CCC 1989, 1990, &1995) We are justified not by faith alone nor by works alone. Justification has its stages i.e. initial and progressive. Initial justification takes place at our baptism. We still have a tendency to backslide and during the hour of death is the period of intense spiritual battle over our soul. That is why we need to mature in our faith. 

Certainty of Salvation "Once saved, always saved?" If we believe in this it tends to put off our guard. (1 Jn 5:13-14)  

Epistles against works? I guess there have been some misunderstanding here of the following bible verses: Rom. 3:28 (Obedience of faith) We should be aware of the truth that we know we are saved, still being saved and will continue to be saved as stated by Paul in 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 9:27. In Phil 2:12 Paul also encouraged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. For the enemy is waging war on us and we need to be very aware of this and claim God's protection over us at all times. (Eph.6:11-12)

Martin Luther based his belief on faith alone on this specific verse he failed to see that Paul in addition to what I've mentioned earlier was attacking the Jews with regards to their ceremonial laws and that it is not enough to just hear the law but to observe it. (Rom 4:5 Total adherence) An example he gave was attending the mass not just as an obligation but with the heart. Consider it a privilege and do it for the love of God. He said we are saved by grace not by works but we obtain the grace of God by good works and the motive is mercy (Eph. 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5) as in today's psalm. We all have our faults, failures and shortcomings. No one can deny the fact that we all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard. It is to our advantage if we take everything that comes to us most especially the trials and difficulties as a form of offering to God for His greater glory. Just like what the song says:

All that I am, all that I have I lay them down before you, oh Lord

All my regrets, all my acclaims the joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

[Chorus:]

Lord, I offer my life to you. Everything I've been through. Use it for your glory

Lord I offer my days to you. Lifting my praise to you as a pleasing sacrifice

Lord I offer you my life

[Verse 2:]

Things in the past, things yet unseen, wishes and dreams that are yet to come true

All of my heart, all of my praise, my heart and my hands are lifted to you

We sing this song with all our heart with a hope in joyful waiting for His redemption. There is no use in denying, covering up, pretending or doing whatever other defense mechanisms we have before the Lord. We can not hide anything from the Lord. Sometimes we miss the point when we do things so that we look pleasing before the eyes of others, but what about in the eyes of the Lord? We don't have to bother about hiding because the Lord is able to find us. We might as well get our acts together so that when He finds us He'll like what He'll see. We continue to believe that God is merciful despite the many sins we have committed. Though hard, there is a need to turn away from our wicked ways by always keeping the word of God before us and conducting ourselves in accordance to it. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M 

Psalm 130:1b-2. 3-4. 5-6ab

R: With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. 6 My soul waits for the LORD more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, (R)

Here are several bible passages cited to us by Atty Moya that support the need for us to cooperate and work with God. James 2: 14-22 & 24 say that faith without action is dead. From the gospel of Matthew: What must I do to be saved? (Mt. 19:16-21) When the rich man asked this question he was told to keep the commandments and he said he already did so Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor for he is very attached to his possessions that he has to let go of all attachments. We are also called to keep our fire burning for the Lord so that we don't end up like the 5 virgins in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Mt 25:1-13. The same principle applies with the Parable of the Talents or Silver pieces that we have to cultivate the goodness in ourselves and let it grow. It is also very clear from Mt. 25 31-46 which mentions about the last judgment that we can not just accept the Grace of salvation but needs to do our part, too since it specifically stated here that whatever we have failed to do will go to eternal punishment. Also it is stated in Mt 7:21-27 that we need to live His words because not everybody who says "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven for there is a need to turn away from our wrongdoings. He said that there is no dichotomy between Christ and His doctrine. If we really believe in God then we also need to do what He teaches. We have to do the Works of Mercy (CCC 2447) The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. (Isa 58:6-7; Heb 13:3.) Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead.(Mt 25:31-46.) Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God:(Tob 4:5-11; Sir 17:22; Mt 6:2-4) He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food must do likewise.(Lk 3:11.) But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.(Lk 11:41) If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?(Jas 2:15-16; 1 Jn 3:17) 

Galatians 5:6:For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. In conclusion: We are saved by God's "Grace Alone" through Faith that works in Love which is also the message in today's gospel. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Luke 11:47-54

...Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”...