Faith alone, not deeds, required for salvation, papal preach
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Faith alone, not deeds, required for salvation, papal preacher tells pontiff
By Cindy Wooden
12/16/2005
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even those who spend their lives serving the church must recognize that faith alone will save them, the preacher of the papal household told Pope Benedict XVI and his closest aides.
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"Christianity does not start with that which man must do to save himself, but with what God has done to save him," Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said in his Dec. 16 Advent meditation.
The preacher told the pope and top Vatican officials that they, like St. Paul, must avoid any temptation to think that the good works they have accomplished will guarantee their salvation.
"Gratuitous justification through faith in Christ is the heart" of St. Paul's preaching "and it is a shame that this has been practically absent from the ordinary preaching of the church," he said.
Father Cantalamessa said that the Protestant Reformation debate over the role of faith and works led the Catholic Church to focus so much on the need for the demonstration of faith in actions that it practically ignored the need for faith in the first place.
St. Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, warned believers of the "mortal danger" of putting their own good works between them and Christ, as if the works would save them, Father Cantalamessa said.
Conversion to the fact that faith in Christ is the only means of salvation "is the conversion most needed by those who already are following Christ and have lived at the service of his church," the Capuchin said.
"It is a special conversion that does not consist in abandoning the bad, but abandoning the good, in a way," he said. "It means detaching oneself from everything one has done, repeating to oneself, 'We are useless servants; we have done only what was required.'"
Father Cantalamessa told a familiar Italian story about the shepherds near Bethlehem going to visit the newborn Jesus, each of them trying to outdo the others with the beauty of the gifts they offered.
One poor shepherd had nothing and was ashamed.
"Mary could not figure out how to accept all the gifts, since she was holding the baby in her arms," he said. "So, seeing the poor shepherd with his hands free, she handed Jesus to him."
"Having his hands free was his fortune and it should be ours as well," Father Cantalamessa said.
Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops -
http://wooq.blogspot.com/2006/01/faith-alone-not-deeds-required-for.html
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Faith alone, not deeds, required for salvation, papal preacher tells pontiff
I have discovered the Catholic Online news article Faith alone, not deeds, required for salvation, papal preacher tells pontiff through the website of James White. It is quite astonishing to read of the Protestant doctrine of salvation through faith alone from a Roman Catholic theologian.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
"Christianity does not start with that which man must do to save himself, but with what God has done to save him," Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said in his Dec. 16 Advent meditation.
The preacher told the pope and top Vatican officials that they, like St. Paul, must avoid any temptation to think that the good works they have accomplished will guarantee their salvation.
"Gratuitous justification through faith in Christ is the heart" of St. Paul's preaching "and it is a shame that this has been practically absent from the ordinary preaching of the church," he said.
Father Cantalamessa said that the Protestant Reformation debate over the role of faith and works led the Catholic Church to focus so much on the need for the demonstration of faith in actions that it practically ignored the need for faith in the first place.
This sermon came from no ordinary Roman Catholic. Raniero CantalamessaÂ’s website gave the following description of him:
Raniero Cantalamessa is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest. Born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, 22 July 1934, ordained priest in 1958. Divinity Doctor and Doctor in classical literature. Former Ordinary Professor of History of Ancient Christianity and Director of the Department of religious sciences at the Catholic University of Milan. Member of the International Theological Commission (1975-1981).
In 1979 he resigned his teaching position to become a full time preacher of the Gospel. In 1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II Preacher to the Papal Household in which capacity he still serves, preaching a weekly sermon in Advent and Lent in the presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops an prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders.
If the Vatican does heeds the advice of Raniero Cantalamessa (though it seems unlikely), then it may have to, for the first time, reverse the canon of the Council of Trent (1545-1563).
CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.
It is only as recently as 1998 in its official Response of the Catholic Church to the Joint Declaration of the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation on the Doctrine of Justification where the Vatican dealt with the doctrine of justification:
The Catholic Church maintains, moreover, that the good works of the justified are always the fruit of grace. But at the same time, and without in any way diminishing the totally divine initiative (5), they are also the fruit of man, justified and interiorly transformed. We can therefore say that eternal life is, at one and the same time, grace and the reward given by God for good works and merits.
Â…
In pursuing this study further, it will be necessary to treat also the sacrament of penance, which is mentioned in n. 30 of the Joint Declaration. According to the Council of Trent, in fact (7), through this sacrament the sinner can be justified anew ( rursus iustificari ): this implies the possibility, by means of this sacrament, as distinct from that of baptism, to recover lost justice (
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As we can see, there is no change from its position affirmed at the Council of Trent. However, if the Vatican concludes we are justified by faith alone, then it follows that the sacrament of penance is not needed any more since there is no “lost justice” to be recovered. Its sacramental works-based system can be abolished.
There is an interesting article found in Raniero Cantalamessa’s website, which is a transcript of the “talk delivered to the world wide representants of Alpha Course
London, 27 June 2005.”
Very early in the article, I am delighted to see that Cantalamessa affirms the doctrine of Solus Christus, which I am ashamed to say, many evangelicals do not embrace. In particular, he strikes out at the liberals who teach there are many ways to salvation. Actually, in my opinion, he appears to be even more "Protestant" than the megachurch preacher Joel Osteen, who denies the doctrine of Solus Christus.
From this point of view, then, Jesus Christ is very much present and exploited in our culture. But if we turn to the ambit of faith, where he really belongs, we notice a disturbing absence, or even rejection of him. First of all among theologians. One theological current today holds that Christ came for the salvation of the Gentiles, not of the Jews (for whom, they say, it is sufficient to remain faithful to the Old Covenant). Another current says that he is not necessary for the Gentiles either, since they, through their religions, have a direct relationship with the eternal Logos and have no need of any mediation by the Word incarnate or his paschal mystery. We may well ask, for whom then is Christ still necessary?
He also spoke of the need to preach the gospel; the importance of evangelism of the gospel above all other social needs. This immediately brings to my mind Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The Church is generally accepted and esteemed as a social agency, for her work in favour of peace and social justice, but is ill tolerated or ignored as soon as she starts speaking about Jesus and his Gospel. Ecclesial movements and individuals who dedicate themselves to evangelization and promotion of faith are easily labelled as conservative, reactionary or fundamentalist.
Lest I am misconstrued as completely agreeing with him, I would like to state that I strongly disagree with his ecumenism as the heart of the gospel lies in the doctrine of justification. To deny or to misinterpret this doctrine can be eternally fatal. Cantalamessa said,
The affirmation that this salvation is received by faith and not by works is certainly present in the text, and at the time of the Reformation it was the point that most urgently needed to be brought back into focus. But now that we have reached fundamental agreement on this point (see the document issued jointly in 1999 by the Catholic Church and the World Federation of Lutheran Churches), we are challenged to rediscover and together proclaim what was the fundamental point in PaulÂ’s teaching: the universal relevance of ChristÂ’s redemption.
Contrary to his speech that implies we can move forward from the doctrine of justification, I would point out that the Common declaration on the Doctrine of Justification issued by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation (1999) shows no change in the Roman Catholic position – that justification can be lost. The document states:
30. Â… But when individuals voluntarily separate themselves from God, it is not enough to return to observing the commandments, for they must receive pardon and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the word of forgiveness imparted to them in virtue of God's reconciling work in Christ. -
A seminar i attended by a priest recently was something along this line. There can be no salvation if u depend solely on good works and no faith. Contrary if u have faith and do not engage in good works, wad sort of faith is that? good works and acts of mercy flow from faith, but salvation is not a one-off decision and we have to constantly be vigilant to engage in charity (note that this isn't juz constrain to alms-giving or assistance to the poor) and spreading of the gospel.
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That is right. But i think many people are confused that Salavation is through FAITH AND WORKS. The BIBLE clearly states that SALVATION will only come through FAITH in GOD, and FAITH ALONE, no other conditions.Originally posted by ben1xy:A seminar i attended by a priest recently was something along this line. There can be no salvation if u depend solely on good works and no faith. Contrary if u have faith and do not engage in good works, wad sort of faith is that? good works and acts of mercy flow from faith, but salvation is not a one-off decision and we have to constantly be vigilant to engage in charity (note that this isn't juz constrain to alms-giving or assistance to the poor) and spreading of the gospel.
BUT, like what you said, in James 1:22, it says BE DOERS or GOD's WORDS not just HEARERS. If a CHRISTIAN who received salvation but do not do good works persistently, you have to question that person's faith. Becos a person who truly loves God and abides in Him will NATURALLY, led by the SPIRIT, do good things. -
This is my take on things.Originally posted by ben1xy:A seminar i attended by a priest recently was something along this line. There can be no salvation if u depend solely on good works and no faith. Contrary if u have faith and do not engage in good works, wad sort of faith is that? good works and acts of mercy flow from faith, but salvation is not a one-off decision and we have to constantly be vigilant to engage in charity (note that this isn't juz constrain to alms-giving or assistance to the poor) and spreading of the gospel.
Salvation is receieved by the grace of God, through faith in the finished and completed works of Christ. Man's work does not comtribute to this, neither can man's mistake or lack of works subtract anything from it. In regards to works, its because we are saved by grace, that we wants (not we must) to do them. Christ is the reason and movitation why we want to do them. -
i might be wrong but, i've always understood that faith superceeds works. but since we're on this topic, lets go on to the usual arguementOriginally posted by gasband:That is right. But i think many people are confused that Salavation is through FAITH AND WORKS. The BIBLE clearly states that SALVATION will only come through FAITH in GOD, and FAITH ALONE, no other conditions.
BUT, like what you said, in James 1:22, it says BE DOERS or GOD's WORDS not just HEARERS. If a CHRISTIAN who received salvation but do not do good works persistently, you have to question that person's faith. Becos a person who truly loves God and abides in Him will NATURALLY, led by the SPIRIT, do good things.
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
could i draw ur attention to verse 21, 24 and especially 26.
bear in mind that i am not saying that works superceeds faith. but rather that works is still a necessity.
something like a guitar and it's strings. Faith is a guitar but the strings (works) are still needed to do up a good song or in this case salvation. (sorry for the lousy analogy). Again it's a matter of where ur inclinition lies i guess. -
Abraham,
on the way up, Issac asked, where are the sacrifies? Abraham answered him, "The lord will provide".
Abraham believed, he believed in God. His actions on putting Issac on the alter is a manifestation of what he had already believed. Faith in God comes first, follow by the acts that come from the faith in God.
on Faith without work is dead, my take is this.
Everyone can says "I have faith in God", how do you know if I really have faith in God? or I am just lying about it? The only way for you to know is by how I live my life, by the fruits of my works, because beside this there is no way you can see what's in my heart.
when James says, I will show you my faith by my works, my opinion is this, I will show you what I believed in by how I live my life.
The Holy Spirit searches our heart, that's why He knows when we really put our faith in the Christ. so there is no need for us to show actions before Him.
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Hey BEN, if you read my post, u will realise I agree with you UNLESS you are saying DEEDS are needed before you are considered SAVED.
DEEDS are NECESSARY not becos they save you but becos any CHRISTIANS who claim to have received salvation will do DEEDS becos of the FRUIT of the HOLY SPIRIT. Any christian who claims to love God but yet do no good things do not really love Gpd. -
Anyway, there was a similar discussion on another thread and I think it is a never ending discussion.
