Topic:  Are you saved by faith or works?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: March 24, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Robert

Question:  I have a friend, and he comes strictly from the bible. He believes that a person is saved by faith alone. He went through and pointed out quotes from the bible esp. from Romans 10,8-10. I also went through and pointed out quotes and tried to explain that one needed both faith and works. He also quoted Christ, 'Believe in me and you will be saved.' I then tried to point out that Christ didn't merely teach through his words, but through his actions as well. I told my friend in order to follow Christ we must act as Christ and not just merely believe in him. The conversation went around and around. Could you help me to get to show my friend why one needs both faith and works. Thanks for your help, Michael Lies

Answer: 

Michael,

Faith and works work together. As the Book of James says, faith without works is dead.

Catholics believe that we are saved by God through the grace of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. We accept God's saving grace in faith. It is not a dead faith without works. It is not a faith that involves only saying a statement like "Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior." Faith, to me, is a response of our minds but also of our lives.

I cannot help you to "show my friend." He believes what he believes, and so do you. My guess is your conversation will continue to go "around and around." That doesn't mean you should not continue to converse - that is up for you to decide - but you may want to consider the value of each of you trying to convince the other. In my experience, I have found the cliche "sometimes it is better to agree to disagree" to be true.

Keep your faith at the center of your life and keep sharing God's love for you with others through the gift of friendship.

Thanks again for your question and God bless.

Father Robert