Yes. God’s favor is grace. Therefore, we receive it in Baptism. But not for the first time. Faith itself is also a grace. It is the prevenient grace which we receive without any merit on our part. And we first receive faith when we turn to God, in conversion.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
CCC#2027 No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.
CCC#1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.
Are we not in God’s favor when we are in a state of grace?
Yes. God’s favor, is grace. In Catholic Doctrine, there are two types major categories of grace. Natural grace, which is received by all mankind. And Sanctifying grace which is received in the Sacraments.
Sanctifying grace was not given to mankind until Jesus Christ established the Sacraments. Yet, in the Old Testament, we see that Noah and others received God’s favor.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Sooo, what is the difference. Adoption.
In the Old Testament, the Jews were not the born again children of God. So, Noah and company found grace in God as a friend of God. Where we are empowered to approach God cryng, “Abba! Father!”
How does that sit with your idea that God justifies the doer?
Its not my idea. Scripture says so:
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
And this Teaching is best illustrated thus.
Have you heard it said that justification is forensic? Forensic means legally judged.
So, lets say you have two sets of people.
One set is do gooders. One set is evil doers.
Which set is righteous in the eyes of God? Who is legally judged to be righteous?
The do gooders, right?
THAT illustrates the forensic justification in the Old Testament.
But in the New Testament, there is more. Once God forensically judges the repentant sinner, righteous, He pours into their hearts, His grace, which St. Paul refers to as His righteousness. When He does this, the man is born again, renewed and regenerated by the grace of the Holy Spirit. This occurs in the Sacraments.
And that illustrates the justification of the New Testament, which is both, forensic and efficacious. That is why justification in the New Testament permits us to walk amongst the Saints.
That also explains the Communion of Saints. Since we walk amongst the Saints, we can communicate with them. Read Heb 12:12-24.
Also can you explain your idea of merit to me and how it works?
I’ll try.
Are our works equal to the reward of eternal life?
No. Neither is our faith.
TRENT VI CHAPTER VIII HOW THE GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION OF THE SINNER BY FAITH IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD
But when the Apostle says that man is justified by faith and freely,[44] these words are to be understood in that sense in which the uninterrupted unanimity of the Catholic Church has held and expressed them, namely, that we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation and root of all justification, without which it is impossible to please God[45] and to come to the fellowship of His sons; and we are therefore said to be justified gratuitously,
because none of those things that precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification.
For, if by grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the Apostle says, grace is no more grace.[46]
Let’s say that a father says to his son, “if you get an “A” in math, I’ll buy you a car.”
Is the car equal to the value of the “A”? Not in real terms. But it is to the father. He has obligated himself to give this gift on these terms. He promised.
But is this is a gift? Yes. It is a free will gift which the father decided to give the son in order to give him incentive to get the “A”. No one twisted the father’s arm in order to force him to give this gift. He made the promise of his own free will.
So it is with works of righteousness and God. Works of righteousness do not equal eternal life in real terms. But they do to God the Father. Therefore, God has obligated Himself to give eternal life to those who do the works of righteousness which He wills be done.
We can’t earn eternal life because like the “A” doesn’t equal the car, our righteous works don’t equal eternal life.
But we can merit it because as the father promised to give his son the car if he got an “A”, God, Our Father, has promised that He will give us the gift of eternal life if we keep His Commandments.
On another blog, someone asked,
DeMaria, can you explain your idea of merit to me and how it works?
Here's how it went.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
One set is evil doers.
CHAPTER VIII
HOW THE GRATUITOUS JUSTIFICATION OF THE SINNER BY FAITH IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD