Faith alone is faith in oneself

Faith in works to obtain salvation is not faith in Christ.

Faith in works? Really?

Let's see if that is true. When has any Catholic proclaimed themselves saved by works? Name one. Some of you were once Catholic, so I suppose that your parents were or maybe, are still, Catholic. Ask them if they have declared themselves saved because of their works.

Ok. If you are honest, you will admit that we deny that we are saved in this lifetime. Again, if you are honest, you will remember that when you were Catholic, you were told that we do not know if we are saved, but we await God's judgment of our deeds. 

True or not?

If a Catholic were to declare himself saved because he did so many good works, then that Catholic doesn't know his Catholic faith.  

Ok. Now, let's look at those who claim to be saved by faith alone. There's many of you. You roam the streets asking people if they are saved and when they say that they don't know, you pounce and say, "I am saved by my faith alone!"

But that isn't faith in Christ. That's you declaring your faith in yourself. Here's the proof.  

You say that one is saved unto good works. Because, you say that faith which does not provide good works is not a saving faith. Ok. If your faith is a saving faith, what works do you have to your credit to prove that your faith is a saving faith? How many works must you do in order to prove that your faith is a saving faith? If you can't provide any proof, why do you declare yourself saved?

I'll tell you why. Because of your exceedingly great faith, in yourself.

Keep the Mass in Christ-Mass

In this secular world, Christians decry the fact that non-Christians have taken Christ out of Christmas.  But that was bound to happen after non-Catholic Christians took the Mass out of Christmas.  Christ-mas is Christes Masse.  Or the Mass of Christ.

Wiki says:Christmas (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ[6][7] and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25[3][4][5] by billions of people around the world.[2][8] A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide, which ends after the twelfth night.[9] Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations,[10][11][12] is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians,[1][13][14] and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

Historically, every Christian holiday has been celebrated in the context of the Mass.  That is why we have the ancient celebrations of Michaelmas (the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel), Lammas (the festival of the wheat harvest), Candlemas ( Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.), and Hallowmas (All Saints Tridium).



First, non-Catholics took the Mass out of Christmas.  Sure, they celebrate Christ, but they don't worship Him the way that God wants Him to be worshipped.  In the Mass.

Hebrews 10:25-31
King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

That, is a description of the Mass and the anger which God feels when people neglect the Mass.

First they took the Mass out of Christmas.  And now they have taken Christ out of Christmas.  It was bound to happen.

Today, the Catholic Church continues to celebrate Christmas in the fullest sense of the word.  The Catholic Church celebrates Christ in the Mass.

The Thief on the Cross and works salvation

Objection:

A well known example is that of the thief on the Cross who had no time for works, but was with the Lord Jesus and the Father that very same day.

We view that differently. The Thief on the Cross, whom we know as St. Dismas, produced many works of faith. Here are just a few:

1st. Jesus is sovereign God. His Word is law. So, therefore St. Dismas went straight to heaven after he died, according to Christ’s word. HOWEVER, note that St. Dismas didn’t die immediately upon Christ’s word. But continued to suffer even after Christ died. Why? I’ll list the reasons below:

2. Christ does not contradict His own Word. Scripture says:
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
Therefore, St. Dismas had to expiate his sin before he went to heaven. Jesus knew this, therefore He did not permit St. Dismas to die before he suffered sufficiently upon his cross (John 19:31-33).

3. Scripture also says:
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Note that St. Dismas died in union with Christ. Compare him to the other thief who died in disunion with Christ.

4. Scripture continues:
Matthew 10:32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Note that St. Dismas also confessed Jesus before men (Luke 23:39-41). 

5. Note also, that St. Dismas did a work of gold (1 Cor 3:10-15). His confession is memorialized in Scripture for eternity and has converted many men to the Faith of our Lord, Jesus Christ (James 5:19-20).

And St. Dismas went straight to heaven, in accordance with all the Teachings of the Catholic Church.

How then, do we receive His mercy?

Question:

How do you understand "not by works" in Eph 2:9 and what does it apply to?

The same way that I do in Titus 3:5.

Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness we have done".

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So, Ephesians 2:9 says, in essence:

9 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, lest any man should boast.

In other words, God requires us to do works of righteousness. But that isn't what saves us. What does?

Titus 3:5 says:

but according to his mercy he saved us,

What does that mean? Well, let's go to the Old Testament:

Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

In other words, in order to receive God's mercy, we must love Him and keep His Commandments.

But the works don't save us. They are a prerequisite to receive His mercy. 

How then, do we receive His mercy?

by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

What's that? That's a description of Baptism. In other words, it is in the Sacraments, that those who have done the will of God, receive His mercy. In other words, His grace.

So, how does this relate to Ephesians 2? Let's look at Ephesians 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;

This is a very succinct and apt description of the Sacraments. It is in the Sacraments that God pours out His grace upon those who make a proclamation of faith. 

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The Holy Ghost is God. Therefore, this gift is the way in which St. Paul describes the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost in this letter. This also ties back to Acts 2:

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In a nutshell:

Only those who do good works are saved by God.  

Faith alone people suffer with two false assumptions.

The difference between Catholics and Protestants is that they see faith as something that they can measure. Therefore, they claim to be saved by faith alone. I'm reminded of the question that faith alone people ask faith and works people. 

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The Magisterium and 2 Tim 3:16

Before I begin, I’d like to thank those who are participating in the comments on the article, “Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church as described in the New Testament”. This subject was brought up in those comments and let me explain something to you, the epistle known as the 2nd Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy (2 Tim for short), has nothing to do with Sola Scriptura.

2 Tim is about preaching and teaching. Let’s go over it.

St. Paul exhorts St. Timothy to give oral testimony

Chapter 1 verse 7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

St. Paul commands Timothy to teach others to teach.

Chapter 2 verse 2

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Let's skip over chapter 3 for now:

Another exhortation to preach.

Chapter 4: 2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

The whole book is about preaching and teaching!

Do you really want me to believe, that throughout the epistle of 2 Timothy, St. Paul is telling Tim to preach and teach, but in Chapter 3 verse 15-16 he changes and tells him to pass out Bibles? That seems far fetched to me. But lets study the verse in its immediate context. What is the immediate context of the 2 Tim 3:16? Let's look at some of the verses leading up to it.

It remains, oral teaching. Listen. We'll begin in verse 10:

Chapter 3 verse 10

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

I have taught you and you have learned.

Skip to verse 14

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

So practice what you have learned considering from whom you have learned them.

verse 15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Now, think about this carefully. Does a child have to know how to read in order to know the Scriptures? In my house, my children and I meditated on the Scriptures since before they knew how to read. So I know that the answer is, "No."

Now, let's break down the verse itself

Chapter 3 verse 16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

Is that true? Yes. Remember what St. Peter said:

2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

So, all Scripture is inspired. But that doesn't say that Scripture alone is inspired. It says that men were inspired to PREACH. Yes, to PREACH. These men then turned around and wrote down the Scripture.

To say that Scripture is inspired by God is a short hand manner of speaking which means that men who were inspired by God to preach His Word, wrote the Scripture.

and is profitable for doctrine, 

Profitable for doctrine. But profitable does not mean necessary.

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Is it fair to ask who is doing all this reproving, correcting, and instructing in righteousness? Is it not a teacher? If so, does this verse not assume the existence of a Magisterium and thus support the Catholic Doctrine of handing down Tradition by an appointed Teacher, (Magisterium means Teacher).

Bottom line

The entire book of 2nd Timothy is about preaching, teaching and handing on Tradition. 2 Tim 3:16 does not support Sola Scriptura. It supports the Catholic model of handing on the Word of God by Tradition and Scripture in accordance with the consistent Teaching of the Magisterium of the Church.