One of the 5 pillars of the Reformation is Sola Fide (by faith alone). Faith alone is true in the right context. Martin Luther's testimony is an interesting one to read. In his testimony, Luther felt called to religious life after being faced with death. He served as a monk, then entered the Priesthood. He might have felt that being a monk was the only way to achieve salvation. During his time in the monastery he read the Scriptures and was compelled by Paul’s letters, especially the book of Romans. Many sources say that it was there that he encountered the truth that it is faith that saves (see Romans 1:17). One of the issues of a non-Catholic reading a former Catholic's testimony, especially of one who started a new faith group, is that it can be so easy to assume that Martin Luther’s testimony is a reflection of how he or any other former Catholic views Catholicism.

 

One major difference between Protestants and Catholics is the idea that Catholics believe that they need to do good works to enter Heaven. In contrast to most Protestant beliefs that it is by faith alone that Christians enter into Heaven. 

 

Firstly the Catholic Church disregards that a person can do work to be accepted into Christ’s family (The initial grace to salvation, our first yes to God). It is only by our faith in Christ and accepting Him into our lives that we receive His grace. Some Catholics may believe otherwise, however, it's not what the Catholic Church teaches. The majority of all Christians would believe what the Catholic church believe in that regard. After that Christians would believe that good works comes out of our faith in Christ, and that’s of course true. Although Catholics and Protestants may have a different interpretation of how good works plays a role in Salvation. 

 

"For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8) 

 

Catholics and all Christians should believe that we are saved through faith. We are saved by our faith in him, and through that faith we are called to follow through with God’s work that He has prepared us to do. 

 

As faithful Christians, we are to take up our cross and follow Christ. This includes putting into action our faith. Even though God prepared our hearts to do good works, we still need to say a “yes” to do it. Jesus doesn't want us to be couch potatoes; that isn't what genuine faith means. Jesus gave us gifts that we must use if we're going to follow him. Faith is more than “yes, I believe in Christ”. It is a requirement to put those gifts into action, or our faith is dead.

 

The only place in the Bible, where the words "faith alone" appears is in James 2:14-17 where the author asks if your faith can save you if you don't give people in need the necessities of life? James is stating here that true faith produces good works. And if you have faith without works, then the faith is dead, as it isn't the true faith of Jesus Christ. Visa-versa, we aren't saved by doing work without faith. We can't say as true Christians what we're doing is right without the Holy Spirit working through us. When we have faith in Jesus and follow Him, we are made right and united with Him.

 

We understand that the genuine love of Christ produces fruit that can be seen as "works". Galatians 6:7-9 speaks about sowing and reaping harvest. We understand that Paul is speaking to members who are already Christians because we know that works without the Spirit is useless. In these verses we understand that sowing bad seeds will produce bad crops, but sowing good seeds, will produce good seeds, which will bring everlasting life. Paul reminds us not to become tired of doing good, because that will be rewarded.

 

If we look carefully in the Scriptures, we notice two different kinds of "works" are mentioned. Throughout the Old Testament, faithful figures such as Noah, Moses, and Abraham, show us the two different types of good work. Firstly there is the good work people did to earn God's approval. This included offering burnt sacrifices, circumcision and temple rituals. God was displeased with many of these offerings because even though the person was offering up the animal, it was not an offering of oneself in heart and mind to follow God. It was more a "ritual" than a true "self-sacrifice" to follow the Lord. We mostly see these practices throughout the Old Testament. 

 

In the New Testament, we read in Paul's letters, that these kinds of works don't save you. At the beginning of the Church, many divisions were among the Jews and Gentiles on how you are saved. The Jews claimed that sacrifices and circumcisions save you, with or without faith in Jesus Christ. Paul writes to the Church telling them that faith saves you, not because of these particular works but the works that come from Jesus Christ. (see Galatians 5:6). God was pleased with Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc. because they believed and trusted God, and followed His commandments with their hearts and minds. (see 1 Corinthians 7:19.)

 

The other meaning of good works is the works, or good deeds that come from genuine faith in Christ. These are not commonly named works, but are considered good works as these men followed Christ in their heart and mind, and gave themselves up to do the Lord’s will. These are required in our relationship with the Lord. Just like the genuine faith that led Noah to build the ark and enter into it. Similarly, like the faith that prompted Abraham to leave his home to go to a land God would give him; especially the faith that Abraham had to agree to sacrifice his only son Issac. Paul mentions that doing good and helping another are sacrifices that please God.

 

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he makes it very clear that  God will judge us according to our works. “For God will reward every person according to what he has done. Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honour, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life.” Romans 2:6-7

 

Catholics believe that we receive graces through the sacraments, baptism, the Eucharist, marriage, etc.; and through faith-filled good works. We receive these graces because we place our trust and faith in the Lord, just like the grace you would receive by praying or going to a Sunday Service. It is out of genuine faith and love for Christ that produces good works. When we love someone truly, we want to give everything we have to them. So in summary, Catholics and Non-Catholics Christians believe the same thing in this regard. Good works are implanted into genuine faith. When we love God with all our heart, we will have an unconscious desire to serve him. The importance of helping others is that we are a witness to Christ. Through our faithful works, people learn who God is; it sets the word of the Lord in action. Each of us has a unique gift to serve each other through God's love. (see 1 Peter 4:10)

 

Just because we are imperfect human beings, does not mean we cannot strive for holiness through our faith in Christ. God wants us to strive for holiness; He created us in His image and likeness. No one can be righteous without God, and can feel accomplished by their works when they do not come from genuine faith. We are put right in Christ by putting our faith in Him and following His commandments.

 

Matthew 25:32-46 says it very clearly that our works are essential in our relationship with Christ. Christ teaches that those will have put their faith into action, such as feed the hungry, caring for the sick etc, have served him, and those who did not are not close to the Lord. Christ reminds us that every time we serve someone, or care for them, we are serving Him.

 

Our works of faith shows our commitment to our faith. Everything that we do should reflect our faith in God, not trying to show how good we are, or to please others. 

 

The Scripture says “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”. But let's be honest, are any of us perfect? Even when we receive Christ into our lives we still sin. The Lord calls us to put our faith into action; to serve the poor, love our neighbours, reach the lost, etc. But are we going to do that super well when we are Christians? I don’t know. When we love Christ but find it challenging to do things He commanded us to do, should we give up on those things and wait for someone else to do them? no, we shouldn’t. We should always be giving the Lord our best. 

 

Luke 12:48 "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." This verse addresses how God gives us much, yet God expects us in our genuine faith to use those gifts to be fruitful and multiply. A good example of this is found in Matthew 25:14-30. This parable is a representation of Christ, who is the true master, and his servants. The parable reminds us that we are His servants, not the other way around. The master in the parable gives each servant a certain amount of talents. This is what God does for us; He gives us gifts that He wants us to share to others, so we can be fruitful and multiply. The first two servants go out and invest their talents and return with more. However, the last servant who is unfaithful to the master takes his one talent and hides it in the ground. The servant produces nothing from it. He disrespects the master and shows that he doesn't have faith in his authority. This servant doesn't use his gift fruitfully and ends up losing his relationship with the Master. This parable demonstrates what happens when we misuse our gifts from God; we disrespect the Lord and show that we are unwilling to do His work. 

 

Our relationships with our loved ones should reflect our relationship with Jesus Christ. We have to both love and serve our loved ones, they should be interconnected.