Roman Catholicism Also Rejects The Idea That Good Works Springs Forth As A Result Of Salvation

By -
The Roman Catholic Church ALSO rejects the idea that good works are the evidence of salvation by these sections of the Canon Law:
Canon 24. If anyone says that the justice (righteousness) received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of the increase, let him be anathema. 
Canon 32. If anyone says that the good works of the one justified are in such manner the gifts of God that they are not also the good merits of him justified; or that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ (of whom one is a living member), the justified does not truly merit an increase of grace, and eternal life, provided that one dies in the state of grace, the attainment of this eternal life, as well as an increase in glory, let him be anathema.

Looking at these verses in the Canon Law of Roman Catholicism which I got from Just For Catholics, it's clear that the religion itself denies several Biblical fundamentals about salvation and sanctification.  The two sections are wrong for the the following BIBLICAL reasons which makes the stand of the Reformation of "Salvation by faith alone but a faith that is not alone." as Scriptural as it is:

  • First, Ephesians 2:8-9 says that men are saved by grace through faith and not of works, so no one could boast.  So that means no amount of good works can increase one's righteousness before God.  If salvation is a gift from God, then the good works that Christians do is part of the whole package of the free gift of salvation.  
  • Second, Ephesians 2:10 says that good works are ordained for the believer that they should work therein, as the worksmanship in Christ.  That is, any good work according to the Bible is the result of Christ's work which can also be seen in:
    • John 15:1-8 - It discusses that the fruit bearing Christian is but the grace of God's work int the believer.
    • Romans 3:31 - By faith, the Law is to be fulfilled by the Christian and faith does not make the Law void.
    • Romans 4:5 - You become righteous not by your own efforts but by God's own efforts.  You do good works because God has counted you righteous, not the other way around.
    • 1 Corinthians 9:11 - It is clear that any change in life is a result of God's sanctifying power that changes the vilest of men to be counted among the righteous.
    • Galatians 5:22-23 - The fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer are genuine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance.  That is, the Holy Spirit works in the believer.
    • Philippians 2:13 - It says it is God that works inside the believer for both His good will and pleasure.
    • Titus 2:11-14 - God's grace teaches men to live godly, soberly, resisting evil, to become a peculiar people who are zealous unto good works.

This of course creates the scenario of the Pharisee and the publican for the works salvationist.  The works salvationist prays like the Pharisee.  On the other hand, Paul dared not credit himself for any good he did when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."  That is, by the Canon Law, Paul is already condemned because he says that his good works are the fruit of his salvation, not the cause of his salvation.