them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (St.
Matt. 5:19).
In the Parable of the Talents (St. Matt. 25:14ff.) the three servants who had
received varying talents received similarly varying rewards.
Ever since the beginning of the Reformation, Protestants have stridently
claimed that we are justified by faith alone and that good works are not
necessary for salvation. This is based on Martin Luther’s interpretation and
insertion of the word “alone” in Romans 3:28 and 5:1. At most, they say,
good works are only the results of imputed justification, not necessities in
their own right. John Calvin was of the view that the whole Reformation
stood or fell on the issue of “faith alone.” For both Luther and Calvin,
Catholics taught a gospel of justification by “good works.”
In response to the Protestant challenge the Catholic Church formally
declared as follows:
“If anyone says man can be justified before God by his own works,
whether done by his own natural powers or through the teaching of
the law without divine grace through Jesus Christ, let him be
anathema.”³
In fact, Scripture repeatedly tells us of the need for good works to be saved:
“Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (St. Matt.
7:21).
“If you would enter life, keep the commandments” (St. Matt. 19:17).
“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, Teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the
law? How do you read? And he answered, You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength,
3
Canon 1 on Justification, Jan. 13, 1545.
 |
 |
 |