Questo articolo è disponibile anche in: Italian English German

Hello, I am a Christian guy, mainly Catholic but also a little Protestant and I would like to ask questions: 

1)To think that a person is justified and forgiven only because he believes and hopes in salvation regardless of one’s works and one’s sins (as Saint Paul often says and as some Protestants believe) is consistent with the message of the gospel or is perhaps an incomplete interpretation?

2) Is faith operative in charity? 

3) Is it possible that a Christian with authentic faith could be damned for eternity?

4) Since sin was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve it is not our fault but their fault. So since we are innocent we should not be punished. 

5) To be forgiven by God for any sin is it enough to put faith in him or is it also necessary to repent?

6) Can a lay believer testify the gospel to an audience? 

Thank you very much Father Angelo 

God bless you!

Dear friend,

1. It is true that Saint Paul says that we are justified by faith and not by works. Here is one of his best-known statements: ”  [yet] who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by work of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Gal 2:16). By justification we mean justice, that is, the holiness or divine life that God communicates to men. In the Sacred Scripture, justice is often synonymous with holiness, with grace. For this, for example, Joseph is called righteous. Justification involves at the same time the remission of sins and an interior renewal. It is a matter of a supernatural reality. No man’s work could deserve it because of the disparity between what is natural and what is supernatural. It is freely given to men by God. And it is precisely for this reason that we speak of grace, of benevolence, of concession, and of mercy.

The works of the law according to Saint Paul are the good works according to the law of Moses and in particular the observance of some ritual laws such as circumcision, the various washings that had to be done for touching objects that were touched by pagans who Jews considered unclean, and other purification rituals because of contact with bodily secretions. In any case, says Saint Paul, none of these works can obtain supernatural communion of life with God, union with Christ precisely, because these are acts created by humans. Grace is a gift of God that is given to those who open themselves to God through faith.

2. This faith in turn is not identified with the natural devotion for which man recognizes the existence of God and some of his perfections. But it is that intervention of God in the heart of man (here is grace!) by virtue of which man is supernaturally opened to God and is united with God. In this sense, faith is a gift of God and it is only the work of God. It is clear then what St. Paul means when he says that we are justified (that is, united with God) only by faith (that is, by the work of God) and also when he says that “by the works of the Law no one will be justified” (Gal 2:16).

This faith is not limited to saying that God exists, but bears fruit in good works. This is why St. Paul says: “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Gal 5: 6). And it is also for this reason that he says: “If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13,2). St. James in turn will say: “Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?” (Jm 2,20). “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is also dead” (Jm 2:26).

3. So you have no reason to be a little Protestant. If faith is authentic, it works through charity. If it does not work through charity it is not authentic and it is not sufficient to save itself. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me,’ Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21).

 4. Regarding the other questions: “since sin was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve it is not our fault but their fault. So since we are innocent we should not suffer any punishment ” Yes, about Adam’s sin, which is original sin, we are not guilty. He committed it and we are not punished for this sin. Instead, we are guilty of the sins we commit.

5. To be forgiven of the sins we have committed, it is necessary to be repentant. Without repentance there is no forgiveness. Not only that, but it is also necessary to confess because confession is the ordinary means to be forgiven, as the Lord has established: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you retain, are retained” (Jn 20:23). 

6. Finally, you ask me if a lay believer can testify the gospel to an audience. Why not? Jesus said: “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16). 

While I wish you faith, indeed a very great faith that works through charity, I assure you of my prayers and I bless you.

 Father Angelo