Fr McCafferty wrong on ‘faith’ justification
FR Patrick McCafferty is in error when he states in his letter (Write Back, November 7) that the scripture does not teach justification by faith alone. The book of Romans is the answer to this (Rom 1 vs17; Rom 3 vs26; Rom 4 vs16; Rom 5 vs1-2).
To say that Romans 3 vs28 teaches anything else but justification by faith alone is doing a grave disservice not only to Luther, but more importantly to Paul, who in the context in which he is writing, makes it clear that God “justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (vs26).
To underline that he does not mean faith and works, Paul then says “that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (vs28). Could it be plainer and clearer that we are not justified by faith and works, but faith alone?
We could also add Paul’s magisterial statement in Ephesians 2 vs8-9 that “by grace you have been saved through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast”.
If it is faith and works, as Patrick suggests, and not faith alone, then we could boast, but Paul says something entirely different.
Galatians 5vs 6, which Patrick quotes, is again taken in its context of Paul emphasising that keeping of the law will not justify, or save, anyone (vs 4). It is faith by which we wait for “the hope of righteousness” (vs5) — ie the expectation for the future which our justification brings.
For this future salvation, we wait — we do not work for it; we wait for it by faith. We do not strive to secure it, or imagine that we have to earn it by good works. So, by faith, trusting in Christ alone, we wait for it. Patrick is correct to say that works are a sign of living faith (James 2 vs14-25), but they are the fruit of faith and not its root. Regarding being judged by Christ on the basis of works of love (Matthew 25 vs31-46), we need to underline that the good deeds mentioned are not the basis of entrance into the kingdom, but are evidence of those that Christ has described as “righteous”, for they have been declared righteous by Him (vs37).
To put it succinctly, we are saved by grace and judged by works (Matt 16 vs27; Rom 2 vs6; 2 Cor. 5 vs10).