Hi, Michael —

The subject of faith and works is a complex one. I suggest you search our knowledge base for keywords such as justification and works. In essence, when Paul refers to works in Romans and Galatians, he's referring to the Law of Moses given the Jews (see Acts 15:1, Galatians 3:10, Deuteronomy 26:17, Galatians 2:14, Galatians 4:24), in particular circumcision (Galatians 5:2-3). This term, "works of law", is a technical term even found in the Dead Sea Scrolls that means the ceremonial elements of the Law of Moses. So St. Paul is not saying that our salvation is not dependent on what you do. That would contradict many other Scriptures, including those in Paul's writings (Romans 2:6).

We as Catholics can say that we are saved by grace through faith working through love
(Galatians 5:6).

Not eating meat on Fridays (we don't abstain on feast days) comes from the power Jesus gave to the Church to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19), which refers to disciplinary matters, and from Hebrews 13:17, which says to obey your leaders. It is rooted in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 and Jesus's assumption that we will fast (Matthew 6:16-17, Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35).

The Jews at that time fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), on Mondays and Thursdays. A first century Christian handbook for those entering the faith, the Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, said you shall not fast like the hypocrites on Mondays and Thursdays, but on Wednesdays and Fridays. Eventually, in the West, that was abbreviated to abstinence from meat on Fridays.

As for your second question, this was a matter, not of an official action on Peter's part or a doctrine he taught, but based on his inconsistent behavior. Basically, he wasn't living up to what he himself had proclaimed in Acts 15. So Paul, who was also an Apostle, rebuked him.

It's entirely possible to criticize a pope for acting contrary to the faith. It's also possible to question some of his official actions. In fact, St. Catherine of Sienna told the pope he should move back to Rome from France. She was even a layperson. Nevertheless, that's very different from questioning him on a matter of faith or morals that he proclaims, particularly in his capacity of confirming the brethren in their faith.

Eric

Hi, Michael —

Thanks for you question:

Mortal sin is, in effect, a denial of ones faith through an act of the will. For a sin to be considered mortal, (3) three elements must be present. The sin:

1. must be of a grave nature
2. the person must have time to consider the consequences, and
3. the person must give full consent of the will.

So mortal sin is not something that happens at the drop of a hat.

In Romans 4, Paul quotes Genesis 15 and says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) So according to your theology, that must be the point where Abraham was justified and saved.

The only problem is that the author of Hebrews points to Genesis 12 where Abraham leaves his family and homeland to follow God as the point where he had saving faith then James points to the binding of Isaac as yet another point where Abraham is justified. (James 2:18-24)

So the only conclusion is that Salvation is not static, but rather dynamic. It grows and matures throughout one's life as the righteousness of Christ manifests itself in our life.

Carefully read that great chapter 8 of Romans. Notice that although Paul says there is no condemnation for those in Christ, (Romans 8:1) later on in the chapter he says,

13-14 If by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh, then we are the sons of God.

Romans 8:13-14

Well, the sentence starts with the word If. That implies we have a choice and that choice is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and by the power of the Holy Spirit resist sinning (committing deeds of the flesh). Now we know from chapter 7 of Romans that even Paul struggled to defeat sin in his life. Hence the answer is to repent of sin once one commits it. 1 John 1:9 tells us that:

9 If we confess our sin, He (Jesus) is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Nevertheless, it's not just a matter of getting forgiveness when we sin. Christ, gives us the grace to resist and overcome sin as we mature as Christians. So good works aren't only signs that we are saved as you put it. The more we flex our faith muscle by responding to grace, we increase or faith and therefore our justification grows in quality.

So Salvation is not this one time event that is static. Yes, we are objectively justified when we are born again, but that starts the beginning of a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. As Paul writes to the Philippians:

6 He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

So it is all a work of Christ in us. Every good work we do as a Christian is the work of Christ in us. We don't discount free will. We can choose to cooperate or we can choose not to cooperate. The ability even to choose, is indeed, also a free gift from Christ.

I hope this helps,

John