Why do Catholics believe that they can receive salvation by their deeds If that is so there was no need for Jesus to die on the cross?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerCatholics do not believe they can receive salvation by their deeds unless their deeds are informed by Faith. Catholics believe that part of true Faith is doing the works that the Faith, as given by Christ, teaches through His Church and His revelation which is preserved in the written and oral tradition of the Church. Catholics believe Jesus' death is what gives works merit, for unless He made the redemption of mankind, all works would be done in vain. By "works" Catholics understand the seven sacraments and all virtuous actions done for the love of God and neighbor.

The following passage from St. James has been given to illustrate an example of the necessity of good works:

2:14. What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

2:15. And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:

2:16. And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?

2:17. So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

2:18. But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without works; and I will show thee, by works, my faith.

2:19. Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.

2:20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

2:21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

2:22. Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?

2:23. And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.

2:24. Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?

2:25. And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?

2:26. For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.

(Protestant rebuttal moved to discussion page as this is not a debate as per WIKI guidelines)

Answer 2

Catholics do not believe that they are saved by good works alone. They believe that they are justified by faith andsaved by good works as that is what The Bible tells us. We have faith to believe that Jesus died for our sins but as Jesus said, "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." St. James tells us in his letter that 'Faith without good works is dead' and Matthew Chapter 25 reinforces that where he writes of Jesus describing the final judgement. Nowhere in the Bible will you find that we are saved by faith alone. We are justified by faith but saved by good works. By his death Jesus opened the gates of Heaven to us but he will not pull us through. That is our responsibility to earn by serving God on earth.