Do We Have to Add Something to Faith to be Justified?

A caller asks me if faith in Jesus Christ alone justifies or if we must do something after justification to be justified

[firstevidencelpr]

As a former reformed protestant and now Catholic, I do appreciate the efforts to bring unity and charity to all the body of Christ. The Lord prayed that we would be one and that the world would know us by our love for one another.

[dynamic]

Really appreciate this video..Really inspiring Catholic Apologist..

[Jrce]

You’ve been doing good work on this topic, brother. Another way of thinking about things.

[iancouser]

Jimmy, I am a Protestant and the answer you gave is very close to what we as Evangelicals believe. You clearly rejected the idea of a salvation of works, and you reiterated that it is in fact faith in the finished work of Christ which saves us — and our repentance from sin and obedience to God’s word are the result of our saving faith. You were even clear that we aren’t saved “because” we avoid mortal sin, but that avoiding mortal sin absolutely does matter, and is expected by born-again Christian’s. And if we fall into sin after we become justified, we get back up on our feet and ask God for the strength to do better

Do you think there’s a chance than Catholics and Evangelical Protestants might not be so different after all when it comes to how we are saved? Perhaps it’s merely how we word it, but mean the same thing?

Genuine question. Thanks!

[andyy]

Thank you for engaging this topic many times! I feel like I understand it more each time you debate on it.

[MrsNiz]

Jimmy please do a Mysterious world episode on how you manage to stay so peaceable with callers that seem a bit hostile. Way to go Jimmy!!!🎉

[tombretislow]

Good answer from Jimmy! A totally orthodox Catholic answer.

[Ebgb]

Jimmy Akin, the Jimi Hendrix of Catholic Apologetics- good luck keeping up with him. Amazing.

[ZachFish-]

It’s not about actions determining wether you’re under salvation, but if faith is evidenced through works and repentance, no?
So if someone murders, what would be them not being under saving Grace is that their faith is faulty, right?

[patricpeters]

Speaking as a Catholic, I would still say that the “what counts as mortal sin” issue is actually a big difference, at least practically, in terms of Catholic vs. Protestant views. Even if the fine-print Catholic doctrine is just “don’t commit mortal sin and you’ll be fine, ” still, the impression Catholics — even theologians — give, historically, is that it’s quite easy to fall into mortal sin. Think about the scrupulous folk who feel Iike they have to go to confession every week because they fear they have fallen back into mortal sin. I’m not so sure if this is a great understanding of mortal sin, especially considering the peace we are supposed to have being justified. Perhaps fundamental option was on to something…

[nintendogeek]

So I have a question. Maybe some of the comments can answer I have a problem. I'm fairly new Catholic. I went through rcia, took a year and a half 2 years. Got baptized in 2023 and confirmed to 2023 me and my wife to the same time. My son got baptized on the same day as us and we running to a problem with well cradle Catholics and we're new. We're still learning a lot of the traditions. A lot of things you should and should it do and we don't have family and we don't really have a lot of friends so we don't really have people teaching us. We're kind of learning in the community as we go along. How does someone address a catacath account account of being rude or off-putting without being disrespectful cuz I would like to learn from somebody who may actually know the faith better than me and I don't want to come off as being rude because they're being rude I want to be, I just don't know how to handle those situations

[John_Six]

😂 that caller made me laugh in the beginning.

[exerciserelax]

Never noticed Jimmy's pipe collection before.

[cw-on-yt]

Hmm. "Do We Have to Add Something to Faith to be Justified?" No, but we have to _allow God to add_ something, and not _actively block Him_ from doing so. The "something" God will add includes perseverance in faith, formation in hope, and (as opportunity allows) supernaturally-prompted works of charity which _just are_ the outflowing of grace in us, the good works that God prepared for us beforehand, that we should walk in them. The way we "block" these gifts-of-God is either by _resisting_ them (neglectful inaction), or _rejecting_ them by knowingly-and-willfully doing their antithesis.

[tonyl]

Can sins of omission be mortal sins? If so, doesn't that mean one can sin mortally by refusing to do a good work one is obligated to perform?? Even Trent Horn has been adding this caveat/qualifier lately. Do I really have to call into Catholic Answers to get an answer? Avoidance of mortal sin doesn't save, but it does maintain one's salvation, yes??
Love your work, Jimmy, but I feel compelled to keep asking. I think it's a good question worth asking/answering.

[noelko]

In justification not by faith alone for example in Matthew 12:36-37
[36]But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
[37]For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Timothy Is Preacher God give him a duty as A Teacher, If he does not do his duty what will happened ? 1 timothy 4:16, EZEKIEL 3:18:21 he will not save All Souls that lose because of him he is Accountable for this like EZEKIEL if the soul will lose because Because he let him walk the wrong way God will perish him

Instead Timothy Speak The Gospel which is the power for salvation Romans 1:16 he Speak a commedy story that is a vain Cannot save people He will be hit by what Jesus said matthew 12:36-37, instead he Speak the Gospel for Salvation Romans 1:16
He speak commedy story that cannot save, He will not justified matthew 12:36-37

We Goes to the opposite 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul admitted
And the opposite matthew 5:10

If paul will not preach the gospel is woe unto him 👉 But if he preach the Gospel he will suffer persecution Matthew 5:10
[10]Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If he Speak comedy he will not persecuted However woe unto him if he not preach the Gospel

it doesnt matter of suffering persecution Matthew 5:10
[10]Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
if he Speak comedy No Persecution
if he Speak love story There is no Persecution but if he Speak the Gospel He suffers persecution like the same christian Acts 9:4
Paul said owe unto me if he not preach the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:16👉 but if he Preach the Gospel he will suffered persecution but it doesn't matter he will suffer persecution Matthew 5:10
[10]Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

if Paul and Timothy Instead they Speak the Gospel for Salvation Romans 1:16 they Speak Comedy story and love Story they please people because they speak love story and comedy story the people will laugh, But it is vain Cannot saved a soul as jesus said Matthew 12:36-37
[36]But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
[37]For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Paul and Timothy Commanded By God to preach the Gospel and the scripture said Revelation 22:14
[14]Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

[noelko]

Additional
Faith alone cannot Stand alone Did Paul said that your faith in Christ is enough??? the answer is No 1 Corinthians 7:9 verry clear He give a procedure to escape into burn, Did Paul said that your faith in Christ is enough ??? answer no
Hebrews 12:14
[14]Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14
Did paul said that your faith in Christ is enough ?? The answer is No No No Hebrews 12:14
[14]Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

if we say holiness is Spotless Avoiding the Sin of omissions James 4:17
[17]Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. if a person Living in a Sin of omissions that is opposite of Holiness

And jesus instructed if you are endangered in fire in hell You must reconcile to your brother matthew 5:22-24 And jesus said Matthew 25:45
[45]Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. If you will not reconcile to your brother 👉Matthew 25:45
[45]Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Reconcillation resulting into peace The Revenge will be Removed from mindset of your brother The Act of Reconciliation is Holiness yes the Act of Reconciliation is holiness

if you refuse to reconcile your brother you not Reconcile to jesus as jesus said 👉Matthew 25:45
[45]Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

No ACT of Reconciliation there is no justification

If anyone not obey the Gospel they will suffered everlasting destruction 2 Thesalonians 1:8-9

not only believing the Gospel but also to obey the Gospel as also said 👉Romans 2:13
[13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. as the scripture said Proverbs 28:9
[9]He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
for its impossible to pray without faith

[Toothpirate]

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” John 3:36

To believe is to obey, an integral concept that flies over the heads of those in fake “Christian” sects (protestants)

[donhaddix]

It is entirely true that the one verse in the Bible that contains the exact phrase “faith alone” seems to argue against salvation by faith alone. James 2:24 reads, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (ESV). However, rejecting the doctrine of salvation by faith alone based on this verse has two major problems. First, the context of James 2:24 is not arguing against the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Second, the Bible does not need to contain the precise phrase “faith alone” in order to clearly teach salvation by faith alone.

James 2:14–26, as a whole, and especially verse 24, has been the subject of some confused interpretations. The passage definitely seems to cause serious problems for the “salvation by faith alone” concept. First, we need to clear up a misconception, namely, that James means the same thing by “justified” in James 2:24 that Paul means in Romans 3:28. Paul is using the word justified to mean “declared righteous by God.” Paul is speaking of God’s legal declaration of us as righteous as Christ’s righteousness is applied to our account. James is using the word justified to mean “being demonstrated and proved.”

The 2011 NIV provides an excellent rendering of James 2:24: “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (emphasis added). Similarly, the NLT translation of James 2:24 reads, “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone” (emphasis added). The entire James 2:14–26 passage is about proving the genuineness of your faith by what you do. A genuine salvation experience by faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably result in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10). The works are the demonstration and proof of faith (James 2:18). A faith without works is useless (James 2:20) and dead (James 2:17); in other words, it is not true faith at all. Salvation is by faith alone, but that faith will never be alone.

While James 2:24 is the only verse that contains the precise phrase “faith alone, ” there are many other verses that do, in fact, teach salvation by faith alone. Any verse that ascribes salvation to faith/belief, with no other requirement mentioned, is a declaration that salvation is by faith alone. John 3:16 declares that salvation is given to “whoever believes in Him.” Acts 16:31 proclaims, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” See also Romans 3:28; 4:5; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; 3:24; Ephesians 1:13; and Philippians 3:9. Many other verses could be referenced in addition to these.

In summary, James 2:24 does not argue against salvation by faith alone. Rather, it argues against a salvation that is alone, a salvation devoid of good works and obedience to God’s Word. James’s point is that we demonstrate our faith by what we do (James 2:18). Regardless of the absence of the precise phrase “faith alone, ” the New Testament definitely teaches that salvation is the product of God’s grace in response to our faith. “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? . . . On that of faith” (Romans 3:27). There is no other requirement.

[donhaddix]

Justification, salvation and sanctification
Justification – forgiveness, the clearing of all of my guilt and the deserved penalty for committed sins, through faith in Jesus Christ, who took on the penalty for my sins and paid the price by dying in my stead. (Galatians 2:16) This leads to salvation.
Salvation – saved from the penalty of committed sin, but – even greater – also from the very root of sin; from the bondage I was in to the body of sin. (Hebrews 7:19, 25) The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in me and works in me, leading me to overcome sin before it is committed. I am saved from the necessity of committing sin just because I have sin – which leads to …
Sanctification – This is the result of salvation. It is the transformation from human to divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 5:48); being made holy. This is a process I undergo throughout my lifetime as I, in obedience to the Spirit, put off the works of the flesh and take on the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-16)