The difference is stark, as summarized by several websites. But in my humble understanding, the Catholic belief is that "good works" AND faith are required in order to be saved, whereas Protestantism teaches us that we are made right with God apart from our works. Meaning, because of our faith (alone) in God's grace, our honest-to-goodness relationship with Him will inevitably yield good works, and we will be saved.
So that's that. It wasn't really anything new to my ears. Furthermore, the Internet articles are secondary resources in my opinion, so I decided to set aside the argument until I can get some facts straight from actual scripture. (Because I got college-research-paper-citation-training-like-that).
Not long after, I came across this verse, Philippians 2:12-13 NASB:
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.The key words being "work OUT" your salvation, and not "work FOR" your salvation. Which points to how we have really already been saved, and how salvation is not something to be worked FOR :)
It also emphasizes how God is continually at work within us. He knows the desires of our hearts. All we need is the discipline and to do our part, so that His work will be completed in us.
I especially found it interesting how, even in the NIV and HCSB bible versions, the translation of "work out" is retained and never paraphrased. In NLT, it is translated into "work HARD"...but never ever working FOR.
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Couldn't I start with a less-controversial topic?
Fortunately (or unfortunately), this was the reflection that stuck with me far enough to reach my Blogspot dashboard, so it must be important to carry the blogging out, for my own well-being more than anything.
I guess you can say this is me diving in.
