Not by good works which we have done

I frequently talk to people, Catholic and Protestant, mostly Protestant, who say that good works are not necessary for justification.   Some of them will point out that St. Paul’s Epistle to St. Titus, says, 

Titus 3:5New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done

    but because of his mercy,

he saved us through the bath of rebirth

    and renewal by the holy Spirit,

And they will stress that this verse says that God saves us, “not because of any righteous deeds”.  And it does say that.  As you can see, this is a Catholic interpretation of the verse and it says the same thing.  But, if you read the entire thing, perhaps you have already seen the problem.  The problem is that they stop reading too soon.  There’s a lot more.  Let me break it down and unpack it.

5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done

Read it carefully.  It doesn’t say, “You don’t need to do any works”.  Nor, “not because of works at all”.  Nor, “don’t do any works.”

It says, “not because of any righteous deeds which WE HAVE DONE”.  What does that tell you?

It tells me that Jesus is not saving those who have not done any good works.  The set of people who are being saved is clearly, those who have done good works.  This is perfectly consonant with Matt 25:31-46.  Remember the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats?  Who were the Sheep?  They were the people who did good deeds.  Who were the Goats?  They were the people who did not do good works.  Which group was saved?  The Sheep, because they did good works.  Because of the value of their good works.  No!  Because they did good works.  Because they obeyed Christ.  There’s a difference.  We don’t pay for salvation.  Christ did that upon the Cross.

Do you understand the difference? 

No?  Maybe an example will help illustrate.

I have a daughter.  I said to her, “if you graduate, I will give you a car.”  She graduated, I gave her the car.

Did she earn the car?  No.

Did she merit the car?  Yes.

What’s the difference? 

Well, if she took her diploma to the car dealership, would she be able to exchange her diploma for the car?  No.  

So, who paid for the car?  I did.

Ok, so let’s translate it to our salvation. 

God said, if you do good works, you will be saved.  (Matt 25:31-46).

The Saints did good works.  God saved them.  

Did they earn salvation?  No.

Did they merit salvation?  Yes.

Could the Saints take their works and exchange them for salvation?  No.  Christ paid for their salvation from the Cross, if they kept the Commandments and thus obeyed His Word:

Hebrews 5:9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,