The good and the grace

Editorial Staff

In the first verses of the letter to the Ephesians saint Paul affirms that “In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace” (the grace of God). But I wonder if the protestants and those who affirm that salvation is a gift of God and not a result of righteous things are right.

R.T.

On 31 October 1999 with a joint declaration the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation reached full communion on the doctrine of “justification by faith”. “The understanding of the doctrine of justification set forth in this Declaration shows that a consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification exists between Lutherans and Catholics. In light of this consensus the remaining differences of language, theological elaboration, and emphasis in the understanding of justification are acceptable”. This means that Catholics are right... and that Protestant are not wrong! The role of grace is fundamental because God takes the initiative of salvation for all mankind with his endless love. Nonetheless, it is precisely of the nature of love to want to correspond to love with signs and gestures of gratitude and correspondence. If it is true that salvation is a free and “gracious” gift, it also remains true that we have the desire to respond with passion and industriousness so that grace may act within us and bear fruits of grace around us.