sorry can't reconcile, grace via works??? if via works, I thought
that would be reward? grace is undeserved favor, is it
not?
You are right, grace is undeserved.
However grace inspired faith and works are the response or that
manifestation to that intial grace which is given.
INDIVIDUAL SALVATION
It begins with the grace of God which touches a sinner's heart, and
calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited; it
proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God. Man may
receive or reject this inspiration of God, he may turn to God or
remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man's free will.
Thus assisted the sinner is disposed for salvation from sin; he
believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God's
justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to
him for Christ's sake, begins to love God as the source of all
justice, hates and detests his sins.
This disposition is followed by justification itself, which
consists not in the mere remission of sins, but in the
sanctification and renewal of the inner man by the voluntary
reception of God's grace and gifts, whence a man becomes just
instead of unjust, a friend instead of a foe and so an heir
according to hope of eternal life. This change happens either by
reason of a perfect act of charity elicited by a well disposed
sinner or by virtue of the Sacrament either of Baptism or of
Penance according to the condition of the respective subject laden
with sin. By the merit of the Most Holy Passion through the Holy
Spirit, the charity of God is shed abroad in the hearts of those
who are justified.
The Bible and Sacred Tradition goes hand in hand, not the Bible
alone.
what happen if conflicts between tradition and Bible?
Well, from the Catholic point of view, so far Sacred Tradition
has not contradicted the Bible. However, I'm sure there are some
non-Catholic Christians who'll object to that.
