Firstly, yes, faith must come with actions. As said in James,
faith without action is dead. However, the context as what was said
in James is that, When someone is truly justified, he is truly
saved and regenerate. Therefore, we see the results of true saving
faith as they are manifested in the changed life of the one
justified by faith alone. Real faith produces good works but it
isn't these works that save you. Good works are the effect of
salvation, not the cause of it in any way and they certainly do not
help anyone keep their salvation. It does not mean that You NEED
FAITH AND WORKS to be saved, however if a person claims to have
faith but yet does not show works, it is a dead faith because TRUE
FAITH IN GOD will PRODUCE good works.
Secondly, talking about the TRADTION that was used by Roman
Catholics as supposed 'REVELATIONS', let us refute this step by
step.
* In Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 97, it states that
"Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred
deposit of the Word of God . . ." thus we can say that Roman
Catholics view the bible as equal to Tradition.
* If the Holy Bible had mention that the Sacred Tradition is
trustworthy, naturally it would be for us to believe. Roman
Catholics claim that the Sacred TRadition is equal to the bible,
therefore, it is equally inerrant.if the Bible said do not trust
tradition, then Sacred Tradition would be instantly and obviously
invalid. . In either case, the Scriptures hold the place of final
authority and by that position, are shown to be superior to Sacred
Tradition. If Sacred Tradition were really inerrant as it is said
to be, then it would be equal with the Bible. But, Gods word does
not say that Sacred Tradition is inerrant or inspired as it does
say about itself (2 Tim. 3:16). To merely claim that Sacred
Tradition is equal and in agreement with the Bible does not make it
so. Furthermore, to assert that Sacred Tradition is equal to
Scripture is to effectively leave the canon wide open to doctrinal
addition. Since the traditions of men change, to use tradition as a
determiner of spiritual truth would mean that over time new
doctrines that are not in the Bible would be added and that is
exactly what has happened in Catholicism with doctrines such as
purgatory, praying to Mary, indulgences, etc. Furthermore, if they
can use Sacred Tradition as a source for doctrines not explicit in
the Bible, then why would the Mormons then be wrong for having
additional revelation as well?
Thirdly, for the purgatory issue, the only verse in the BIBLE that
Roman Catholics seek out to support this doctrine is "If any mans
work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be
saved, yet so as through fire." found in 1 Cor 3:15.
The context speaks of Paul having planted the Corinthian church and
that another person was building upon that work: A few verses
earlier Paul says, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing
the growth." Paul goes on to say that unless a person builds upon
the foundation of Jesus, his work will be burned up the in the day
of judgment. Paul is simply using the terms that are familiar with
the people of the time. Fire was the tool used to purify metals and
to get rid of that which was unwanted, the dross. So too, on the
day when our works are examined, the fire of judgment will both
purify and remove. This will not affect our salvation, but it will
affect our rewards. This is not talking about becoming saved or
staying saved.
1 Cor. 3:15 does not teach purgatory as a place we go to in order
to have some of our sins cleansed from us. It teaches that even
though the person is justified by faith and cannot face damnation,
his works will, however, be judged on "that day." Those works which
are good will survive the fires of judgment the way gold, silver,
and precious stones can survive fire. But false works will be
consumed the way fire consumes wood, hay, and straw. What is left
has no bearing on whether or not we are saved. It has to do with
rewards in heaven.
