[color:purple]Further clarifying what Ron wrote and my response to him:</font color=purple><br><br><blockquote>Ron originally wrote:I'm not all together crazy about using the word "saved" when trying to discuss the nuances of merit with respect to justification but I think I grasp what you are saying. Let's see whether I do or not.<br><br>You stated that works done while in a state of grace are meritorious but that they don't "add to salvation." The reason you give is that one is either "saved or not saved". I trust therefore that you would say that the grounds of our justification (i.e. our being declared righteous and pardoned, presumably by virtue of the infused righteousness of Christ as opposed to the imputation of His righteousness) is always apart from our works that are wrought in Christ. In other words, your position seems to be that although works will indeed be present in the life of the redeemed such works that are wrought in Christ by grace are never the grounds by which one is justified.<br><br>Assuming I understand you correctly, How do you square your doctrine with Canon 23 On Justification taken from Trent? <br><br>Trent states: [color:red]"If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ...does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life, -- if so be , however, that he depart in grace, -- and also an increase of glory: let him be anathema."</font color=red> <br><br>Trent seems to be clearly agreeing with you that meritorious works done in grace may add to an increase of glory. Nonetheless, canon 23 On Justification also seems to teach that the merit of good works is "the good merits [color:red]of him that is justified"</font color=red> and consequently those works may then [color:red]"merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life..."</font color=red> <br><br>I'm sure I am missing something so please tell me how your doctrine comports with Trent. <br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Ron</blockquote><br>[color:purple]To the post I'm responding to now, Ron writes:</font color=purple><br><blockquote>Scott,<br><br>Your previous post does not in any way reconcile your view of merit with that of Trent's. I think if you could reconcile the two views you would have done so yourself without quoting other sources. It would seem that you are still after all this time "halt between two opinions." <br><br>I remain hopeful for you, Scott.<br><br>Ron </blockquote><br>----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>[color:purple]First off, thanks for remaining hopeful Ron. Second, as I highlighted in what you quoted above, "the good merits [color:red]of him that is justified"</font color=red>, Trent is still referring to "him that is justified." I must assume your problem is the wording of "an increase (of)... the attainment of that eternal life," and that seems to be the problem of Jason and others too. In the context that Trent is speaking here, we're still talking about one in the state of grace. If one passes on in such a state, they will have attained eternal life - but not of themselves, rather of grace. Works cannot increase whether one is saved or not, for again, one is either saved or he isn't - and that initial grace is still unmerited. If one merits an increase in grace through works, that doesn't increase one's salvation - again, that's an either/or situation - but one can attain greater rewards due to works, hence an increase, perhaps, in one's position (level of heaven or amount of rewards) but not an increase in the attainment of salvation. <br> <br>Does that better answer your question and/or reconcile the difficulty you seem to be having with Trent?<br> <br>In JMJ,<br><font face="Brush Script MT" class="bigger">Scott<<<</font><br> <br>PS- I thank you again for your patience.<br></font color=purple><br>
