Download This PaperJustification by Faith and Good Works: Thomistic Support
59 Dialogue: Journal of Phi Sigma Tau 226 (2017)
18 Pages Posted: 30 Apr 2020
Date Written: April 1, 2017
Abstract
All Christians hold that grace is a free gift from God, something that man can never earn. St. Thomas Aquinas categorizes God's gift of grace into habitual grace and sanctifying grace; Christians agree the later is necessary for justification. How the process of receiving the sanctifying grace for justification plays out in reality is, however, an ongoing debate.
This paper argues that a sound understanding of the metaphysics of both human will and God's will reveals that, to be justified, some sort of response is required by the human will. This leads to a defense of the Catholic soteriological position of justification by faith and good works. Acknowledging that both Protestants and Catholics rely on the Bible as authoritative on matters of religious truth, this paper cites the Bible as authoritative on such matters.
This paper was awarded the 2016 Rossner Medal at Rockhurst University, an annual award given to the finest philosophy paper of the year at Rockhurst University and is issued by Faculty of the Department of Philosophy.
Keywords: Philosophy, Theology, Thomism, Aquinas, Justification, Soteriology
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