Pastor's Corner; Kenny St. Hilaire

Much ink and, unfortunately, much blood have been spilled over the question of salvation. From the early days of Christianity, believers have sought a fuller understanding of what is required for entrance into eternal life. The question is even posed directly to Jesus in the Gospels: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Scripture and Tradition teach that it is faith – in itself a gift from God – that saves. Unless one embraces the truth of Jesus' saving action through faith, one cannot be assured of eternal joy.

Of course, there are people in the world who have no opportunity to hear the proclamation of the Good News. That doesn't mean they have no possibility of salvation. If they live good lives and sincerely seek to know God, then they have an implicit kind of faith that God will honor on the last day.

For those who have the benefit of full access to the saving message of Jesus Christ, rejection of faith – while knowing that faith is the path to salvation – amounts to the rejection of salvation.

There are those who believe that having faith doesn't matter so much as doing right and treating others with kindness and respect. This is essentially to claim that God cares not whether they reject the Son he sent to save them, but will instead reward their good works with eternal life.

On the other hand are those who believe that a one-time confession of faith is sufficient to carry them to heaven when their life on earth is complete, in spite of the way they live from day to day. What is the logical implication? A person could accept Christ as a youth, fully reject him as an adult, and God would bestow eternal life on the person whether it was wanted or not.

God does not force his love on anyone. It is a gift freely offered that must be freely received.

Jesus said, "By their [Christians'] fruits you will know them." He also cursed the fig tree that bore no fruit. Many times in the Gospels, he taught his followers that they must not only "talk the talk" but also "walk the walk" if they want to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The bottom line is this: living faith saves. A dead faith has no power to raise one to life everlasting. Believers' good deeds are evidence that their faith is alive and making a difference in their life. The works themselves cannot save, but if they are missing, then that faith is not the kind of faith that will lead a soul to heaven.

For the Christian, faith and works are inseparable. Make sure