Contrast of Protestant/ Catholic view of Justification in Eph 2

Read the link given here:

http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/ephesians2.html

This is a very helpful piece that contrasts the Protestant and Catholic views on justification. It demonstrates the aspects of whether justification is just a declaration , an imputation, or if it is an infusion giving a real change ("made us alive" Eph 2:5).

It also discusses the kind of works that God says are good---those done by his grace in Eph 2: 10. He says God's enabling by grace of these good works are all part of God's gift.

There is also extended helpful quotes on the Reformed view and the Catholic view. The Catholic view gives some statements by the Council of Trent which explains the differences in the final cause of justification, the efficient cause, the meritorious cause, the instrumental cause and the single formal cause.

This article also touches upon Phil 2:12-16--God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (works done in his power by his grace) and Titus 3:4-7 about the fact that "he saved us...according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit"--both passages demonstrate a change--they speak in terms of a transforming that takes place and not just a declaration . "God renews us we do not renew ourselves. This cleansing is not an aftereffect of our salvation , but the means of it. Paul writes we are saved by the washing, not by the imputation. This is infusion of grace not an external imputation of Christ's righteousness."