The Just Shall Live By Faith: Resolving the Catholic-Protestant Debate on Justification from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

by Erick Ybarra

On this note, it would be wise to finish off by quoting from an early Saint of Merovingian Gaul, Caesarius of Arles (468-542), who admonished his flock on the need for faith, repentance, and good works in light of the coming judgment: We must fear lest someone believes so strongly that he will receive God’s mercy that he does not dread his justice. If a man does this, he has no faith. Likewise, if he dreads his justice so much that he despairs of his mercy, there is no faith. Since God is not only merciful but also just, let us believe in both. Let us not despair of his mercy because we fear his justice, nor love his mercy so much that we disregard his justice. Therefore, we should neither hope wrongly nor despair wickedly. A man who hopes wrongly thinks he can merit mercy without penance and good works; one who despairs wickedly does not believe he will receive mercy even after the performance of good works. Therefore, above all, we should consider and fear lest we believe that faith without good works can suffice for us.[221]