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faith ~ love ~ works

"The immediate expression of love is action. Theologians have discussed the question of how faith can result in action. The answer is: because it implies love and because the expression of love is action. The mediating link between faith and works is love. When the Reformers, who believed salvation to be dependent on faith alone, criticized the Roman Catholic doctrine that works are necessary for salvation they were right in denying that any human action can produce reunion with God. Only God can reunite the estranged with himself. But the Reformers did not realize, and the Catholics were still only dimly aware of it, that love is an element of faith if faith is understood as ultimate concern. Faith implies love, love lives in works: in this sense faith is actual in works."

Paul Tillich, Dynamics of Faith, (New York: Harper Torch Books, 1957), (pp.115 – 117)

Thanks to a fellow campus minister for this quote.

What do you think? Does faith imply love? Does love live in works? IF so, is faith actual in works?

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