Certain evangelicals place much of their confidence in a faith profession in Jesus as their chief saving act. However, the Scriptures define “saving faith” in terms of loving obedience. Faith must be made real, not simply in a moment of inspiration but in a lifetime of witness. Sanctifying grace comes along with faith and baptism but can be lost through mortal sin. A saving faith can sour. It is for this reason that the sacrament of penance is of paramount importance. But few seek out the priest’s absolution. Jesus has given his Church the benefit of his healing and mercy but too many shun the sacraments. What happens to a person obstinate in sin who takes his spiritual intransigence to the grave? As of this writing there are some 62 million Catholics in the United States. Lapsed or defecting Catholics who are likely never to return is assessed at about 41%. Not counting the possible number of non-Catholics who will be counted among the damned, this means that around 25 to 26 million will be convicted by Christ for deliberately forsaking his Church. Maybe they blame the scandals or maybe the world was better with its message of greed, lust and power? Warmongers make poor messengers of Christ’s peace. People who are angry with God have no room in their souls for grace. Those who hate, a political epidemic in our society, can know neither the love of neighbor nor of God. Disappointment in God and pointing the finger at others, while excusing ourselves of culpability, allows for no repentance and amendment of life. Those who delight in the excess of the senses, especially regarding lust, not only defile themselves but strip others of value and treat “persons” as “commodities.” Those who refuse to pray or worship God would not want any part of heaven’s constant adulation of the divine. Those who strip the innocent unborn of any right to life are enemies of the incarnate Christ Child— the God that comes to save.
Too many profess “Jesus” with their lips or claim incorporation in Catholicism like a club membership, while not walking the walk with our Lord. They live immodest lives of impurity. Their hearts are cold. They live like beasts, subject to the passions, but unmoved by the spirit. The idols of new age religion or confessions that reinvent Christ are given their loyalty. Some may literally worship the “almighty dollar.” All will have to render an account to the Lord (1 Peter 4:3-5). While we speak of the Lord as judge, we will each convict ourselves.
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Blogger Priest 
Appreciate your comments but you, as many Catholics, misrepresent what many non Catholic Christians believe about salvation and works. As an “evangelical” (I personally don’t like the label). You imply we don’t care about obeying God. This is not true.
I often hear from Catholics about their perceptions of us who believe we are saved by God’s grace, through faith, in Christ alone. Many Catholics, particularly Catholic apologists, assume we “evangelicals” believe we can continue to sin with impunity because we have our “ticket to heaven punched”. As a bible believing Christian, I have never been taught this. Not even once. And I, with a Catholic background myself, have been in non Catholic churches for over 30 years. Again, the opposite of what you say I believe is the teaching I have received. I have always been taught that because I have the righteousness of Christ, I must walk in that righteousness, not in the flesh as unbelievers do.
Our understanding of salvation is that repentance is required since Jesus said “repent and believe the gospel”. Repentance is tantamount to the obedience you speak of. Its a willful choice to turn away from sin and turn to follow Jesus in obedience. This is the living faith that manifests in the saved Christian as the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10).
We do not disregard good works. We simply make a distinction that works cannot solve the sin problem which is a legal issue in the courts of heaven. We all sin which is a violation of God’s law. Only the blood of Jesus can cover our sin. We who believe and follow Christ do not pit works against faith. We embrace both in the proper sequence as defined in Eph 2:8-10. Salvation first, then walk in the good works – the calling of God on our lives. This is the clear sequence depicted in this important passage.
We do not disregard James comments about faith without works is dead. We do not see this as one scripture refuting another, for all scripture is from God and He does not contradict himself. So then we must pursue right understanding. If Paul speaks of salvation apart from works is he at odds with James? No. Its salvation – the forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross – that Paul says must come by faith, knowing this includes repentance as required by the Lord. Then Paul goes on to speak in agreement with James about the good works of God, not working for salvation but working from salvation. James and Paul agree about the quality of saving faith manifested in good works. This is what true, biblical followers believe about these two important issues. While you likely don’t agree, I hope that this at least helps you understand what we truly believe.
Sincerely,
A Clark