Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 341- Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 341 – Part III. Can someone earn heaven by good works?

(Youcat answer - repeated) No. No man can gain heaven merely by his own efforts. The fact that we are saved is God’s grace, pure and simple, which nevertheless demands the free cooperation of the individual.    

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2009) Filial adoption, in making us partakers by grace in the divine nature, can bestow true merit on us as a result of God's gratuitous justice. This is our right by grace, the full right of love, making us "co-heirs" with Christ and worthy of obtaining "the promised inheritance of eternal life" (Council of Trent (1547): DS 1546). The merits of our good works are gifts of the divine goodness (Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1548). "Grace has gone before us; now we are given what is due.... Our merits are God's gifts" (St. Augustine, Sermo 298, 4-5: PL 38, 1367).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Although it is grace and faith through which we are saved, nevertheless, our good works ought to show the love produced by God’s action in us.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2027) No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.    

(This question: Can someone earn heaven by good works? is continued)