Here is what your ccc says:
2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.
1) You are Protestant and therefore are not qualified to our Ecumenical Councils.
2) The above being said, you got right that no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification.
here is what Jesus says: John 3: 16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
I do not understand why you think this passage refutes Trent's Canon. Who is suggesting that one can be saved by works alone? Who is suggesting that Faith and belief in Christ are unnecessary?
Jesus, the apostles, or scripture never said of Faith plus works save.
And there is good reason for that. Faith PLUS works does NOT save. Catholics do not believe Faith PLUS works saves anyone.
Catholics believe Faith AND works save. Note the preposition "AND." Faith and works are NOT opposed---and again, I do not understand why Protestants insist on opposing Faith and works--as though they are unrelated.
And scripture nowhere says that works add ANY MERIT to attain eternal life.
Here also, Catholics do not believe we "ADD" merit to the merits of Christ to attain eternal life, Catholics believe that Christ's merits are their merits, thus, we "merit" with the merits of Christ.
That is the whole reason we can merit in the first place! Don't you get that?
Jesus said, "it (His work of redemption) is finished."
To what does "it" refer? Does "it" refer to the work of redemption? If so, that seems rather absurd--since there is still the resurrection, the ascension and Pentecost to follow. If "it" refers to the work of redemption, then you have just proven that the resurrection, ascension and Pentecost are unnecessary.
I believe "it" refers to the earthly work and ministry of Christ. That seems to me to be the simplest explanation for "it." Christ is saying "I did it." That is "I completed my earthly work." I also believe "it" refers to the suffering and death of Christ in the flesh. That also is finished. The suffering and death of Christ in the flesh is unique; never to happen again.
He did everything necessary for our salvation, and eternal life!
Exactly. That is precisely why we can merit salvation.
And neither can one be saved by proxy.
That isn't what it means to merit salvation for someone else. The Body of Christ, sir, is a team. This means what one does on the body, especially for good, can effect others in the body.
Your religion says that works can even help merit eternal life for others. Same thing mormons say about baptism.
No, it isn't at all similar to what Mormons say about Baptism. Mormons can literally be baptized for someone else. Catholics cannot..
When it talks about meriting salvation for someone else, it means our suffering help till the soil of their hearts to make them open to the Gospel. Only Christ can save them--but our willingness to offer our sufferings for them can help prepare the way.
Again, sir we are either the Body of Christ or not. If we are a body, then we are a team. There is no "I" in team.
