Faith alone?

Sungenis in his book, Not by Faith Alone states on page 309

"...while the Protestant system may seem easy and plausible, it often misses the simple language of Scripture. Rather than taking each verse as it stands and allowing the differing 'face-value' facts of Scripture to create as many theological categories as necessary to explain its compete message, the Protestant hermeneutic invariable elevates 'faith alone', and its counterpart 'imputed righteousness', as all-encompassing theological categories into which the rest of the Scripture's language must fit. If the 'face value' information that a passage provides does not conform to the faith alone theory the Protestant hermeneutic nevertheless imposes it on the text. The theological category of faith alone becomes the overriding criterion...of biblical hermeneutics --by which to judge or interpret any other Scripture."

Through the past few months I have seen the above statement to be true. Roman Catholicism seems more balanced in taking all of Scripture into account. Some examples---

The only time faith alone is used in the Bible is in James 2: 24 "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" . James tells us what saving faith is. What kind of faith will save a person? James 2:14 "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? " 17 Even so faith , if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
James, therefore makes it clear that a faith that saves has to have works. It is a living faith, an active faith, a working faith that is a true faith. It all comes from grace---it is a full faith.

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do?

Matt 20:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.... " Here we see the need of baptism and of obedience (observing the commands of Jesus) to be a disciple.

Luke 24:47 "and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name...

When Peter preached in Acts 2 the response to his message was, "Brethren what shall we do?"

Peter did not say have faith alone. He said in 2:38 "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off , as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." Here we see both repentance and baptism as commanded.

What did Peter say after preaching in Acts 3?

19. "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord......26 "For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways." Here again we see the need of true repentance--turning from ones wicked ways.

Acts 5: 31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him". Here again we see repentance and obedience.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike." Belief and Baptism are the response. The same thing happens when Philip preaches to the Ethiopian--he is baptized.

Acts 10: 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name every one who believes in Him has received forgiveness of sins" Here we see the necessity of believing in Him (this would includes Lord and Savior--in who he is verse 43 -Judge of the living and the dead ).

Acts 11:18 "Repentance that leads to life"

Acts 15:11 ..saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.."

Acts 18: 8 ...believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 27 ...who had believed through grace.

Acts 20:21 preached "...repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ".

Acts 22:16 "...Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name."

Acts 26: 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."
20:...that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance."

So again and again we see the need for a repentance (which is a turning away from sin to God which results in deeds), faith, baptism. These are all just mainly in Acts. Here is one in 1 Peter 3: 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Here is how the Council of Trent defines the causes of justification (from a quote I found on line about it):

Perhaps the most important passage in the decree is the seventh chapter listing the “five causes of justification.” They are as follows:

"1.the final cause indeed is the glory of God and of Jesus Christ, and life everlasting
2.the efficient cause is a merciful God who washes and sanctifies gratuitously, signing, and anointing with the holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance
3.the meritorious cause is His most beloved only-begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when we were enemies, for the exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, merited Justification for us by His most holy Passion on the wood of the cross, and made satisfaction for us unto God the Father
4.the instrumental cause is the sacrament of baptism, which is the sacrament of faith, without which (faith) no man was ever justified
5.lastly, the alone formal cause is the justice of God, not that whereby He Himself is just, but that whereby He maketh us just, that, to wit, with which we being endowed by Him, are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and we are not only reputed, but are truly called, and are, just, receiving justice within us, each one according to his own measure, which the Holy Ghost distributes to every one as He wills, and according to each one’s proper disposition and co-operation.

Note that the meritorious cause is the suffering and death of Christ. Human being are not the source of the justifying merit. Note also that the sacraments are “instrumental”. The sacraments are the “instruments” in the hand of Christ.

The formal cause is the “justice of God” not our own justice. Nevertheless, we receive His “justice within us, each one according to his own measure.” "