Catholics, and some other Protestants, have tended to see faith expressed primarily through beliefs in basic Christian doctrines and participation in church life. In recent years, however, the Catholic Church has become aware that many nominal believers have never really made a mature, personal faith commitment. As we have seen, the Bible points to a faith as the primary way of receiving God's gift of salvation. Jesus and the New Testament authors insist that people will be judged not only on their faith, but according to their actual conduct or works. As Catholics understand the Bible, they do not see one.
Genuine faith requires an active response, which is charity, love, or good works.
Top Sacraments We have seen that both faith and good works play a part in salvation. Catholics believe that God has also revealed the role of the sacraments, especially baptism and the eucharist, in his plan of salvation. Baptism, then, is also a means of salvation. Nor can Christians neglect the eucharist. Catholicism appears to many people to be a complicated system of beliefs and religious practices that are a far cry from the simplicity of the gospel.