Posted on 06/17/2004 2:39:49 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
gbcdoj: Please stop posting these interviews with supposed former Catholics who either lie about Catholic beliefs or simply don't have a clue.
I know the truth can hurt at times but the answer is not Catholic censorship. Perhaps you can try putting your hands over your ears and singing: la la la la la la ...
WOW!!! Those are SO evil and pagan!!! </sarcasm>
Seriously, how did people get so brainwashed to think that Catholics don't use the Bible? The Mass is completely Biblical, not to mention it was being celebrated in the first Century!! But, whatever...
That's in James, btw. I love that part. But I also forgot that Jesus' commands to Peter (about the lambs) was another exhortation to commit ourselves to works that are manifestations of our belief in Jesus. :)
That is not a valid authentication of this BS article. Are we really to believe someone who took the time to contrive this could not also contrive some e-mail responses too?
You're a disgrace to screennames beginning with Petron...
LOL. Awfully funny disclaimer to place on a page full of caricature about Catholic teaching.
SD
If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
I guess Christ preached a false gospel too. Good thing Luther came along to set us all straight.
This question, then, seems to me to be by no means capable of solution, unless we understand that even those good works of ours, which are recompensed with eternal life, belong to the grace of God, because of what is said by the Lord Jesus: "Without me ye can do nothing." And the apostle himself, after saying, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast;" saw, of course, the possibility that men would think from this statement that good works are not necessary to those who believe, but that faith alone suffices for them; and again, the possibility of men's boasting of their good works, as if they were of themselves capable of performing them. To meet, therefore, these opinions on both sides, he immediately added, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." What is the purport of his saying, "Not of works, lest any man should boast," while commending the grace of God? And then why does he afterwards, when giving a reason for using such words, say, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works"? Why, therefore, does it run, "Not of works, lest any man should boast"? Now, hear and understand. "Not of works" is spoken of the works which you suppose have their origin in yourself alone; but you have to think of works for which God has moulded (that is, has formed and created) you. For of these he says, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Now he does not here speak of that creation which made us human beings, but of that in reference to which one said who was already in full manhood, "Create in me a clean heart, O God;" concerning which also the apostle says, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God." We are framed, therefore, that is, formed and created, "in the good works which" we have not ourselves prepared, but "God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (St. Aurelius Augustin, Treatise on Grace and Free Will, 20)
The truth is that this fellow doesn't understand either St. Thomas or the Bible.
LOL...basically he desperately wanted a wife and created this rubbish....how else can you explain it!!
***Our salvation was won, yes. But it's up to us to keep it ***
Then it wasn't truly won for us.
*dusting sandals off and going out for the day*
No, I think he understands both, well enough.
The Catholic Church, however, had taught me that the depravity of man, which is called "original sin," had been washed away by my infant baptism. I still held this belief in my head, but in my heart I knew that my depraved nature had not yet been conquered by Christ. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection..." (Philippians 3:10) continued to be the cry of my heart. I knew that it could be only through His power that I could live the Christian life. I posted this text on the dashboard of my car and in other places. It became the plea that motivated me, and the Lord who is Faithful began to answer.
Once the fog of legalism lifted he saw the light of Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature..."
***"Do you really love me?" St. Peter answered yes and Jesus said "Feed my lambs." Jesus asked St. Peter to do works out of love for Him. ***
Exactly!
Works spring from love. They are not done in order to obtain the love of God. Works are done (by the power of the Spirit) out of gratitude for a salvation already won.
***If those works are done out of love for Christ, why are they so bad?***
They are not bad if done from such a motive. But if there are done out of a self-focused desire to earn favor and thereby save ones self rather that rest in the salvation that Jesus freely gives then they are of no avail.
It comes down to this:
Why in the world should God let you into heaven?
Because He has made me worthy. Not cause He pretends I am.
SD
Well said.
Since he didn't understand this as a Catholic, he didn't understand Catholicism, because this is Catholic dogma.
Too bad someone so ignorant was ordained, but ordination guarantees neither knowledge, nor orthodox, nor personal holiness. Those are supposed to be present beforehand.
Yeah, as do James, and Paul (see Romans 2), and Jesus. Faith without works is dead, and such a faith has no power to save one. If you don't preach that, you aren't preaching Scripture.
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