Posted on 10/12/2019 10:15:28 AM PDT by ebb tide
Meaning by the grace of God you become good enough in character to be justified, and merit entering Heaven, either in this life or in mythical RC (EOs tend to differ on what Tradition teaches) Purgatory. Which in principle is akin to salvation under the Law, except that attaining this standard of perfection is said to be by God's grace. Which is in contrast to Biblical salvation by grace as I described, and how one is conformed to Christ.
Eh, decades from now, tree-planting ceremonies will join other pagan rituals as cherished “traditions” in Catholicism...
Nothing new.
Galatians 2:19-20
For through the law I died to the law
so that I might live to God.
I have been crucified with Christ,
and I ---no longer 'I' live
but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
'
Galatians 6:14
But as for me, may I never boast,
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
`
'
`
Too bad in Catholicism such teaching means salvation by meriting the graces needed for our sanctification and for the attainment of eternal life, by (for most) actually becoming good enough to be with God thru Purgatory .
Don't you get that we're united with Christ? I live, yet not -' I ' - live, but Christ lives in me?
One could say with equal verity, "I merit, yet not -' I ' - but Christ merits in me." All the verbs fit there.
We are incorporated into Christ.
Ever aspect of our salvation, flows from that astounding fact.
The fundamental error is that justification is not on the basis of the merit of any good works, including calling upon the name of the Lord for salvation - by God's grace - but by imputed righteousness versus imputing sin. (Rm. 4:3-11ff)
And which is not restricted to the Law, (Titus 3:5) but to all law systems of salvation by the merit of works, for "if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." (Galatians 3:21)
Which is why Abraham could be counted righteousness even though he was not good enough to be with God, and which is why all believers will "ever be with the Lord" at His return or death, whatever comes first. (Lk. 23:43 [cf. 2Cor. 12:4; Rv. 2:7]; Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) Though they do not actually become good to be with God thru their life here or in mythical RC Purgatory.
Works of faith led by the Spirit (cf. Rm. 8:14) do justify one as being a true believer, who is fitting to receive rewards, as God recompenses believers for what they suffered and did, (Mt. 25:31-40; Heb. 10:35; Rv. 3:2) but these effects are not the actual basis for acceptance in the Beloved, which is on His account, appropriated by faith.
Meanwhile the first resurrection is the next transformative event believers looked to in the NT church, that of being conformed to Christ at the resurrection of believers at the coming of the Lord. (2Cor. 5:2,3; 1Cor. 15; 1Jn. 3:2) For believers will get their bodies back, but flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 15:50)
Thus Roman Catholic teaching on salvation is based on a fundamental error, but it works to keep them in business.
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