Posted on 05/25/2025 4:05:48 AM PDT by JosephJames
LOL!
IMITATION : “The highest form of flattery.”
Or, you could have simply said, “I’m rubber, you’re glue...”
Note: You are not nearly as clever as you “think” you are.
Also FYI:
1. Mary had other children, this is explicitly stated in Scripture.
2. Mary is not and never was the mother of God, whatever Council declared that, erred (big time). Prolonging that error and extending the lies about her only further demonstrates the desperate nature of your “church”.
3. Mary was a sinner in need of a Savior. To claim otherwise is not found or inferred anywhere in Scripture. She was among the one hundred twenty who were baptized in the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
4. She died and was probably buried. Her presence at Pentecost is the Bible’s last reference to Mary. Because she is a saint, when she died her spirit went to be with the Lord. The same is true for every believer who “is asleep.” No parallel to Jesus’ ascension exists for Mary. Your people made that up.
ealgeone - Luircin is correct in the sentence “just because baptism saves doesn’t mean that baptism is the only thing that saves, because all salvation flows from Christ alone.”
It’s not a question of either/or but AND - Jesus says we are saved by repenting AND believing AND being baptised AND eating of His body AND enduring to the end
The very important fundamental contradictions that I pointed out, you ignored totally, and instead tried to attack, defend and justify very secondary arguments. Thus it seems that you are not willing to dialogue with anyone not in agreement with yourselves, and thus in essence, you truly believe that you are the source of all truth. This really means that you implicitly believe to be God, which is the fundamental principle of the New Age Movement which basically synchronizes all the modern heresies and deviations from the eternal truth.
Thus I do not understand why you even bother to respond to a person like me who is so stupid that I seek the truth outside of my own head from the Creator of the entire Universe, instead of from myself. You must dialogue with those are at your level of intelligence and sanctity instead of with an unholy idiot like me. If I follow myself, I will end up in hell for eternity. If I seek the truth from the Creator of all things, and seek to live this truth, there is hope for me.
St. Bernadette of Lourdes said: My job is to inform, not to convince. This is the attitude of all true saints, who respect the free will of each person by not trying to coerce or manipulate or force to believe the way they want. God respects our free will totally. This is why heaven and hell exist. We are totally free to choose in this very short life where we will spend eternity, to truly seek the truth according to God or to convince ourselves that I can follow my truth the way I want the truth!!! It is we human beings who do not respect the freedom of others, as God does, but rather we have a great tendency to try to force others to believe as we do, which is seen more and more today in the arrogance of people and groups such as Taliban, Muslims, Islam, etc. It we do not respect the freedom of others we do not live the Gospel: “Love your neighbor as yourself”!!!
I have said to many people who believe they are the source of all truth and not willing to dialogue with anyone not in agreement with themselves, that I did not create myself, I did not create the things around me which I like. I want to discover Who gave me my existence and the nice things around me so as to be able to thank this Person. Gratitude is fundamental for salvation, but which requires true humility of recognizing who we are (creatures made from nothing) and who God is, the Creator of all things!
Let us pray for each other that we truly seek the truth of God not from ourselves or from another creature but from God who communicated to us during the history of mankind, called Divine Revelation, and left us ONE Church to interpret all of Divine Revelation the way God wants it interpreted and not the way man wants it interpreted according to his blind pride, arrogance, and desire not to suffer with Christ.
Best wishes for all eternity!!!
In Scripture, believers, those saved by faith ARE saints.
There’s no recognition of a special class of people who were more special or *holy* or *sinless* than others.
There must have been some reason that the Roman Empire was chosen for the place and time.
My opinion is that God had a interest in seeing a church develop on earth in a manner that would reach the most people. He must have chosen Peter to lead the church for some reason, and the structure that the Roman Empire had is similar to the structure of the Catholic Church today. Is that a coincidence, an accident of history? Or God's will?
Opinions over Scripture...
.
Not a Good Look Amigo!
.
Those who Trust Christ Alone
Are of A Royal PriestHood
and...
Jesus says we are UNsaved by NOT believing - period.
Lack of ANY of those other things will NOT unsave a person.
As usual, didn’t read.
Not by Worrks But Faith ALONE!
HEB 11——Abraham-!
.
What’s So Difficult about It !?!
Their Cash Cow?
Power ?
Robes and Funny Hat ?
.
Jimmy Joe cut and Paster has a good Gig
But Me...
A Jesus Freak WakaDoodle can See It.
.
Ain’t like we’re talking Indy 500 here.
Your Eternity is at Stake-—Correct?
Your words, not ours.
If I follow myself, I will end up in hell for eternity.
Yup.
If I seek the truth from the Creator of all things, and seek to live this truth, there is hope for me.
And that Truth is the Word, Scripture.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
You need look no further than Scripture, the God breathed, Holy Spirit inspired Word of God from the God who cannot lie.
If you see another truth claim, compare it to Scripture, which is commended in Scripture.
Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
If it agrees with Scripture, then it's true and not new revelation and it's not needed, it's redundant.
If it conflicts with Scripture then it's not true and can be summarily dismissed.
This was the understanding from ancient times. God's word is THE authority. Whatever "interpretations" people come up with should comport with the rest of Scripture. That is one of the principle rules for the study of the Bible (Biblical Hermeneutics). Jesus castigated the Jewish religious leaders for nullifying the Scriptures with their traditions. The problem with Catholicism today is they slowly did the same thing over the centuries. Then they compounded their error by declaring their Traditions and Magisterium were of equal authority to the Divinely-inspired word. We have these arguments/discussions here all the time because of it.
The EXACT same thing the pharisees did, in far more ways than one.
The parallels because the Catholic church hierarchy and the pharisees of Jesus day with their religious system they established is staggering. Including all the finery and positioning for status and power.
I have not been following this thread (lots of bikes to be fixed, by the grace of God), but thank God if it helped.
I see that you ignored my reproof of your idea of Protestantism as referred to collectively. The reality is that the more liberal Protestantism is then the closer that are to Rome, while the only "Protestants" devoted RCs are troubled by are (since they represent the greatest doctrinal danger to the RCC, since that is an object of faith to cultic devotees) those who most strongly esteem Scripture as the accurate and wholly inspired word of God, with its basic literal hermeneutic, due to having been regenerated by faith in its gospel, and realized its basic profound changes in heart and life.
And which, contrary to your "everything is totally subjective" prevarication (which to be charitable can be blamed on ignorance and being baptized in Cath. propaganda), it is these who have long testified to being far more conservative and unified in polled core beliefs and values than Catholics overall.
Some examples, if somewhat dated:
73% (highest) of Pentecostal/Foursquare believers strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth, with Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists being tied at 33%, and the lowest being among Episcopalians with just 28% http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/53
94.4% of Evangelical Protestants and 84.9% of Catholics believe that Jesus is the son of God. 42.1% of the former and 46.1% of the latter say they pray once a day or more. http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf
47.8% of the Evangelicals and 11.8% of Catholics affirm the Bible is Literally true. 6.5% of the former and 19.8% of the latter see it as an ancient book of history and legends. ^
42.1% of Evangelical Protestants and 7.1% of Catholics Read Scripture weekly or more. ^
64% of those in Assemblies of God churches (versus only 9% of Catholics) strongly DISAGREE that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others they will earn a place in Heaven [salvation on the basis of merit]. ^
56% of Assemblies of God (versus 17% Catholics) Christians strongly DISAGREE that Satan is just a symbol of evil [rather than a real being]. ^
Catholics and Mainline Protestants tend more towards belief in a more Distant God. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf
Evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants tend towards belief in a more Authoritarian God. ^
Thirty percent of Protestants listed God as their most important connection (relationship) versus 9% of Catholics. Barna, 2008 http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/44-americans-identify-their-most-important-relationships
Political conservatives were almost three times as likely as political liberals to identify God as their most important relationship (33% vs. 12%, respectively). ^
About 56 percent of Evangelicals currently say they're strongly affiliated with their religion, while only 35 percent of Catholics say the same, and 4% lower than mainline Protestants (devoutness of Mainline Protestants [distinct from evangelicals] fell to roughly 30 percent in the late 1970s to late 1980s before gradually climbing to 39 percent in 2010) https://www.barna.com/research/protestants-catholics-and-mormons-reflect-diverse-levels-of-religious-activity
Bible Reading: the highest was 75%, by those going to a Pentecostal/Foursquare church who reported they had read the Bible during the past week (besides at church), while the lowest was among Catholics at 23% ^
Volunteer church work (during past 7 days): Assemblies of God were highest at 30%, with the lowest going to Catholics at 12%. ^
Donating Money (during the last month): Church of Christ churches were the highest at 29%, with Catholics being the lowest at 12% ^
American evangelicals gave four times as much money, per person, to churches as did all other church donors in 2001. 88 percent of evangelicals and 73 percent of all Protestants donated to churches. John Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle, The State of Church Giving through 2004: Will We Will? 16th ed. (Champaign, Ill.: Empty Tomb, 2006),12. http://www.generousgiving.org/stats#
Data from a variety of researchers indicates that Catholics give one-third to one-half the portion of income that Protestants give. http://www.emptytomb.org/cathgiv.html
A Catholic survey reports that 4 percent of US Catholics described themselves as “very” involved in parish or religious activities other than attending Mass, and 11% as “somewhat involved, and 64% as “not involved at all.” Among weekly (or more) attendees (approx 22% of adult Catholics), 13% were very” involved, 29% “somewhat involved and 25% not involved at all.” http://cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/FRStats/devotionpractice.pdf
59% of Catholics (and 80% of weekly attendees) reported they had a statue or picture of Mary on display in their home, but 48% never pray the rosary.
By denomination, 61% of the those associated with an Assemblies of God church said they had shared their faith at least once during the past year, as did 61% of those who attend a Pentecostal/Foursquare church, and ending 14% among Episcopalians and just 10% among Roman Catholics. http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/54
25% of Evangelical Christians and 20% of other Protestants and 7% of Catholics said the read the Bible on a daily basis. 44% of Catholics said they rarely or never read the Bible, along with only 7% of Evangelical Christians and 13% of other Protestants. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/december_2008/catholics_protestants_practice_faith_in_different_ways
39 percent of Roman Catholics and 79 percent of born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist American Christians affirm that homosexual behavior is sinful. LifeWay (SBC) Research study, released Wednesday. 2008 LifeWay Research study. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080606/survey-americans-divided-on-homosexuality-as-sin.htm
79 percent of American Jews, 58 percent of Catholics and 56 percent of mainline Protestants favor acceptance of homosexuality, versus 39 percent of members of historically black churches, 27 percent of Muslims and 26 percent of the evangelical Protestants. U.S. U.S. Religious landscape survey; Copyright © 2008 The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons#
56% of Catholics overall (and 46% of the general public) believe that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender is not a sin, while 39%. of Catholics say homosexual behavior is morally wrong, (versus 76% of white evangelicals and 66% of black Protestants, and 40% of Mainline Protestants). 41% of Catholics do not consider homosexual behavior to be a moral issue. (Pew Research Center, Religion & Politics Survey, 2009; PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, October 2010; http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Catholics-and-LGBT-Issues-Survey-Report.pdf)
Catholics testify [2010] to showing more support (in numbers) for legal recognitions of same-sex relationships than members of any other Christian tradition, and Americans overall. Almost three-quarters of Catholics favor either allowing gay and lesbian people to marry or allowing them to form civil unions (43% and 31% respectively). Only 22% of Catholics said there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship. (PRRI, Pre--election American Values Survey, 9/2010; http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Catholics-and-LGBT-Issues-Survey-Report.pdf.) 40% Roman Catholics vs. 41% Non-R.C. see abortion as "morally acceptable"; Sex between unmarried couples: 67% vs. 57%; Baby out of wedlock: 61% vs. 52%; Homosexual relations: 54% vs. 45%; Gambling: 72% vs. 59% http://www.gallup.com/poll/117154/Catholics-Similar-Mainstream-Abortion-Stem-Cells.aspx Committed Roman Catholics (church attendance weekly or almost) versus Non-R.C. faithful church goers (see the below as as morally acceptable): Abortion: 24% of R.C. vs. 19% Non-R.C.; Sex between unmarried couples: 53% vs. 30%; Baby out of wedlock: 48% vs. 29%; Homosexual relations: 44% vs. 21%; Gambling: 67% vs. 40%; Divorce: 63 vs. 46% ^ In a 2010 LifeWay Research survey 77 percent of American Protestant pastors (57% of mainline versus 87% evangelical) strongly disagree with same-sex marriage, with 6% percent somewhat disagreeing, and 5% being somewhat in agreement and 10 percent strongly agreeing. (5% of evangelical). Only 3% of evangelical pastors (versus 11% mainline) somewhat agree that there is nothing wrong with homosexual marriage. 11% of evangelical pastors (versus 30% mainline) somewhat agree that homosexual civil unions are acceptable, with 67% of the former and 38% of the latter strongly disagreeing with homosexual civil unions. October 2010 LifeWay Research survey of 1,000 randomly selected Protestant pastors. http://www.lifeway.com/ArticleView?storeId=10054&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&article=LifeWay-Research-protestant-pastors-oppose-homosexual-marriage A 2002 nationwide poll of 1,854 priests in the United States and Puerto Rico reported that 30% of Roman Catholic priests described themselves as Liberal, 28% as Conservative, and 37% as Moderate in their Religious ideology. 53 percent responded that they thought it always was a sin for unmarried people to have sexual relations; 32 percent that is often was, and 9 percent seldom/never. However, nearly four in 10 younger priests in 2002 described themselves as conservative, and were more likely to regard as "always a sin" such acts as premarital sex, abortion, artificial birth control, homosexual relations, etc., and three-fourths said they were more religiously orthodox than their older counterparts. Los Angeles Times (extensive) nationwide survey (2002). http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/reports/LAT-Priest-Survey.pdf http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_2_39/ai_94129129/pg_2 The survey also found that 80% of Roman Catholic priests referred to themselves as “mostly” heterosexual in orientation, with 67% being exclusively heterosexual, 8% leaning toward heterosexual, 5% completely in the middle, and 6% leaning toward homosexual and 9% saying they are homosexual, for a combined figure of 15% on the homosexual class. Among younger priests (those ordained for 20 years or less) the figure was 23%. ^ One-third of surveyed priests said they “do not waver” from their vow of celibacy, while 47% described celibacy as “an ongoing journey” and 14% said they “do not always succeed in following” it. 2% said celibacy is not relevant to their priesthood and they do not observe it. not celibate. ^ 71 percent of priests responded that it always was wrong for a woman to get an abortion, 19 percent that it often was, and 4 percent seldom/never. ^ 28 percent judged that is always was sin for married couples to use artificial birth control, 25 percent often, 40 percent never. ^ 49 percent affirmed that it was always a sin to engage in homosexual behavior, often, 25 percent; and never, 19 percent. ^ To take one's own life if suffering from a debilitating disease: always, 59 percent; often, 18 percent; never, 17 percent. ^ A combined 15 percent of the clergy polled identified themselves as "gay (9%) > or more (6%) on the homosexual side." Among younger priests 23 percent did so. Los Angeles Times (extensive) nationwide survey (2002). http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/reports/LAT-Priest-Survey.pdf 17 percent of the priests said "definitely" , and 27% said "probably," a homosexual subculture'--defined as a `definite group of persons that has its own friendships, social gatherings and vocabulary'--exists in their diocese or religious order. ^ After examining the official web sites of 244 Catholic universities and colleges in America, the TFP Student Action found that 107 – or 43% have pro-homosexual clubs. TFP Student Action Dec. 6. 2011; studentaction.org/get-involved/online-petitions/pro-homosexual-clubs-at-107-catholic-colleges/print.html 39 percent of Roman Catholics and 79 percent of born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist American Christians affirm that homosexual behavior is sinful. LifeWay (SBC) Research study, released Wednesday. 2008 LifeWay Research study. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080606/survey-americans-divided-on-homosexuality-as-sin.htm 79 percent of American Jews, 58 percent of Catholics and 56 percent of mainline Protestants favor acceptance of homosexuality, versus 39 percent of members of historically black churches, 27 percent of Muslims and 26 percent of the evangelical Protestants. U.S. U.S. Religious landscape survey; Copyright © 2008 The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons# 56% of Catholics overall (and 46% of the general public) believe that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender is not a sin, while 39%. of Catholics say homosexual behavior is morally wrong, (versus 76% of white evangelicals and 66% of black Protestants, and 40% of Mainline Protestants). 41% of Catholics do not consider homosexual behavior to be a moral issue. (Pew Research Center, Religion & Politics Survey, 2009; PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, October 2010; http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Catholics-and-LGBT-Issues-Survey-Report.pdf) Catholics testify [2010] to showing more support (in numbers) for legal recognitions of same-sex relationships than members of any other Christian tradition, and Americans overall. Almost three-quarters of Catholics favor either allowing gay and lesbian people to marry or allowing them to form civil unions (43% and 31% respectively). Only 22% of Catholics said there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship. (PRRI, Pre--election American Values Survey, 9/2010; http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Catholics-and-LGBT-Issues-Survey-Report.pdf.) This 2010 survey of more than 3,000 adults found that 41% of White American Catholics, 45% of Latino Catholics (versus 16 percent of White evangelical Christians, and 23% of Black Protestants) supported the rights of same-sex couples to marry, and 36% (22% of Latino Catholics) supported civil unions (versus 24% of White evangelicals, and 25% of Black Protestants). Among the general public the rates were 37 and 27 percent. 69% of Catholics disagree that homosexual orientation can be changed, versus 23% who believe that they can change. ^ 19% of White Catholics, 30% of Latino Catholics, 58% of White evangelicals, 52% of Black Protestants and 29% of White Mainline Protestants oppose any legal recognition of homosexual marriage. ^ 60% of Catholics overall, and 53% of the general public favor allowing homosexual couples to adopt children. ^ 73% of Catholics favor laws that would protect gay and lesbian people against discrimination in the workplace, and 63% favor allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military. For the general public the figures are 68% and 58% respectively. ^ 49% of Catholics and 45% of the general public agree that homosexuals should be eligible for ordination with no special requirements. ^ Among Catholics who attend services regularly (weekly or more), 31% say there should be no legal recognition for homosexual relationships (marriage or civil unions), with 26% favoring allowing gay and lesbian people to marry, versus 43% of Catholics who attend once or twice a month, and 59% of Catholics who attend a few times a year or less favoring allowance of homosexual marriage. ^ 27% of Catholics who attend church services regularly say their clergy speak about the issue of homosexuality, with 63% of this group saying the messages they hear are negative. ^ 48% of white evangelical Protestants oppose letting homosexuals serve openly in the military, with 34% supporting this proposal, versus 63% of Catholics (66% of white) supporting and 23% opposing. Pew forum, November 29, 2010, http://pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Issues/Gay_Marriage_and_Homosexuality/gays%20in%20military%20full%20report.pdf White evangelicals are most satisfied with their church’s handling of homosexuality, with 75 percent giving it an `A’ or a `B.’ Catholics are the most critical, with nearly a third — twice as many as any other group — giving their church a `D’ or `F.’ Oct. 2010 Poll sponsored by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Religion News Service. http://thepulpit.freedomblogging.com/2010/10/22/survey-links-gay-bullying-to-religion/7682/ 31% of Catholics called celibacy a major factor leading to sexual abuse, while another 28% called it a minor factor. 35% said celibacy did not play a part in the abuse. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/poll_catholics_050410_2pm.pdf 30%, meanwhile, said homosexuality played a major role. An additional 23% said it played a minor role. 37% said it was not a factor. ^
To summarize: Catholics do not know what God wants from them and when they have the slightest inkling of what He wants from them, they respond halfheartedly (sometimes quarterheartedly).
Whether you realize it or not, whether you agree or not, whether you care or not, the fundamental criteria, especially in this period of the great apostasy before the manifestation of the Antichrist, which will determine if we end up with God or Satan for eternity, is HUMILITY! It is not intelligence or thinking we know more than everyone else.
Everyone in hell is totally full of pride. Everyone in heaven is totally humble. When there is true humility there is room for God and his graces in our hearts and souls. When there is not humility, our hearts and souls are full of ourselves even though we think we are better and holier than others, and thus there is not room for God and His precious graces.
The Pharisees and Scribes believed to be holier and better than everyone else, and thus in their prideful blindness ended up crucifying the author of life, Jesus Christ. Because without true humility there is a profound spiritual blindness. So too in this period of very great deception there will be “lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Mt 24:24), due to lack of true humility!
The saints tell us that without humility, there is no virtue nor the presence of God.
Saint Bonaventure and many saints tell us that without humility there is no virtue, and there is also spiritual blindness and obstinacy!
When a person is truly seeking to follow and imitate Christ, he comes to realize how far away he is from imitating Christ and seeks to continually improve in true virtue according to God, not according to his own perception of virtue and holiness. When a person is following himself, even though he thinks he is following Jesus Christ, he does not work on following Christ everyday more and more, but rather he goes around setting straight everyone else since he thinks he knows more than anyone else.
The article that was posted was obviously a Catholic article. Why did you not let it in peace. Do you have the peace of Christ in your heart and soul? If so, you would not have this craving to criticize and set straight every Catholic you can find, but you would rather offer Catholics an example of humility, charity and virtue for us poor Catholics to imitate, so us Catholics can become humble and virtuous as you believe to be.
Saint Augustine tells us:
It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues. The soul in which this virtue does not exist, there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. There is something in humility that strangely exalts the heart. This is the very perfection of man, to find out about his own imperfections. You must be emptied of that which you are full that you may be filled with that which you are empty. The greater the building is to be, the deeper you dig the foundation. For once your foundation is set, the height to which you can build has been determined. You want a tower that will pierce the clouds, lay first the foundation of humility. Humility must accompany all of our actions. For as soon as we glory in our good works, they are of no further value for our advancement in virtue.
If I make reference only to myself and my reasoning and my knowledge, I will end up in hell for all eternity. If I seek truth outside of myself, with true humility, God will guide me to His Truth and where His Truth can be found here on earth. If I live His truth, there is hope for me to save my poor soul. Those without humility do not realize the difference between the “truth” of their subjective mind and the objective Truth from God, and thus for them there is no way of explaining the difference since they have truly come to believe that all their ideas are from God, and not from the devil, or the world or from their own infallible subjectivity. Thus they do not seek truth outside of themselves. Thus in a true sense, they have made themselves God, as in the New Age Movements and all the pride based philosophies and false religions today. For these very numerous people today, the only way to help them is not by words, but by prayer and fasting.
Only once in the four Gospels did Jesus say: “learn from me”! “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt 11:29-30).
When you die, perhaps you can explain things to God as you have tried to explain things to me.
Best wishes for all eternity!
You should seek help.
Ummm, Scripture tells us otherwise.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Jesus talks about the importance of love in many places in the Gospel and John addresses it in 1 John.
Focusing on our humility is a form of pride.
How do we know we're humble? By what or whose standard? How does one ascertain that one is humble, or humble enough?
Does the person trying to be humble decide they've arrived? And if they're truly humble, why are they so focused on themselves?
It looks like I misunderstood the point of your post.
The thing more important for salvation is faith in Christ, turning to Him and repenting of our sins.
One can be very humble and still not be saved. One can be saved and still have pride, as virtually all of us so, being human.
Love is the character quality that should define a believer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.