Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mel Gibson says his wife could be going to hell
MSNBC ^ | 02/10/04 | Jeannette Walls

Posted on 02/10/2004 7:02:28 AM PST by evets

Gibson was interviewed by the Herald Sun in Australia, and the reporter asked the star if Protestants are denied eternal salvation. “There is no salvation for those outside the Church,” Gibson replied. “I believe it.” He elaborated: “Put it this way. My wife is a saint. She’s a much better person than I am. Honestly. She’s, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it’s just not fair if she doesn’t make it, she’s better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair. I go with it.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: adifferentgospel; catholiclist; gospelwhatgospel; romedrone
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 461 next last
To: NotQuiteCricket
Thanks for that url. Good one. I note that the church fathers were cited but none from Scripture. C'est la vie!
101 posted on 02/10/2004 7:38:21 AM PST by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: maestro
I do/will NOT see/support this movie.

The book is already out. The book will still be there long after this latest fad has passed.

102 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:10 AM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: evets

THE DEVILS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE!

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.

A sermon preached at the Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles
New Year's Eve, December 31, 2003


"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).


This is a good text for those who think they are saved because they believe what the Bible says, or think they are saved by believing what Jesus can do, or who He is. The demons believe what the Bible says about God. By this the Apostle James means the Christian God. The Apostle himself was a Christian, and he was speaking to people who professed to be Christians. So, when he says, "Thou believestÖone God," he is speaking of the Holy Trinity of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Gill points out that this does not merely mean that a man is against polytheism. And it does not mean that he merely believes in the God of Israel. It means, says, Dr. Gill, that he believes in "God the FatherÖso to Christ, as GodÖand to the Holy Spirit" (John Gill, D.D., An Exposition of the New Testament, The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1989 reprint, volume 3, p. 507).

The persons the Apostle James spoke to believed in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but this belief was not enough to save them from sin and Hell. It was no better than the faith and belief of devils (i.e. demons).

Then James tells us

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest wellÖ"
     (James 2:19).

It is right and good that you should believe in the existence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the great triune God. But that is not enough to save you, for James continues by saying, "the devils also believe, and tremble." No demon is saved, because they cannot be saved. They have already been given up by God. Their sentence has already been passed. They await the day of their eternal consignment to the fire of Hell,

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

The person who believes in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit "does well." It is good to believe those things about God - but it is not enough to save you. Why? Because it is only belief in facts, doctrines, and Bible verses.

A person may say, "I believe that Jesus died to save me." Well and good. But believing that fact, though it is good, will not save you. It is merely mental belief in some Scripture teachings. No one was ever saved by believing Scripture texts. It is only doctrinal belief - belief in the Bible. It is not saving faith in Christ, Himself.

Now let us go through the text point by point and show you where you have gone wrong. Then I will show you what you must do to go beyond mental belief in Bible verses and Bible doctrine - to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

I. First, you believe in one God.

It is good that you believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "Thou doest well." It is a good thing to believe in the Holy Trinity of God. But it is not enough to save your soul.

Millions of people believe what the Bible says about God. Only a small percentage of people are atheists.

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 14:1).

Only a very small number of people are foolish enough to be outright atheists. The vast majority of people have at least a hazy belief in a Supreme Being.

And most people believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ. A recent poll indicates that 74% of the American people claim to be evangelical Christians. Virtually all of these millions of people believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the Cross to pay the penalty for their sins. About 225 million Americans believe the basic facts of the gospel. And virtually all of them think they are saved because they believe those facts.

But something is missing. Pollster George Barna discovered that 84% of these people are "ignorant of the faith" (George Barna, "Born Again Christians Ignorant of Faith," Baptist Bible Tribune, April 15, 1996, p. 28). According to Barna, the belief in Christ that these people have does not "translate into a personal faith consistent with Biblical teaching" (ibid.).

It is good that they believe in God. It is good that they believe in Jesus. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest wellÖ" (James 2:19). But something is drastically wrong. Something is missing! They believe in the basic facts of the Bible. They will tell you they believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins. They believe that He can save them. Most of them will tell you that He has saved them. After all, they have trusted Him "to" save them. Take a careful look at that phrase, "I trusted Him to save me." What does it mean? The word "to" there is very important. It means that the person believes that Christ can save him, and he trusts Christ to do it. This is a deadly error. It is the error of "doctrinal belief." Trusting Christ to save me means that I trust something that the Bible says about Christ (i.e. that He can save me) rather than trusting Christ Himself. C. H. Spurgeon said, "The mere knowledge of these facts will not, however, save usÖ" (C. H. Spurgeon, "The Warrant of Faith," Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Pilgrim Publications, 1979, volume 9, p. 530). The moment we learn that someone has trusted Christ "to save me" we know that he is still lost - for he has not trusted Christ Himself. He has only trusted something Christ can do. He has believed in something Christ can do, rather than believing in Christ, Himself. This is the deadly error of "doctrinal belief."

Please turn to John 3:16. Let us stand together and read this verse aloud,

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

You may be seated.

You say, "I know that verse." But think again. The verse does not say to believe "that He can save you." It does not say to believe Him "to save you." No! No! It says, "whosoever believeth in him ." What could be clearer? What could be plainer? And yet that is the last thing that a human being will do.

Please turn to Isaiah 53:3. Let us stand together and read this verse aloud.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3).

You may be seated.

"We hid as it were our faces from him." "He is despised and rejected of men." You believe things about Him. You trust Him to do something for you. But Jesus said,

"Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40).

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest wellÖ"
     (James 2:19).

But this is not enough to save you. Jesus said,

"Ye will not come to me" (John 5:40).

II. Second, the demons also believe and tremble.

Let's go back to James 2:19. Please stand and read it aloud.

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).

You may be seated.

The word "devils" in the KJV means "demons." The Bible teaches that there is only one Devil, but there are many demons.

Now turn to Mark 1:23-26.

"And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace [be quiet], and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him" (Mark 1:23-26).

Look again at the end of verse twenty-four. One of the demons said,

"I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24).

This shows that demons know who Jesus is and believe in Him, the same way you do. The demons believe that He is "the Holy One of God" - and so do you. The demons are not saved, and neither are you - if your faith goes no farther than this.

Now turn to Matthew 8:28-29.

"And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:28-29).

These demons knew that Jesus is the Son of God. They also knew about the Last Judgment and Hell. The demons believed in Hell and the Last Judgment. The demons believed that Jesus is the Son of God - and so do you. The demons are not saved, and neither are you - if your faith goes no farther than theirs.

Now turn to Acts 16:16-18. Let us stand and read these three verses aloud.

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel [young girl] possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same [girl] followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit [in the girl], I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he [the demon] came out the same hour" (Acts 16:16-18).

The demon spoke through the mouth of this girl. The demon said loudly, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days" (Acts 16:17-18). This shows that the demon believed that Paul and Silas were the servants of God. It also shows that the demon believed the preaching of salvation done by Paul and Silas, "which shew unto us the way of salvation" (Acts 16:17).

Like that demon, you can believe that the preacher is a servant of God. You can also believe what the pastor preaches is "the way of salvation" (Acts 16:17). You can believe the preaching, and you can believe the men who preach the gospel - and still be lost - just as the demon was, for no demon is ever saved. They have been given up by God, and are incapable of being saved.

Furthermore, we should think about what the demons said to the seven sons of Sceva. These men were non-Christian Jewish exorcists. They commanded the demons "by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." But the demons did not obey the sons of Sceva. Please turn to Acts 19:15 and sixteen. Instead the demon said these words. Read these two verses out loud.

"And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" (Acts 19:15).

"And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded" (Acts 19:16).

These verses clearly show that the demon knew who Jesus was. So, you can know who Jesus is and not be any more saved than that demon. Knowing about Jesus will not save you any more than it saved the demon.

Our text says,

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).

The demons in the New Testament had a great deal of knowledge about Christ and salvation, but they were not saved. They knew He was Jesus of Nazareth. They knew He had the power to cast them into Hell. They knew He was the Holy One of God. They believed who He was and what He could do. Furthermore, the demons knew that He was the Son of God, and said so. They knew He had the power to cast them into Hell. They also knew that the apostolic preachers were the servants of the most high God. And they knew that Paul was preaching the truth of the gospel. The demons also said, "Jesus I know." In some sense they actually knew Him.

Now, I ask you, were these demons saved? Tell me, yes or no. Say it. No? Of course you are right. Jesus said that the everlasting fire of Hell was "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

You can have all the knowledge the demons had about Christ and the gospel and still be lost - just as they were. So, when we read our text again, think it over carefully.

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well [as well as a demon does]: the devils also believe, and tremble"
     (James 2:19).

III. Third, there is something missing in your belief -
that makes your faith no better than that of a demon.

In fact, your belief is actually worse than that of a demon - in one way. Our text tells us that "the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19b). We see from the accounts we read in Scripture, that the demons often trembled when they were confronted with Jesus Christ.

The demons "trembled." Dr. Albert Barnes points out that the Greek word translated "trembled" means "Öwith bristling hair; to bristle, to stand on end, as the hair does in a fright; and then to shudder and quake with fear. Here the meaning is, that there was much more in the case referred to than mere speculative faith [faith in mere doctrines about who Christ is and what He can do]. There was faith [in these demons] that produced some effect, and an effect of a very [strong nature]" (Dr. Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament, Hebrews to Jude, Baker Book House, 1983 reprint, p. 46).

The trembling of demons when confronted with Christ actually shows that they had more faith than you do, my lost friend. Their trembling shows that they had more understanding of the awfulness of sin and damnation than you do. Dr. Gill says that the demons tremble.

At the wrath of God, which they now feel, and at the thought of future torments [in Hell], which they expectÖ and which is more than some men do (John Gill, D.D., An Exposition of the New  Testament,  The  Baptist  Standard  Bearer,  1989  reprint,  p. 307).

That is the very thing that is missing in your faith. You have a cold, mechanical belief in who Christ is, and what He can do. You simply believe "that He can save me" or "trust Him to do it." But there is no union with Christ. And there is no emotion in your faith. There is no fear of Hell, or terror of eternal punishment for your sins. You do not tremble with fear when you think of these aweful truths of Scripture. You are not troubled by your many sins enough to make your hair bristle or your heart pound faster with fear and dread.

So, I say that your beliefs are inferior, not as good, as those of the demons! How do you ever expect to experience real conversion if you have faith that produces no fear? How do you ever expect to be saved without at least some inner confusion and turmoil - at least as much as a demon has when he comes face to face with the Son of God?

The Philippian jailer came to the Apostle Paul "trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas" (Acts 16:29) in the throes of conviction of his sins. How do you expect to ever have a real conversion to Christ unless you first feel some of the terror and fear of judgment that this man felt? I would go so far as to say that if you feel no fear and trembling over your sin and the coming judgment, that you will probably never experience a real conversion to Christ.

In the great revivals of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many thousands of people trembled, and were in such great fear of their souls being damned to Hell for their sin, that they sometimes screamed out loud, and some fell writhing and groaning on the floor.

When I was preaching a very strong sermon on this subject at Dr. John Waldrip's church a few months ago, a young man stood bold upright, during my preaching, and screamed, "I am lost!" I believe that sort of outburst during sermons should be as common today as they were in the great revivals of the past. He felt lost in sin. The feeling of his conviction of sin so overwhelmed him that he could not control himself. He stood up and shouted, while I was preaching, "I am lost!" Needless to say he came to Christ and was saved a few minutes later in Pastor Waldrip's office.

How about you? Hell is terrible, beyond any words of description I could give you. Your sins are horrible, and nothing you do to get rid of them will help. You are trapped in your sins, with no way out. This should make the blood drain from your face, and bring terror to your heart. Only then will you see the need to flee to Jesus Christ for refuge and salvation through His Blood. Only then will you see the truth of that old song,

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
    ("Nothing But the Blood" by Robert Lowry, 1826-1899).

Think deeply about your many sins. Think deeply about the Last Judgment, when God will read out your sins one by one from His books, His records of your sins. Think deeply about the horrors of Hell - where you are going because of your sins. Think deeply about your cold, emotionless dead heart. Think deeply about the fact that you have no hope! No hope! No hope! Pray for God to fill you with fear and trembling. Pray for God to rattle your mind and stir your emotions until you are frightened, scared, and confused when you go to bed tonight, for fear that you will die - and sink down into the fire that never shall be quenched, where "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Luke 13:28).

Unless the terror of Hell and the anger of God trouble you tonight - and unless these horrid thoughts go with you through the next several days, you will never be converted. You will go on until God leaves you alone - and you are doomed forever in the pit of flames.

See, oh sinner, that the "faith" you have now is not good enough to save you. It is not even as good as that of the demons! For

"the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).

(END OF SERMON)

Scripture Read Before the Sermon by Dr. Kreighton L. Chan: Luke 16:19-24.
Solo Sung Before the Sermon by Mr. Benjamin Kincaid Griffith:

"Have You Counted the Cost?" (by A. J. Hodge, 1923).

THE OUTLINE OF

THE DEVILS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE!

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.


"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).

(Matthew 25:41)

I.   You believe in one God, Psalm 14:1; James 2:19a; John 3:16;
Isaiah 53:3; John 5:40.

II.  The demons also believe and tremble, James 2:19b;
Mark 1:23-26; Matthew 8:28-29; Acts 16:16-18; 19:15-16;
Matthew 25:41.

III. There is something missing in your belief - that makes your
faith no better than that of a demon, James 2:19b;
Acts 16:29; Luke 13:28.


You can read Dr. Hymers' sermons each week on the Internet
at www.rlhymersjr.com. Click on "Sermon Manuscripts."

For a tape recording of Dr. Hymers preaching this sermon, send $4.00
and request the sermon by date and title. Write to Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.,
P. O. Box 15308, Los Angeles, CA 90015.


103 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:14 AM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: epluribus_2
This is so weird. The official RCC position (2004, not medieval) is the only mainstream denomination that says anyone - even nonchristians - can go to heaven. Even Buddhists. Read JPII's books. Says so.

Yes, it certainly is weird. That is one of the main reasons why Mel Gibson is a traditional Catholic who attends the Latin Mass and doesn't listen to the teachings of Vatican II or Pope John Paul II -- because they are in contradiction to the constant teaching of the Church for 2000 years. Calling a Catholic doctrine "medieval" is a compliment, not a criticism, since the truth never changes.

104 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:21 AM PST by Maximilian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: evets
Elaine's hallway. The door opens, Puddy steps out in his bathrobe. There's a
newspaper in front of the door across from Elaine's.

Puddy: Elaine, they forgot to deliver your paper today. Why don't you just
grab that one.

Elaine: 'Cause that belongs to Mr. Potato Guy, that's his.

Puddy: C'mon, get it.

Elaine: Well if you want it, you get it.

Puddy: Sorry, thou shalt not steal.

Elaine: Oh, but it's ok for me?

Puddy: What do you care, you know where you're going.

Elaine: Alright, that is it! I can't live like this.

Puddy: Nah.

Elaine: C'mon.

Puddy: Alright, what did I do?

Elaine: David, I'm going to hell! The worst place in the world! With devils
and those caves and the ragged clothing! And the heat! My god, the heat! I
mean, what do you think about all that?

Puddy: Gonna be rough.

Elaine: Uh, you should be trying to save me!

Puddy: Don't boss me! This is why you're going to hell.

Elaine: I am not going to hell and if you think I'm going to hell, you should
care that I'm going to hell even though I am not.

Puddy: You stole my Jesus fish, didn't you?

Elaine: Yeah, that's right!

Elaine places her hands beside her head, index fingers raised as 'horns' and she
emits a gutteral growling sound.
105 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:33 AM PST by angkor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: evets
It really doesn't matter.
Most people can't tell the difference between heaven or hell.
106 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:34 AM PST by Shooter 2.5 (Don't punch holes in the lifeboat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: El Conservador
I am Catholic.
107 posted on 02/10/2004 7:39:37 AM PST by evets (tagline malfunction)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: evets
Well, I was raised Lutheran and I was taught that Catholics would go to hell because they worshipped the Pope.

I guess no one has a corner on misinterpretation.

108 posted on 02/10/2004 7:40:28 AM PST by Seruzawa (If you agree with the French raise your hand. If you are French raise both hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: swampfox98
I think that we should let the movie speak for itself. I spent four of the more miserable years of my life as the lone Protestant in a Catholic Prep School.
109 posted on 02/10/2004 7:40:48 AM PST by Little Bill (I can't take another rat in the White House at my age.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
It also has some nice holes in it. Is that significant to this thread?
110 posted on 02/10/2004 7:40:51 AM PST by Paulus Invictus (4)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: NotQuiteCricket
Actually, it is *NOT* Catholic dogma. We've done this on other threads. Vatican 2 explicitly states that Protestants may go to Heaven; that their religious practice is no guarantor of their salvation, but that those who simply have not had the opportunity to believe in the Catholic Church may find salvation through extraordinary grace.

Many traditionalist Catholics have pointed out an apparent conflict with older church teachings. (The implication is that Vatican 2 must not be valid, since infallible doctrines cannot conflict with each other.) But they are not contradictory: When the Council of Trent stated that Protestants go to Hell, a Protestant was understood to be an apostate; one who was brought up in the Catholic Church, supposedly understanding what it meant to be a Catholic, and willfully rejected the faith of his fathers to join a religion which was engaged in actual, hot war with the Catholic church. Today, a "Protestant" may be simply one who has not been evangelized to Catholicism, or whose ability to receive evangelism may be obstructed by false teachings, etc. Such people may be saved if their heart is truly focussed on obeying Christ, and seeking him.
111 posted on 02/10/2004 7:40:57 AM PST by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: smith288
But I wont fault him and the ritualistic traditions of his denomination. To each their own.

The question was about doctrine, not ritual. Ritual would be whether the mass was said in English, Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic. Doctrine is what Mel believes, not how he worships.

112 posted on 02/10/2004 7:41:34 AM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: Paulus Invictus
Just a polite way of saying someone is a crack pot :)
113 posted on 02/10/2004 7:41:39 AM PST by chance33_98 (Check out profile page for banners, if you need one freepmail me and I will make one for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: evets
The Bible is about generalizing and attacking doctrines but not individuals, forgiving them instead. I personaly believe that the Mormons can save souls too, though I am not a Mormon. As long as Gibson does not wage holy war, he is fine by me.
114 posted on 02/10/2004 7:42:16 AM PST by JudgemAll
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarasota
AND THEY LIE OR TWIST THINGS...
115 posted on 02/10/2004 7:42:31 AM PST by missyme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: evets
I don't agree with Mel's religious view, but I think it's awesome that he accepts the logical consequences of it instead of twisting doctrine to meet his personal desires.
116 posted on 02/10/2004 7:42:38 AM PST by Sloth (It doesn't take 60 seats to control the Senate; it only takes 102 testicles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy
In the version I've heard, "Catholics" are substituted with "Baptists." ;-)
117 posted on 02/10/2004 7:42:40 AM PST by Pyro7480 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CJ Wolf
Uh... yes he was!
"May they be one."
118 posted on 02/10/2004 7:42:58 AM PST by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Sabatier
OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE IS NO SALVATION

"Outside the Church there is no salvation" is a doctrine of the Catholic Faith that was taught by Jesus Christ to His Apostles, preached by the Fathers, defined by popes and councils and piously believed by the faithful in every age of the Church. This tract contains some of the proofs of this dogma which all Catholics are bound to believe, or else forfeit their own salvation.


THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
"There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all is saved." (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

"We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctum, 1302.)

"The most Holy Roman Catholic Church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can recieve an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church." (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)


THE FATHERS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
Before the popes infallibly defined this dogma, it was believed by all the faithful. Here is just a handful of passages from the works of the Christian writers through the centuries, showing that they believed this dogma:

Saint Cyprian (died A.D. 258): "He who has turned his back on the Church of Christ shall not come to the rewards of Christ; he is an alien, a worldling, an enemy. You cannot have God for your Father if you have not the Church for your mother. Our Lord warns us when he says: 'he that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.' Whosoever breaks the peace and harmony of Christ acts against Christ; whoever gathers elsewhere than in the Catholic Church scatters the Church of Christ." (Unity of the Catholic Church)

Lactantius (died A.D. 310): "It is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. This is the foundation of truth, this is the abode of the Faith, this is the temple of God; into which if anyone shall not enter, or from which anyone shall go out, he is a stranger to the hope of life and eternal salvation." (The Divine Institutes)

Saint Augustine (died A.D. 430): "No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have honor, one can have the sacraments, one can sing alleluia, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and preach it too, but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church." (Sermo ad Caesariensis Ecclesiae plebem)

Saint Fulgentius (died A.D. 533): "Most firmly hold and never doubt that not only pagans, but also all Jews, all heretics, and all schismatics who finish this life outside of the Catholic Church, will go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Enchriridion Patristicum)

Pope Pelagius II (A.D. 578-590): "Consider the fact that whoever has not been in the peace and unity of the Church cannot have the Lord. Although given over to flames and fires, they burn, or, thrown to wild beasts, they lay down their lives, there will not be for them that crown of faith but the punishment of faithlessness. Such a one can be slain, he cannot be crowned. If slain outside the Church, he cannot attain the rewards of the Church." (Denzinger 246-247)

Pope Saint Gregory the Great (A.D. 590-604): "Now the holy Church universal proclaims that God cannot be truly worshipped saving within herself, asserting that all they that are without her shall never be saved." (Moralia)

Saint Thomas Aquinas (died A.D. 1274): "There is no enterning into salvation outside the Church, just as in the time of the deluge there was none outside the ark, which denotes the Church." (Summa Theologiae)

Saint Peter Canisius (died A.D. 1597): "Outside of this communion - as outside the ark on Noah - there is absolutely no salvation for mortals: not for Jews or pagans who never recieved the faith of the Church, nor for heretics who, having recieved it, corrupted it; neither for the excommunicated or those who for any other serious cause deserve to be put away and separated from the body of the Church like pernicious members...for the rule of Cyprian and Augustine is certain: he will not have God for his Father who would not have the Church for his mother." (Cathechismi Latini et Germanici)


THE BIBLE
The same truth that is taught above by the Fathers and doctors of the Church is also attested to in Holy Scripture. All of the following verses teach us that Faith, Baptism (the entrance into the Church), and subjection to the authority of the Church are all necessary for salvation.

"And He said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)

"Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyeself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15)

"And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heather and the publican." (Matt. 18:17)

"And Jesus coming spoke to them saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even until the consummation of the world." (Matt. 28:18-20)

"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." (Matt. 16:18)

"Without Faith, it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11:16)

"Whosoever shall not recieve you, nor hear your words, going forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for that city." (Matt. 10:14)


CATHOLIC DOGMA
What is a dogma of the Catholic Faith? The Maryknoll Catholic Dictionary of 1965 defines it as "A truth of faith or morals authoritatively proposed by the Church as revealed by God and requiring the belief of the faithful." Just as Jesus Christ is "yesterday, and today; and the same forever," (Heb. 13:8) so are His teachings, which the Church infallibly transmits to Her children. Dogma cannot change.

In his encylical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907), Pope St. Pius X condemned a heresy he called "Modernism," which is still with us today. In the encylical, the Holy Father said Modernism teaches us that "the formulas which we call dogma must be subject to these vicissitudes, and are, therefore, liable to change. Thus the way is open to the intrinsic evolution of dogma. Here we have an immense structure of sophisms which ruin and wreck all religion." According to the only canonized pope of the last 500 years, the idea that dogma can change will ruin all religion. Thus, it is forbidden for any Catholic to even think dogma can change.

Though this liberal heresy is condemned, and though countless popes and saints have taught us that truth cannot change, most Catholics today are Liberals and/or Modernists. Most of them reject the Church's teachings on one or more points. From the Church's teaching against contraception, divorce, and abortion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, there are few Catholic teachings which are not under assault in these terrible times.

The Catholic Faith is an integral whole, like the seamless garment our Lord wore. To tear one doctrine out of the whole would be to alter that which was made by God's Hands, and thus, as we said above, to forfeit one's salvation. We stress again that the dogma "outside the Church there is no salvation" has been infallibly taught and all Catholics must believe it by Faith. Since dogma cannot change or evolve, this article of Faith is just as true now as it ever was. As the ancient Athanasian Creed says, "Whoever wishes to be saved must above all, keep the Catholic faith; for unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire he will undoubtedly be lost forever..."

Bottom Line. I think you are all going to hell...maybe even in a handbasket!
119 posted on 02/10/2004 7:43:28 AM PST by US admirer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]

To: Future Snake Eater
Regardless, Gibson practices a very old form of Catholicism.

Well yes, it is very old, it goes back to 33AD.

I believe they even still give the sermons in Latin at mass in his church.

Not the sermons. But everything else in the Mass.

So, even if there is a new philosophy, it wouldn't surprise me that Gibson doesn't stick with it.

The continuous teaching of the Church for 2000 years was still being practiced right up until around 1965. Gibson has stuck with the original, while most of the rest of the Church is testing out the new modern version.

120 posted on 02/10/2004 7:43:29 AM PST by Maximilian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 461 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson