The Words and Deeds of Christ

Reprinted from SOBRAN’S, November 2000, page 5 ^ | Joseph Sobran

[Cathryn Crawford]

This is being re-ran this month, I suppose because of the controversy beind The Passion. It's a good column and worth another reading.

[Jaded]

Thanks

[T.Smith]

Pardon me if I am being thick or obtuse, but, is he saying at the end that if I am not a Catholic I cannot be saved? That makes me scowl.

[demnomo]

"But the world still hates Christ and his Church."

I believe the very name "Jesus" can evoke the most powerful emotional responses within human beings. Those who have little knowledge of The Bible or have selectively read Scripture without the power of the Holy Ghost or within context revile Him and react negatively whenever they read or hear His name.

People I meet are rarely ambivalent when it comes to Jesus.

[madison10]

The Vatican recently offended its Protestant and Jewish partners in ecumenical “dialogue” by reiterating the most basic claim of the Catholic Church: that it’s the One True Church, the only sure way to salvation. Apparently the tacit precondition of “dialogue” was that the Church stand prepared to renounce her identity.

Ummmm...I have a problem with the above.

[skeeter]

The Vatican recently offended its Protestant and Jewish partners in ecumenical ?dialogue? by reiterating the most basic claim of the Catholic Church: that it?s the One True Church, the only sure way to salvation. Apparently the tacit precondition of ?dialogue? was that the Church stand prepared to renounce her identity.

I don't believe disagreeing with the premise that heaven can only be approached thru the Vatican is the same as asking the Catholic Church to 'renounce her identity'. BTW I've never heard any Catholic make this claim, but maybe I haven't been listening.

Otherwise, a good article.

[joesnuffy]

Only Jesus has the power to save a soul from eternal death...not any church or religion
They can all say anything they want....doesnt make it true....

Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.... Matthew 8:11

[unspun]

Kind of a nice piece. Thoughtful. Maybe more complicated and fuzzy than it might have been put, though. Our Living Word is gentle and meek, and lowly of heart. He offers something very simple for each individual He came and broke through death to gain:

- Acknowledgment of His (God's) holiness and love
- Confession that one is separated from Him by one's sin
- Willing receipt of Himself, totally and forever, which is real life
- Acceptance of His offer of love and forgiveness
- Faith, expressing itself in love, in the relationship He brings with God as our Father

Pretty simple, eh?

It's all in those words of His, which will never pass away, underscored in those words by His believers in the Scriptures He inspired by His Holy Spirit.

[Core_Conservative]

The Vatican recently offended its Protestant and Jewish partners in ecumenical “dialog” by reiterating the most basic claim of the Catholic Church: that it’s the One True Church

The one True Church - I believe is the one where anyone who believes in Jesus as the Christ, The Father, and the Holy Spirit. That Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to concur everlasting death. It should not matter what "church" you belong to, I believe that as long as you believe what is written, then you shall be saved. In fact, I do believe that the Bible tells me just that, because in the beginning, there were numerous churches - a different one for each city - ergo the different letters from Paul and Timothy.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

No, what the author is saying is that the only sure way to be saved is through the Catholic Church. However, it isn't the only way, utlimately my reading of that and Church documents (since VII) is that the Protestant Churches have the Truth that is Christ Crucified and Christ Risen, but not the fullness of the truth. I realize this is symantics, but that is the teaching. That the Roman Catholic Church is the One True Church instituted by Christ through the Apostles, the Protestant Churches while aware of the Truth of Christ and preaching that, do not have the fullness of the Truth embodied in The Church. I hope that helped somewhat.

[quadrant]

As a man whose Protestantism is as close to being chromosomal as is possible, I have great respect for the Roman Catholic Church, which is a statement I cannot make about some liberal Protestant churches.
There are real issues that divide Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
However, there is what C.S. Lewis called Mere Christianity that unites us.
As Christians we can no longer afford to fight among our- selves. Not only are the forces of Islam arrayed against the Church (and I use the term in its universal sense) but also we face a reinvigorated paganism disguised as the New Age and environmental movements.
Far worse, we must contend with some segments of the liberal Christian community who wish to disguise the unique claims of Christ under the label of "triumphalism"; that is, Jesus did not mean it when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Let us put aside our squabbles about the transubstantiation of the Mass and the inerrancy of Scripture - they are arguments for another day and time - and get about the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to all the world.

[Cicero]

We went through this discussion on another thread about a week ago. Catholic teaching, like most Protestant teaching, is that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ. BUT Jesus extends His grace where He will. In all probability He extends it to virtuous pagans who would have followed Christ if they had known about Him, and to Jewish Patriarchs and prophets who lived long before he was incarnated.

Catholic teaching is also that there is no salvation except through His Church. BUT again God is perfectly capable of extending that grace to whom He will. To virtuous Pagans, Jews, Protestants, and anyone who sincerely follows God as best he can and acts uprightly.

The Catholic position, as mentioned already, is that the Church has the fulness of grace but that virtuous Protestants have most of what is needed.

If a man, knowing that the Catholic Church was the true Church, nevertheless became a Protestant for purely social or political reasons, that would be very questionable indeed. If a man became a Baptist, let's say, because he genuinely thought that was what God called him to, then that would be an act of virtue.

[T.Smith]

So, as a Baptist, I can get saved, but I have to try a little harder? If I was a Catholic I would be guaranteed?

I'm really being tongue in cheek. Your post was helpful and I appreciate it.

[demnomo]

I'm a Bible Church Believer who believes in baptism and Grace. My church worship is very plain and simple. Our beliefs are such that if anyone accepts Christ as their Savior and lives their life as best they can according to the Ten Commandments and New Testament teachings, they will be saved. If someone's particular brand of religion brings them closer to God, so be it.

I have been told by Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Mormons and some Catholics that their church is "The One True Church." I ignore such pronouncements and do my best to live my life as Christ would want me to. I try not to debate doctrinal differences and scriptural interpretation unless I am convinced that a religion is a cult and is physically dangerous to my fellow human beings. As a sinner, I sometimes and oftimes fall short, but Christ came to die for my sins and those who believe in Him.

I viewed The Passion yesterday with my Bible study group. The audience was composed of many Christian Denominations. All were affected by the message of Christ's voluntary sacrifice and suffering for Our sins. Christ's message and plan for salvation is for ALL, according to my beliefs.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Glad I could help out. And I don't think it is about trying harder, if you know what I mean. God Bless

[bondserv]

Passion Ping!

[The Mayor]

here I apologize for offending our Protestant readers

and that you have, you have offended me and I would imagine all Bible beleiving Christian churches.

we aren’t privy to all his instructions to the Apostles,

Why not ? Read their words for yourself, Acts, Proverbs, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John..

but we trust that they knew what they were doing when they formed the Church in her infancy.

I don't, I trust no man, I only trust in the Living God.

The Vatican recently offended its Protestant and Jewish partners in ecumenical “dialogue” by reiterating the most basic claim of the Catholic Church: that it’s the One True Church, the only sure way to salvation

I completly disagree with this whole statement! If it was the only true church then millions of us are doomed to go to hell. I beleive in the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ. I beleive that Christ came into this world to die for us, to take on the sins of the world that through his death and Resurection we shall have everlasting life.

I don't need a middle man between myself and Christ, I Pray to him, I confess my sins to him. I don't go to a confessional, I get on my knees. I don't do penence, God deals with me one on one. Confess your sins to God The Father, ask Him for forgiveness and do it with an open Heart, Love God with all your Heart and Soul and he will Love You! He Loves us all..

[T.Smith]

Yes, sir. Well said.

[sauropod]

Its a great column.

[JackDanielsOldNo7]

Church affiliation does not matter. The Bible says that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. I might have missed it but I do not believe it said anything about church affiliation. We are saved by the grace of God.