Hello again, Zuriel. Thanks for responding.
You said ..."You, and those that think the way you've been taught, openly admit that there are two natures to Jesus Christ. Then why is it so hard to see that the flesh was begotten, and the Divine nature "laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of" his hands?
That is what Catholics believe, if I understand you correctly. The Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity, is eternally begotten of the Father. At a point in time, the Logos took on the nature of humanity in addition to His Divine Nature. He was thus borne of the Virgin Mary in history, and possesses two natures.
"If a second person of a trinity made creation, what was the Father doing? I know that answer, too. ;)"
Well, thank the Fathers of the Church, as they defined it 1500 years ago and more. God consists of Three Persons, but there is "only" ONE Divine Nature. When One of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity is said to being "doing something", the Three are together doing it. Jesus tells us time and time again that Him and the Father are One. He can do nothing (and nor can the Spirit) without the Father. When we say that God made creation through the Logos, we call this "approbration" (I hope I got the spelling). It says that the whole divine economy is the common work of the Three Divine Persons. God is One Principle. However, we account the work of redemption to the Son and the work of sanctification to the Spirit. The sole distinction between the Three is their relationship with One Another and Their origin.
"Is it because your dogma must maintain it's man-made "Tradition"?"
Hmm. Everything that the Catholic Church has defined as dogma is considered Apostolic Tradition and is found in Sacred Scripture, either implied or explicitly stated. Without correct interpretation of Scriptures (our Apostolic Tradition), how would we know that the Arians were wrong and the Catholics were correct? If you were to read about Arianism, you would find that their belief that Jesus was NOT the ESSENCE of God, but only like His essence, has Scriptural warrant. Check Proverbs 8:22, for example. "there was a time where the Son was not" was what Arius wrote. Without correct interpretation of Scriptures, where would we be? More divisions within the Body.
As to "traditions of men", before you cast anymore stones, brother, you should consider that the idea of Sola Scriptura is found NOWHERE in Scriptura itself. A tradition of men? Considering that God reveals Himself through oral and written means (2 Thess 2:15), you are removing part of His Revelation. Considering a "tradition of man" moves people away from God, wouldn't you say that fits the bill for a "tradition of man"? Don't you find it strange that THE pillar of Protestantism is built on a "tradition of man"?
Regards
Greetings, jo kus,
Away for 25 hours, and glad to see this thread is still somewhat active.
"The Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity, is eternally begotten of the Father."
Eternally begotten? "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be unto him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" Heb. 1:5. "I..WILL..be..unto..him..a..Father" If the Son is eternal, did he go unclaimed part way through eternity before the Father acted upon that statement?
The answer is simple: The all-knowing, all powerful, omnipresent God could/can do millions of things at once. So it is a small thing that he send a voice from heaven, and a visual sign of his Spirit landing on an image that could be touched and held. Your PC monitor is an image you can touch, the visuals appear on the sreen, speakers provide sound. But snip the one and only power source, the sound and visuals vanish, and all the equipment is useless. My outlet has one hot wire. Does your PC receive it's power from three separate and distinct power sources? As far as I know, electricity is the only separate and distinct power source for PC operation. Is that a silly analogy?
To stay on topic, I repeat what I've said before, using the above analogy: Mary was used to help provide the mortal 'lamb'(PC), but it was the Almighty God that kept the sin out (no sinful sights and sounds coming from it). When the Spirit of God left that body, it could tell God was gone (cut the power to the PC, and it remains an image you can touch, but it can do nothing).
Consider the words of John the baptist: "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God" (I am come to do thy will, O God) "for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." John 3:34,35 God had to give the 'eternal' Son something he didn't already have?
Col. 1:19 "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." Should?? The fullness wasn't there from the gitgo?
God, the one and only God, was and is Father in creation; he is IN the Son for redemption; and "giveth us of his Spirit". And receiving the Spirit is more than a confession of faith. There's an accompanying sound. see John 3:8; Acts 2:4; 10:44-48; 19:2-6
"Everything that the Catholic Church has defined as dogma is considered Apostolic Tradition and is found in Sacred Scripture, either implied or explicitly stated."
The Pharisees ran things in their day with that kind of self assuredness. They considered themselves the correct interpreters of scripture, and they accumulated plenty of 'traditions' along the way; all of them 'scriptural'. But Jesus made clear their disobedience.
"Don't you find it strange that THE pillar of Protestantism is built on a "tradition of man"?"
No, I believe men like Luther came across people with the simple salvation message (tagline), they accepted some things like "saved by faith, not by works", but kept some other unscriptural 'traditions'.
I am not Protestant, Catholic, Arian, etc. Just a Christian . Unfortunately that name (along with all the others) has been embraced by people, here and there, that don't have a fear of God; and don't regard sin as sinful. But God knows.
In closing (I can hardly stay awake), Mary, and the power of God, brought forth a man for God to dwell in, but Mary did not create more of God. You can't create more of what is already all-knowing, all-powerful, and omnipresent. And with all that infinite capability, He certainly doesn't need any help hearing and answering petitions/prayers.
I will talk to him in a few minutes, and hopefully stay awake for the duration.
In that great name of Jesus,
Goodnight