[SoothingDave]

And we are not made righteous by participating in the sacraments and doing good works (as noble as those things may be). We are only made righteous through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, through which His righteousness is inputed to us.

It's really a shame that you can't comprehend that these two things are not in opposition to the other. One is how the other is accomplished.

Sacraments are how Christ's atonement is made real in our souls. It is how we are truly made righteous.

Not just "imputed" to be righteous. My God is strong enough to actually transform us.

SD

[57chevypreterist]

Not just "imputed" to be righteous. My God is strong enough to actually transform us.

Yes, Jesus is strong enough to actually transform us, and He did it by grace through faith, as a result of what HE did on the cross and His high priestly work, NOT because WE go to church and receive the sacraments.

Either your faith in Jesus is sufficient for you to enter into eternal life, or it is not. If you want to receive the sacraments as a reminder of your faith, by all means, do it (I have). Just don't trust in a "ticket punch" to get you in; trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to remove your sin and reconcile you to God.

Blessings!

[PetroniusMaximus]

SoothingDave!

Prickly as ever I see! Where have you been? I've missed seeing you. :)


"Not just "imputed" to be righteous. My God is strong enough to actually transform us."


I trust that by including "just" you are recognizing the reality of imputed righteousness.

But we don't believe that is the end of the story. Justification (imputed righteousness) leads to Sanctification (Christ's righteousness made real in us by the Holy Spirit) resulting in Glorification (when we are transformed into His image and shgare in His eternal glory.

Thoughts?