Replies

What does it matter? I can be a Muslim and still be saved.

First, this is Scriptural. See post #71.

Christ came to bring life to the fullest - even in the here and now. We come to a more fuller life through Christ's Body, the Church. Thus, technically, a person can be saved and never had heard of the Church - yet wind up in heaven because he followed the Law written on his heart.

However, as you are sure to agree with, this is a much more difficult proposition. We need God's visible manifestation on the Earth, the Church, to continue to teach, preach, heal, and sanctify us. God has given us the Church to enable us to come closer to Him. Without the Church, for example, you would never had heard the Gospel.

By following the ways of Christ, as taught by the Church, we are more likely to be enter the Kingdom - although taxcollectors and harlots may enter before those "within" the Church. We, as humans, need all the help we can get.

Sorry to disagree. You are indeed picking and choosing which traditions to follow.

Regards

By following the ways of Christ, as taught by the Church, we are more likely to be enter the Kingdom - although taxcollectors and harlots may enter before those "within" the Church.

If by "Church" you mean the Roman Catholic Church, now headed by this man who appears to believe that Christ is not necessary for salvation, then I will agree that unsaved harlots and taxpayers stand a better chance of getting into heaven than those who are following the teachings of a man who apparently believes that Christ's death on the cross was not necessary for our salvation or that belief in Christ is nothing more than icing on the cake for the salvation that people can attain by simply having a so-called good heart, even if the heart has never been changed by the working of the Holy Spirit into a saving faith. This is a false gospel!

OTOH if you mean by "Church" the body of true believers in Christ, then of course you are yourself spewing damnable heresy as scripture is crystal clear that no man can come to the Father except by and trough Christ. The Gospel is that those who believe on Christ and confess him before men are saved and those who do not believe or those who deny Christ are damned. Giving people false hope that their belief in Muhammad or Buddha or Hinduism is no real bar to their entrance into the Kingdom of God as long as their heart is in the right place is "another gospel" and quite frankly, anyone preaching such a gospel, be they an angel from heaven or the Pope of Rome is in mortal danger of being accursed by God.