I then said I agreed with everything I underlined.
In other words you disagree that the final particular Judgment at the end of one's life is secure, and you don't like to call it particular. But this is a major difference. While God knows His elect from the foundation of the world, we don't; we are given hope, but not firm knowledge.
I'm sure you well know our position that while we can know for sure about ourselves, we cannot know for sure about anyone else. ... I had never heard the term "particular judgment" before, so I looked it up. Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about it:
"A. Dogma of Particular Judgment -- The Catholic doctrine of the particular judgment is this: that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God. Although there has been no formal definition on this point, the dogma is clearly implied in the Union Decree of Eugene IV (1439), ..."
Based on only this, I didn't underline "particular" because ultimate destiny is decided from the foundation, etc. So, the Judgment concerning salvation is secure in my view. We also believe there is another Judgment that concerns rewards in Heaven and is related to works.
BTW, the above confused me because it used both "doctrine" and "dogma". Can you explain?
This is why the gospel is also a book of exhortations to good behavior (as well as, of course, the Good News of Christ's salvific work). The scripture is with me, and my prooftext is the opening passage of 2 Peter: "brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election".
That's interesting. I could see myself using the same passage to prove my position. :) POTS recognizes the scriptural truth that all of God's elect are specifically called to do good works. Those works are an evidence of true faith. So, Peter is saying that as we do good works in love for Christ, that we may be sure of our salvation. Doing the good works is a confirmation, for our benefit, that we were previously called to do them, and previously elected.
These two, contraception and remarriage, are not matters of interpretation of the scripture or matters of tradition, they are solidly scriptural, yet the Protestant teaching en masse caved in under the modernistic cultural pressure.
On contraception I have to give credit where credit is due and say that the Catholic Church has really towed the line better than we have on this subject. As far as I know, the RCC has held a steady and consistent position on this (as well as on abortion).
HOWEVER, :) to say that the issue of remarriage is not a matter of tradition really did have me laughing out loud. I well remember when we covered this on the other thread, and I'm sure you know how I feel about annulment. :) Premature dissolution of marriage is always a tragedy in any Christian faith.
My point is simply that once the presumption of election is made by someone, a door to sin opens wider.
I agree with Blogger that with any sort of correct teaching, this doesn't happen. All Bible-believing churches I can think of teach that believers are all called to do good works. We are to be about God's business. Further evidence is that for a new believer to even understand that he may have confidence, he is most often taught. Presumably, that same teacher will correctly follow up with what Christians are supposed to do as Christians. That was my own experience. In the alternative, if the person discovers that he may have confidence simply by reading scripture, then presumably he will have read the other scripture telling us what Christians are supposed to do.
being born again is a work too.
Except for Vatican-purchased and approved annulments. Even a marriage that has produced legitimate children and been sanctioned in a RC church in a ceremony conducted by a RC priest can be "annulled" for spurious reasons.
It should not be:
brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election.(2 Peter 1:10)
4 ... the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? 5 But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the just judgment of God. 6 Who will render to every man according to his works. 7 To them indeed, who according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life: 8 But to them that are contentious, and who obey not the truth, but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation
(Romans 2)
The election before the foundation of the world is foreknown by God who foreknows your works. As you are breathing and working it is not secure at all. Your faith should give you hope, not presumption. The particular judgement is necessary. It is also scriptural: "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment" (Heb 9:27), "I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
The individual soul receives one judgement upon death. The universal judgement at the End Times is when the world as a whole is judged, boith living and the dead, and the elect receive their glorified bodies (Matthew 25).
both "doctrine" and "dogma".
Doctrine is any teaching at all, dogma is reserved to infallible doctrines that are essentials to the faith.
Peter is saying that as we do good works in love for Christ, that we may be sure of our salvation. Doing the good works is a confirmation, for our benefit, that we were previously called to do them, and previously elected.
You can read it that way as long as we recognize that these works will not come automatically, but must be chosen by our free will, and should we not chose them, he would be "unfruitful, blind, and groping", and his "old sins" although forgotten, will be replaced by new sins.
to say that the issue of remarriage is not a matter of tradition really did have me laughing out loud
You can laugh all you want about how annulment is practiced, but prohibition of remarriage is an issue of plain scripture and not tradition: "Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery against her." (Mark 10:11). One can, perhaps, make exception for fornication based on the similar passage in Matthew, but the principle is clear.
the other scripture telling us what Christians are supposed to do.
Works salvation! See that thunderbolt coming from heaven? Aha!
That is also the teaching of the Orthodox Church and is based on "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment..." [Heb 9:27]
The essence of the particular jugdment is the same as that of the Final (Terrible) Judgment. After the particular judgment, the sould is said to know if it is destined to heaven or to hell, a "foretaste" of what is to come.
You will be judged immediately upon your death, and based on what you have done with your talents, and what was in your heart. God gives us blessings; some people use them to bless others; other people use them to do evil with them. The meek, the pure in heart, the merciful, the suffering, etc., i.e. those who have attained the likness of Christ, will find their rewards in heaven.